Anders Danielsen Lie, Anne Marie Ottersen Honored at Haugesund

Norwegian actors Anders Danielsen Lie and Anne Marie Ottersen were inducted into the Haugesund Walk of Fame.. 

The unveiling taking place during the first weekend of this year’s Norwegian Intl. Film Festival Haugesund, Danielsen Lie and Ottersen were recognized for contributing to “building the professionalism and high standards of Norway’s acting community, both on the theatre stage and in the film and television industry,” noted the committee. They join the ranks of Liv Ullmann, Pål Sverre Hagen and Renate Reinsve.

“Do I look back? I haven’t had much time to reflect on this yet because my life is so hectic at the moment. But I do remember releasing [his 1990 acting debut] ‘Herman’ in Haugesund more than 30 years ago, so it feels full circle to receive this honor here,” Anders Danielsen Lie told Variety.

“I think I dreamed of becoming a great actor when I was a young adult, but I abandoned that dream when I started med school. It was Joachim Trier’s first film that restarted my career,” he said.  

“I think there are several ‘before’ and ‘after’ moments in my career, with the first being ‘Reprise’. If it weren’t for that film, I would never have worked as an actor.”

While “Oslo, August 31st” was probably “the biggest turning point” in his career, smash hits “The Worst Person in the World” and “Sentimental Value” – also directed by Trier – introduced him to an even bigger audience. 

“It’s always hard to say exactly why a film is loved by the audience, but they both tell stories that are relatable to many people. They are very entertaining films, but they also have an almost therapeutic quality to them,” he noted, adding: “I’m a bit surprised I have an international career, because I’ve always been ambivalent about acting – but hopefully that adds an extra layer of complexity to my work!” 

Following “Sentimental Value’s” Oscar win – and nine nominations – Norwegian films definitely have an international momentum at the moment, he noted. 

“I think there are several reasons for that. One is that we have great funding opportunities for films with limited commercial potential. I think Norwegian cinema as a whole has much more self-confidence now, which has been built up over many years. What we see now is the end result of a long evolution.” 

Anne Marie Ottersen was surprised by the recognition. 

“It was totally unexpected, but [it made me] very happy. In theater, most of what we do is gone with the wind once the performance is over. But now I’m written in stone, and that will last almost forever,” she said. 

Ottersen joined the National Theatre in 1970, and won the Amanda Award for “Wives – Ten Years Later.” Her latest film, “The Pension Heist” directed by Gunnbjörg Gunnarsdóttir, will be released in October.  

“The best thing I can say about my career is that I have been lucky to do so many different things. There have been difficult periods, of course, but I have the best job in the world, and I’m still working. I’m so happy about that.”

The Walk of Fame was established in 2015, when actors Kristoffer Joner and Ane Dahl Torp became the first recipients.

The Norwegian Intl. Film Festival Haugesund runs Aug. 22-28.