Anna Nielsen (1803–1856)

Anna Helena Dorothea Nielsen, née Brenöe, (September 4, 1803 – July 20, 1856), was a Danish stage actress and opera singer (mezzo-soprano). She was one of the most famous female stage artists in Denmark of her time. She was a mentor for many talents, such as for example Louise Phister and her private home was a center of the theatre world.

Biography
Born in Copenhagen to the compass-maker Peter Christian Brenøe and Olave Frederikke Caroline Leth. She was educated in a girls' school until her father was ruined, and was a member in the drama society there. She was also a student of a master of the chapel at the Royal Danish Theatre. She was a tall and blue-eyed blonde. She was accepted as a student at the theatre, where she was given Johanne Rosing as her mentor.

She debuted in the title role of Dyveke by on the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen in 1821, and made a great success. She was described as versatile, with a fine singing voice, vivid, and recommended for her natural, sensitive and poetic way of acting, her best interpretation were repressed but strong emotion. Initially much used for the leading roles of heroine, she eventually performed all sorts of parts. She was active on stage until her death. As was common in her time and place, she was active within both opera and theatre. She played heroine in both theatre and opera, often in the part of "Nordic maiden". She was famed for her parts in the work of Adam Oehlenschläger, and contributed to the breakthrough for the vaudevilles of J. L. Heiberg. Søren Kierkegaard called her an interpreter of femininity. She was one of the strongest speakers in favour of a realistic way of acting at the theatre.

She was married in 1823 to the Norwegian violinist Frederik Thorkildsen Wexschall, (separated in 1831) and in 1834 to the actor Peder Nielsen and had one daughter. The fact that she divorced her second spouse in order to marry another was considered scandalous.

1820s

 * 1821	De lystige passagerer as Constance
 * 1821	Dyveke as Dyveke
 * 1821	Falsk undseelse as Emmy
 * 1821	Nonnerne as Euphemia
 * 1821	Ringen as Henriette von Darring
 * 1822	Bagtalelsens skole as Maria
 * 1822	Barselstuen as Stine Isenkræmmers
 * 1822	Den politiske kandestøber as Raadsherreinde
 * 1822	Herman Von Unna as Ida
 * 1822	Medbejlerne as Nancy Ømling
 * 1822	Ulysses von Ithacia as Juno
 * 1823	Bagtalelsens skole as Maria
 * 1823	Barselstuen as Stine Isenkræmmers
 * 1823	Den politiske kandestøber as Raadsherreinde
 * 1823	Det stille vand har den dybe grund as Baronesse von Holmbach, rig ung enke
 * 1823	Dyveke as Dyveke, Christians elskede
 * 1823	Nonnerne as Euphemia
 * 1823	Ulysses von Ithacia as Juno
 * 1824	Barselstuen as 	Stine Isenkræmmers
 * 1824	De lystige passagerer as Constance
 * 1824	De to dage as Constance
 * 1824	De to poststationer as Angelique
 * 1824	Hekseri as Terentia, Leanders fæstemø
 * 1825	Bagtalelsens skole as Maria
 * 1825	Barberen i Sevilla as Rosine
 * 1825	Høstgildet as Anna
 * 1826	Bagtalelsens skole as Maria
 * 1826	Entreprenøren i knibe as Merline
 * 1826	Ringen as Henriette von Darring
 * 1826	Sovedrikken as Charlotte
 * 1827	Bagtalelsens skole as Maria
 * 1827	Barselstuen as Ingeborg Blytækkers
 * 1827	De to poststationer as Angelique
 * 1827	Gert Westphaler as Leonora
 * 1828	Peters bryllup as Anna
 * 1829	Bagtalelsens skole as Maria

1830s

 * 1830	Bagtalelsens skole as Maria
 * 1830	Lønkammeret as Cecile
 * 1831	Balders død as Nanna
 * 1831	Barselstuen as Ingeborg Blytækkers
 * 1831	Pigen fra Mrienborg as Cathinka
 * 1831	Ringen as Ubekendt
 * 1832	Bagtalelsens skole as Maria
 * 1833	Barselstuen as Frue
 * 1833	Den sorte mand as Mistress, Johnsons kone
 * 1834	Dyveke as Dyveke, Christians elskede
 * 1834	Figaros giftermaal as Grevinden
 * 1834	Niels Ebbesen af Nørreris as Jutta
 * 1835	Barselstuen as Ingeborg Blytækkers
 * 1835	Machbeth as Lady Macbeth
 * 1835	Herman Von Unna as Sophia
 * 1835	Ulysses von Ithacia as Juno
 * 1836	Den skinsyge kone as Mistress Oakley
 * 1836	Emilie Galotti as Grevinde Orsina
 * 1837	De fire formyndere as Madam Prim

1840s

 * 1843	'Macbeth as Lady Macbeth
 * 1844	Jægerne as Madam Warberger
 * 1844	Kalifen af Bagdad as Enke
 * 1845	Romeo og Julie as Fru Capulet
 * 1846	Bagtalelsens skole as Mistress Candour
 * 1846	Den adelige borger as Madame Jourdain
 * 1847	Macbeth as Lady Macbeth

1850s

 * 1850	Naar enden er god	Rousillon
 * 1851	'Hamlet as Gertrud
 * 1856	'Kongens læge as Grevinden af Rousillon