Karen Poulsen

Karen Poulsen (10 May 1881 – 15 February 1953) was a Danish stage and early film actress.[1] She performed regularly at the Royal Danish Theatre until 1938 and took part in many silent and sound films from 1911 to 1950.

Karen Poulsen
Born(1881-05-10)10 May 1881
Denmark
Died15 February 1953(1953-02-15) (aged 71)
Other namesKaren Lund
Karen Thalbitzer

Early life

Born in Copenhagen on 10 May 1881, Karen Poulsen was the daughter of the celebrated stage actor Olaf Poulsen (1849–1923)[2] and his wife, the ballet dancer Henriette Emilie née Bryde (1846–1909). After being trained by her father, she became a pupil at the school of the Royal Danish Theatre where she made her debut on 4 February 1900 as Pernille in Ludvig Holberg's Gert Westphaler. She was appreciated for her good humour and clear diction.[1]

Career

After gaining further experience while performing for a number of seasons at Copenhagen's Dagmarteatret, she went on to perform in the provinces, including a period at the Aarhus Theatre, where she played the leading role in Hervé's Frøken Nitouche. She then performed at Det Ny Teater in Copenhagen from its opening in 1908.[3] With her father's assistance, she was able to return to the Royal Theatre in 1912 where she performed comic roles such as Tante Malle in Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson's Geografi og Kærlighed. Maintaining a good place in the company's repertoire, she performed particularly well in her Holberg roles. She remained with the company until 1938, when disappointed with her lack of progress, she left to perform in the more promising private theatres of Copenhagen. At the Frederiksberg Teater, she took the leading role in Gustav Wied's Hendes gamle Naade (1941) and played Julia Gibbs, a mother in Thornton Wilder's Our Town (1942).[1]

Poulsen made her film debut in 1911 with Nordisk Film, appearing in 28 silent movies until 1928. In 1931, as Tosse-Grete in Hotel Paradis, she embarked on her career in sound films taking mainly fairly minor roles, frequently as a strong or bohemian women.[4] She was however acclaimed for playing the Grandmother in Ditte, Child of Man (1946).[5] Her last film appearance was in 1950 as Ane, the fortune teller in Historien om Hjortholm.[6] Poulsen also frequently took part in Danish radio dramas.[3]

Marriages

Karen Poulsen was married three times, first to the actor Valdemar Lund in 1902, then to the journalist and athlete Bjørn Thalbitzer in 1919,[7] and finally to the banker Mogens la Cour Kruse in 1928. As a result, she also appeared as Karen Lund and Karen Thalbitzer.[3]

Filmography

This list includes her appearances as Karen Lund and Karen Tralbizter.[4]

Year Title Role Notes
1911PrivatsekretærenRigs wife
1911BalletdanserindenSimon's Frau
1912Jernbanens datterAlexandra
1912Den kære AfdødeMrs. Bang
1913Paa Vildspor
1915BilledhuggerenNanna
1915ZirliSasa
1916Gloria
1916Lotte vil paa LandetSinger
1916Mørkets FyrsteCleo Bernard - Adventuress
1917Naar Hadet slukkesLolo - Adventuress
1918Dommens dagPitch black, gypsy woman
1920Sons of the Soil
1921Growth of the SoilInger
1922Jafet, der søger sig en Fader I-IVNatté - Gipsy
1922Der var engangBolette
1931Hotel ParadisTosse-Grete
1932Kirke og orgelGrethis moster
1933Nyhavn 17Hilda Rask
1933TangoTangobar-gæst
1934Nøddebo PræstegårdSidse
1937Det begyndte ombordEmma Fischer
1939ElverhøjMor Karen
1940SommerglæderFru Graa
1941Gå med mig hjemEnkefrue
1942Alle mand på dækHertuginde i bar
1943MøllenLises mor
1944Mordets melodiPåklæderske Flora Kristiansen
1946FyrtøjetHeksenVoice
1946Ditte MenneskebarnMaren - Dittes bedstemor
1950Historien om HjortholmAne Steffens(final film role)

References
  1. "Karen Poulsen". Dansk Biografisk Leksikon (in Danish). Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  2. "Poulsen family". Britannica. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  3. "Karen Poulsen" (in Danish). danskefilm.dk. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  4. "Karen Poulsen". Det Danske Filminstitut. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  5. Crowther, Bosley (January 31, 1950). The New York Times Film Reviews. Internet Archive. New York : New York Times and Arno Press. pp. 2397–2398.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  6. "Historien om Hjortholm" (in Danish). danskefilm,dk. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  7. "Björn THALBITZER". Olympics. April 15, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
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