Asta Nielsen
76 movies
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Sep 11, 1881
- Died
- May 25, 1972 (age 90)
- Place of birth
- Vesterbro, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Also known as
- Asta Sofie Amalie Nielsen · The Silent Muse · Die Asta
Biography
Asta Sofie Amalie Nielsen (1881–1972) is considered one of the most influential figures in early film history. Born on September 11, 1881, in Copenhagen, she grew up in modest circumstances. Her father died when she was young, and the family had to move frequently. Despite these difficult circumstances, Nielsen developed a strong affinity for the stage even as a young girl. She took acting lessons and gained her first experience at small theaters before becoming a mother to a daughter in 1901.
The decisive turning point in her career came in 1910 with the Danish film “Afgrunden” (The Abyss). Her passionate, modern performance made her internationally famous overnight. Unlike many of her contemporaries, Nielsen did not act in an overly theatrical manner, but relied on subtle facial expressions and psychologically rich body language. This new style of acting made her one of the first major international stars of silent film.
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Shortly thereafter, she moved to Germany, where she became one of the most sought-after actresses between 1911 and the early 1920s. Together with director Urban Gad, to whom she was married for a time, she starred in a series of successful films. Nielsen often portrayed strong, independent female characters who challenged social norms—an approach that was both unusual and courageous at the time. Among her best-known works are Die arme Jenny (1912), Engelein (1914), and especially her extraordinary portrayal of Hamlet (1921), in which the title character is raised as a woman.
With the advent of sound film, Nielsen increasingly withdrew from the cinema. She was convinced that her expressiveness was better showcased in silent film and later focused on theater work, art, and writing. In 1946, she published her memoirs, “The Silent Muse,” in which she reflected openly on her life and work.
Asta Nielsen remained a cultural icon into her old age. She spent her final years living a secluded life in Denmark and died on May 25, 1972, in Frederiksberg. Her influence on the art of film is still felt today: she is regarded as a pioneer of a modern, natural acting style and as one of the first women to possess true star power in the international film industry.
Profiles IMDb
Known for
Asta Nielsen: movies and TV shows
Acting (76)
- 2003 Den talende muse - samtaler med Asta Nielsen
as (archive footage)
- 1932 Impossible Love
as Vera Holgk
- 1927 The Dangerous Age
as Elsie Lindtner
- 1927 Small Town Sinners
as Selma Karchow
- 1927 Agitated Woman
as Clarina
- 1927 Tragedy of the Street
as Auguste - Old Street Walker
- 1927 The Vice of Humanity
as Tamara
- 1926 The Fallen
as Anna Grosser
- 1925 Living Buddhas
as Tibetanerin
- 1925 Hedda Gabler
as Hedda Gabler
- 1925 Athletes
as Prinzessin Wanda Hoheneck
- 1925 Joyless Street
as Maria Lechner (Mizzi)
- 1924 The Woman in Flames
as Josephine
- 1924
- 1924 The House by the Sea
as Enricos Ehefrau Teresa
- 1923 I.N.R.I. – A Film of Humanity
as Maria Magdalena
- 1923 Downfall
as Kaja Falk
- 1923 Navarro the Dancer
as Navarro
- 1923 Earth Spirit
as Lulu
- 1922 Vanina
as Vanina
- 1922 Revenge of the Bandits
as Anica
- 1922 Miss Julie
as Julie
- 1921 Wandering Souls
as Nastassja Baraschkowa
- 1921 Roswolsky's Mistress
as Mary Verhag
- 1921 Hamlet
as Hamlet
- 1920 Steuermann Holk
as Isabella Bouflon
- 1920 Kurfürstendamm
as Girl Lissy / Mulatto / Filmstar / Maria
- 1920 Graf Sylvains Rache
as Madelaine
- 1920 The Merry-Go-Round
as Elena
- 1920 Mata Hari
as Mata Hari
- 1919 In the Eyes of the Law
as Sonja Waler - Journalist - Her Daughter
- 1919 Intoxication
as Henriette Mauclerc
- 1919 Towards the Light
as Komtesse Ysabel, grevindens datter
- 1919 So Ends My Song
as Dora Waren
- 1918 The Queen of the Stock Exchange
as Helene Netzler
- 1918 The Eskimo Baby
as Eskimo Ivigtut
- 1918 Eine Rose der Wildnis
as Wanda
- 1918 In Turmoil
as Margit
- 1917 The Orphanage Child
as Esther
- 1916 Cinderella
as Lotte
- 1916 The White Roses
as Thilda Wardier
- 1916 The ABC of Love
as Lis
- 1916 Dora Brandes
as Dora Brandes
- 1916 Frontstairs and Backstairs
as Sabine Schulze
- 1916 Little Angel's Wedding
as Jesta Schneider
- 1916 Die ewige Nacht
as Marta
- 1916 The Guinea-Pig
as Jesta
- 1915 Die Tochter der Landstrasse
as Zigeunerin Zirzi
- 1915
- 1914 Das Feuer
as Wanda Petri
- 1914
- 1914 Das Kind ruft
as Elana
- 1914 Little Angel
as Jesta
- 1913 The Film Prima Donna
as Ruth Breton
- 1913 S1
as Von Hessendorffs Tochter
- 1913 The Suffragette
as Nelly Panburne
- 1913 Death in Seville
as Juanita
- 1913
- 1913 Youth and Madness
as Jesta Müller
- 1912 Comedians
as Kamma
- 1912 A Romany Spy
as Zidra
- 1912 When the Mask Falls
as Sanna
- 1912 The General's Children
as Thekla von der Linde
- 1912 Der Totentanz
as Bella Burk
- 1912 Poor Jenny
as Jenny Schmidt
- 1912 Zu Tode Gehetzt
as Paula Müller
- 1912 Die Macht des Goldes
as Creszenz Fitzinger
- 1911
- 1911 The Ballet Dancer
as Camille
- 1911 The Strange Bird
as Miss May Wolton
- 1911 Gypsy Blood
as Luscha
- 1911 The Great Moment
as Annie
- 1911 The Black Dream
as Stella, cirkusdanserinde
- 1911 The Moth
as Olga, Mademoiselle Yvonne
- 1911 Gypsy Blood
as Jonna
- 1910 The Abyss
as Magda Vang
Behind the camera (3)
- 1968 Asta Nielsen
Director
- 1923 Downfall
Producer
- 1921 Hamlet
Producer
Talk shows and appearances (8)
- 2023
- 2020
- 2016
- 1995
- 1951 German Film Award
1 episode
- 1932
- 1924
- 1915