Johanne Dybwad

Johanne Dybwad (née Juell; 2 August 1867 – 4 March 1950) was a Norwegian stage actress and stage producer. She was the leading actress in Norwegian theatre for half a century. Early and personal life Johanne was born in Christiania (now Oslo) as the daughter of actor Mathias Juell (1835–1894) and actress Johanne Regine Elvig (1847–1882). Both her parents were acting for the Christiania Theatre. Her mother was the first Norwegian to play "Nora" in Ibsen's A Doll's House, in 1880. Her mother died in 1882, only 34 years old, and Johanne grew up with her aunt in Bergen. Her foster parents wanted to keep her away from the theatre, but she wanted to become an actress. Career Actress Johanne made her debut at Den Nationale Scene in Bergen 7 November 1887, in the comedy play Gertrude eller den lille skat. Her next role was "Nora" in A Doll's House. She had her breakthrough as "Fanchon" in Birch-Pfeiffer's play En liden Hex, first in Bergen, and later at Christiania Theatre in 1888. The scene when she danced in the moonshine, with her own shadow, fascinated the public, and theatre director and critic Gunnar Heiberg described the scene as "a big artist was born". She continued to play at Christiania Theatre, from 1888 to 1899. She joined theatre director Bjørn Bjørnson at the Nationaltheatret from its opening in 1899, and played here most of her career.