Liv Ullmann

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Liv Johanne Ullmann (born 16 December 1938) is a Norwegian actress and filmmaker.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Recognised as one of the greatest European actresses of all time, Ullmann is known as the muse and frequent collaborator of filmmaker Ingmar Bergman, whom she dated for five years.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She acted in many of his films, including Persona (1966), Cries and Whispers (1972), Scenes from a Marriage (1973), The Passion of Anna (1969), and Autumn Sonata (1978).

Ullmann won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama in 1972 for the film The Emigrants <ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and has been nominated for another four.<ref name=":1" /> In 2000, she was nominated for the Palme d'Or for her second directorial feature film, Faithless.<ref name=":2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":0" /> She has received two BAFTA Award nominations,<ref name=":3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and two nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actress, for The Emigrants <ref name=":4">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Ingmar Bergman's Face to Face.<ref name=":4" /> On March 25, 2022, Ullmann was presented with an Honorary Academy Award in recognition of her "bravery and emotional transparency that has gifted audiences with deeply affecting screen portrayals".<ref name=":4" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Early lifeEdit

Liv Johanne Ullmann was born in Tokyo on 16 December 1938,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the daughter of Norwegian parents Janna Erbe (née Lund; 1910–1996) and Erik Viggo Ullmann (1907–1945).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Her father was an aircraft engineer who was working in Tokyo at the time. Her grandfather helped Jews escape from the Norwegian town where he lived during World War II, and was thus sent to the Dachau concentration camp, where he died.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> When Ullmann was two years old, she moved with her parents to Canada and settled in Toronto, where her father worked at the Norwegian Air Force base on Toronto Island during World War II.<ref name="jones-little-norway">Template:Cite news</ref> The family then moved to the U.S. and settled in New York City, where her father died four years later after a lengthy hospitalization from head injuries due to being struck by an airplane propeller, and his death affected her greatly.<ref name="jones-little-norway"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Her mother worked as a bookseller while raising Ullmann and her sister alone.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They eventually returned to Norway and lived in Trondheim.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

CareerEdit

File:Liv og Janna Ullmann (cropped).jpg
Ullmann with her mother Janna in 1959

Ullmann began her acting career as a stage actress in Norway during the mid-1950s. She continued to act in theatre for most of her career and became noted for her portrayal of Nora Helmer in Henrik Ibsen's play A Doll's House.

She became better known once she started to work with Swedish movie director Ingmar Bergman. She later acted, with acclaim, in 10 of his movies, including Persona (1966), The Passion of Anna (1969), Cries and Whispers (1972), and Autumn Sonata (1978), in the last of which her co-actress Ingrid Bergman resumed her own Swedish cinema career. She co-acted often with Swedish actor and fellow Bergman collaborator Erland Josephson, with whom she made the Swedish television drama Scenes from a Marriage (1973), which was also edited to feature-movie length and distributed theatrically. Ullmann acted with Laurence Olivier in A Bridge Too Far (1977), directed by Richard Attenborough.

Nominated more than 40 times for awards, including various lifetime achievement awards, she won the best-actress prize three times from the National Society of Film Critics and three times from the National Board of Review, received three awards from the New York Film Critics Circle, and a Golden Globe. During 1971, Ullmann was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for the movie The Emigrants, and again during 1976 for the movie Face to Face.

Ullmann made her New York City stage debut in 1975, also in A Doll's House. Appearances in Anna Christie and Ghosts followed, as well as the less-than-successful musical version of I Remember Mama. This show, composed by Richard Rodgers, experienced numerous revisions during a long preview period, then closed after 108 performances. She also featured in the widely deprecated musical movie remake of Lost Horizon during 1973. In 1977, when she appeared on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre in Eugene O'Neill's Anna Christie, The New York Times said that she "glowed with despair and hope, and was everything one could have wished her to have been" in a performance "not to be missed and never to be forgotten", with her "grace and authority" that was "perhaps more than Garbo...born for Anna Christie:--Or more properly, Anna Christie was born for her."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1980, Brian De Palma, who directed Carrie, wanted Liv Ullmann to play the role of Kate Miller in the erotic crime thriller Dressed to Kill and offered it to her, but she declined because of the violence.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The role subsequently went to Angie Dickinson. In 1982, Ingmar Bergman wanted Ullmann to play Emelie Ekdahl in his last feature film, Fanny and Alexander, and wrote the role with this in mind.<ref name="tv.nrk.no">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She declined it, feeling the role was too sad. She later stated in interviews that turning it down was one of the few things she really regretted.<ref name="tv.nrk.no"/>

During 1984, she was chairperson of the jury at the 34th Berlin International Film Festival,<ref name="Berlinale">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and during 2001 chaired the jury of the Cannes Film Festival. She introduced her daughter, Linn Ullmann, to the audience with the words: "Here comes the woman whom Ingmar Bergman loves the most". Her daughter was there to receive the Prize of Honour on behalf of her father; she would return to serve the jury herself during 2011. She published two autobiographies, Changing (1977) and Choices (1984).

Ullmann's first film as a director was Sofie (1992); her friend and former co-actor, Erland Josephson, starred on it. She later directed the Bergman-composed movie Faithless (2000). Faithless garnered nominations for both the Palme d'Or and Best Actress category at the Cannes Film Festival.

In 2003, Ullmann reprised her role for Scenes from a Marriage in Saraband (2003), Bergman's final telemovie. Her previous screen role had been in the Swedish movie Zorn (1994).

In 2004, Ullmann revealed that she had received an offer in November 2003 to play in three episodes of the American television series, Sex and the City.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She was amused by the offer, and said that it was one of the few programs she regularly watched, but she turned it down.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Later that year, Steven Soderbergh wrote a role in the movie Ocean's 12 especially for her, but she also turned that down.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

During 2006, Ullmann announced that she had been forced to end her longtime wish of making a film based on A Doll's House. According to her statement, the Norwegian Film Fund was preventing writer Ketil Bjørnstad and her from pursuing the project. Australian actress Cate Blanchett and British actress Kate Winslet had been intended to have been cast in the main roles of the movie. She later directed Blanchett in the play A Streetcar Named Desire, by Tennessee Williams, at the Sydney Theatre Company in Sydney, which was performed September through October 2009, and then continued from 29 October to 21 November 2009 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, where it won a Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Non-resident Production, as well as actress and supporting performer for 2009. The play was also performed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, New York. Ullmann narrated the Canada–Norway co-produced animated short movie The Danish Poet (2006), which won the Academy Award for Animated Short Film at the 79th Academy Awards during 2007.

In 2008, she was the head of the jury at the 30th Moscow International Film Festival.<ref name="Moscow2008">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

During 2012, she attended the International Indian Film Academy Awards in Singapore, where she was honored for her Outstanding Contributions to International Cinema and she also showed her movie on her relationship with Ingmar Bergman.<ref name="IIFA">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2013, Ullmann directed a film adaptation of Miss Julie. The film, released in September 2014, stars Jessica Chastain, Colin Farrell, and Samantha Morton.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was widely praised by the Norwegian press.

In 2018, Ullmann narrated Wars Don't End, a documentary about the Lebensborn war children.<ref>Template:Cite video</ref>

In March 2022, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that Ullmann would receive the Academy Honorary Award.<ref name="ullmanhonored">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> John Lithgow presented her with the statue at the Governors Awards, saying, "For those few who claim that she never would've been called one of our greatest actors without Ingmar Bergman, I would answer, Bergman would probably never been called one of our greatest filmmakers without Liv Ullman".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Honours and causesEdit

Ullmann is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and has traveled widely for the organization. She is also co-founder and honorary chair of the Women's Refugee Commission.

In 2005, King Harald V of Norway made Ullmann a Commander with Star of the Order of St. Olav.<ref>Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cite news</ref>

Ullmann received an honorary degree, a doctorate of philosophy, from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in 2006.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Personal lifeEdit

Ullmann was married to Norwegian psychiatrist Hans Jakob Stang from 1960 until they divorced in 1965. She was with Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman from 1965 to 1970, becoming his muse and frequent collaborator.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They had a daughter, writer Linn Ullmann (born 1966), whose son Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel (born 1990) became a filmmaker.

In 1985, Ullman married American real estate developer Donald Saunders from Boston, and they divorced in 1995 but remained in a relationship.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

CreditsEdit

FilmEdit

As actress

Year Title Role Director Notes
1957 Fjols til fjells Hotel Guest Edith Carlmar Uncredited extra
1959 The Wayward Girl Gerd
1962 Tonny Kari Nils R. Müller
Per Gjersøe
Kort är sommaren
1965 De kalte ham Skarven Wilfred Breistrand
Erik Folke Gustavson
1966 Persona Elisabet Vogler Ingmar Bergman
1968 Hour of the Wolf Alma Borg
Shame Eva Rosenberg
1969 An-Magritt An-Magritt Arne Skouen
The Passion of Anna Anna Fromm Ingmar Bergman
1970 Cold Sweat Fabienne Martin Terence Young
1971 Template:Sortname Kristina Jan Troell
Template:Sortname Ester Jenks László Benedek
1972 The New Land Kristina Jan Troell
Cries and Whispers Maria (and her mother) Ingmar Bergman
Pope Joan Pope Joan Michael Anderson
1973 Scenes from a Marriage Marianne Ingmar Bergman
40 Carats Ann Stanley Milton Katselas
Lost Horizon Katherine Charles Jarrott
1974 Zandy's Bride Hannah Lund Jan Troell
Template:Sortname Queen Kristina Anthony Harvey
1975 Léonor Léonor Juan Luis Buñuel
1976 Face to Face Dr. Jenny Isaksson Ingmar Bergman
1977 Template:Sortname Manuela Rosenberg
Template:Sortname Kate ter Horst Richard Attenborough
1978 Autumn Sonata Eva Ingmar Bergman
1979 Players Tennis Spectator Anthony Harvey Uncredited
1980 Richard's Things Kate Morris
1984 The Wild Duck Gina Henri Safran
Template:Sortname Mrs. Campbell Daniel Petrie
Dangerous Moves Marina Fromm Richard Dembo
1986 Let's Hope It's a Girl Elena Mario Monicelli
1987 Gaby: A True Story Sari Luis Mandoki
Farewell Moscow Ida Nudel Mauro Bolognini
1988 The Girlfriend María Jeanine Meerapfel
1989 The Rose Garden Gabriele Fons Rademakers
1991 Mindwalk Sonia Hoffman Bernt Amadeus Capra
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes Narrator George Levenson Voice; short film
1992 Template:Sortname Katherine Vilmos Zsigmond
The Ox Mrs. Gustafsson Sven Nykvist
1994 Dreamplay Ticket Seller Unni Straume
2006 Template:Sortname Narrator Torill Kove Voice; short film
2008 Through a Glass, Darkly Grandmother Jesper W. Nielsen
2009 Sinna mann Mother Anita Killi Voice; English version
2012 Two Lives Åse Judith Kaufmann
Liv & Ingmar Herself Dheeraj Akolkar Documentary
2018 Wars Don't End Narrator Voice; documentary

As director

Year Film Distribution
1992 Sofie Pathé
1995 Kristin Lavransdatter HVE Entertainment
1996 Private Confessions
2000 Faithless AB Svensk Filmindustri
2014 Miss Julie Columbia TriStar

TelevisionEdit

Year Title Role
1963 Onkel Vanja
1965 Smeltedigelen Mary Warren
1966 En hyggelig fyr Mabel
Måken Sonja
1967 Cocktailselskapet Celia
1975 Trollflöjten Woman in Audience
1979 The Lady from the Sea Ellida Wangel
1983 Jenny Jenny Winge
Jacobo Timerman: Prisoner Without a Name, Cell Without a Number Mrs. Jacobo Timerman
1988 Gli indifferenti Maria Grazia
1994 Zorn Emma Zorn
2003 Saraband Marianne
2011 Long Day's Journey into Night Mary Tyrone

TheatreEdit

Year Title Role Venue
1975 A Doll's House Nora Helmer Vivian Beaumont Theater, Broadway
1977 Anna Christie Anna Christopherson Imperial Theatre, Broadway
1979 I Remember Mama Mama Majestic Theatre, Broadway
1982 Ghosts Mrs. Helen Alving Brooks Atkinson Theatre, Broadway
2019 Liv Herself
2021 American Moth Grieg Hall

Awards and recognitionEdit

Year Award Category Project Result Ref
1968 National Society of Film Critics Award Best Actress Hour of the Wolf Template:Won
Guldbagge Award Best Actress in a Leading Role Template:Won citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

1968 National Board of Review Award Best Actress Shame Template:Won
1971 Academy Awards Best Actress Template:Sortname Template:Nom <ref name=":4" />
Golden Globe Awards Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama Template:Won <ref name=":1" />
1972 National Board of Review Award Best Actress The New Land Template:Won
1972 New York Film Critics Circle Award Best Actress Cries and Whispers Template:Won
1973 British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Actress in a Leading Role Scenes from a Marriage Template:Nom <ref name=":3" />
Golden Globe Awards Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama Template:Nom <ref name=":1" />
National Society of Film Critics Award Best Actress Template:Won
New York Film Critics Circle Award Best Actress Template:Won
David di Donatello Awards Best Foreign Actress Template:Won citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

1973 Golden Globe Awards Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical 40 Carats Template:Nom <ref name=":1" />
1974 David di Donatello Awards David Special Award Template:Won <ref name=":5" />
1976 Academy Awards Best Actress Face to Face Template:Nom <ref name=":4" />
British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Actress in a Leading Role Template:Nom <ref name=":3" />
Golden Globe Awards Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama Template:Nom <ref name=":1" />
National Board of Review Award Best Actress Template:Won
New York Film Critics Circle Award Best Actress Template:Won
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award Best Actress Template:Won
1978 David di Donatello Awards Best Foreign Actress Autumn Sonata Template:Won <ref name=":5" />
1986 Best Actress Let's Hope It's a Girl Template:Nom <ref name=":5" />
1987 Farewell Moscow Template:Nom <ref name=":5" />
1988 San Sebastián International Film Festival Best Actress The Girlfriend Template:Won
1989 Golden Globe Awards Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama The Rose Garden Template:Nom <ref name=":1" />
1992 Montreal World Film Festival Special Grand Prize of the Jury Sofie Template:Won
1996 Chicago International Film Festival Gold Hugo Private Confessions Template:Nom
2000 Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or Faithless Template:Nom citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

2000 Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Director Best Director Template:Nom
Goya Award Best European Film Template:Nom
2021 Academy Awards Academy Honorary Award Template:Won <ref name=":4" />

Honors

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See alsoEdit

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

Further readingEdit

External linksEdit

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