Jan Grønli

Jan Grønli has interpreted a large number of roles, leading and supporting. At The Norwegian theatre his roles include the title roles of Sophocles' Oedipus (1992) and Shakespeare's Macbeth (1999), He in Jon Fosse's Someone is Going to Come (1996), George Tesman in Ibsen's Hedda Gabler (1996), the title role in The Executioner by Pär Lagerkvist (2000), the title role of Molière's Don Juan (2003), Dorn in The Seagull (2003) and Lebedev in Ivanov (2005), both of the latter by Chekhov. He played Herman in Lukas Bärfuss The Bus, Creon in Jon Fosse's reinterpretation of Sophocles' Death in Thebes (2008), Charlie in Tracy Letts' August: Osage County (2010) and Ezra Mannon in Eugene O'Neill's Mourning Becomes Electra (2012), plus Beethoven in Moises Kaufmann's 33 Variations (2012). In 2013 hs roles include Satan in the theatre's adaption of The Bible.

At The National Theatre he has played Adolf Hitler in Mein Kampf by George Tabori (1989), Dr. Rank in Ibsen's A Doll's House (1990), the title role in Ibsen's John Gabriel Borkman (2004) and Edgar in Strindberg's The Dance of Death (2006), among other roles.

At Rogaland Theatre his roles included Peer Gynt.

He directed the cult performance Werther for The Norwegian Theatre in 2001, a text which he had also adapted for the theatre in collaboration with actor Hallvard Holmen.

He is known from several motion pictures such as Rebels with a Cause, Lakki and Jonny Vang. He played the leading role in the movie Brannen* (The Fire) (1973), based on a novel by Tarjei Vesaas.

Jan Grønli has been honoured with the memorial award of Aksel Valdemar, the radio theatre award called Blå Fugl (literally: Blue Bird, 1995), the grant of Aase Bye (1997) and the Hulda Garborg award (2000).

In 2004 he won The Hedda Award in the particularly excellent performance category for the role of Bruscon in Histrionics by Thomas Bernhard, produced by The National Theatre.

The Hedda Jury gave the following reason:

"The winner of the year is an actor who throughout many years has put his unmistakable mark on a number of the prominent characters of the theatre, while his personality has never overshadowed his interpretations: This year's winner always goes in the depth of his characters on the playwright's terms, and he makes them seem simply human, filled with contradiction, mystery and coherence.

In the victory interpretation the actor show the full range of his craft. It is a unique role from the hand of the playwright, and it is a unique performance by the actor too: A personal, uncompromised character, based on a highly intellectual and artistically precise understanding of the role. The winner of the year has received many awards before, but he has not been nominated for The Hedda Award prior to now. This year he gets the particularly excellent performance award for his interpretation of Bruscon in Histrionics, performed at The National Theatre during this spring.

The winner of the year is: Jan Grønli."

Sceneweb on The Hedda Award 2004, www.sceneweb.no, 24.10.2012, http://www.sceneweb.no/en/awarding/23869/Heddaprisen_2004-2004

The Norwegian Theatre on Jan Grønli, www.detnorsketeatret.no, 26.10.2012, http://www.detnorsketeatret.no/index.php?option=com_actor&view=actor&actorid=301

The National Theatre on Jan Grønli, www.detnorsketeatret.no, 26.10.2012, http://fdb.nationaltheatret.no/S%C3%B8k/tabid/57/ctl/ViewPerson/mid/374/personId/a56c0ee3-682e-4495-b4bd-4017842e18bd/Default.aspx

*Not yet translated into English. The title within parentheses is the Norwegian title's literal meaning.

• The Hedda Award 2004 - Particularly excellent performance
• Aase Byes pris 1997 - Aase Byes pris

• The Hedda Award 2004 - Particularly excellent performance