Mette Marie Astrup



Mette Marie Astrup (25 April 1760 – 16 February 1834) was a Danish actress, one of the best known of her time in Denmark. She enjoyed a career totaling fifty years at the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen.

Biography
Astrup was born in Copenhagen, Denmark. She was the child of Sven Andersen Astrup, a former servant who was employed as porter at the Royal Danish Theatre upon its foundation in 1748. She began her performing career in 1772, and by 1773 was employed at the Theatre itself, which was always short of female actors in the 18th century.

She became a student of the theatre's primadonna Lisbeth Cathrine Amalie Rose (1738–1793), and was widely regarded as her successor; she played romantic parts, dramatic tragedy and, in her later years, gentle mothers. From 1777 until its dissolution in 1779 she was a member of Det Dramatiske Selskab, a students' club for young actors, which ceased after a short but very active period of cultural development, and whilst there was a student of Fredrik Schwarz. She was described as dignified and with a great feeling for her costume, which was designed by the actors themselves. However, when the "new style" of acting was introduced onto the stage in 1808, her way of acting then became unfashionable.

She played Leonore in Den Stundenlöse (1773), Else Skolemesters in Barselstuen (1778), both plays by Ludvig Holberg as well as Lady Macbeth in the play Macbeth (1817) by William Shakespeare.

Astrup never married, but she did have a long-term relationship with Adam Hauch, who was director of the Royal Danish Theatre from 1794 to 1798, and again from 1801 to 1811 (she had a son, Adam Wilhelm Astrup, believed to have been fathered by him). She lived all her life in the porter's residence at the theatre; this position was inherited within her family, and was subsequently managed by her mother Dorthe, and then by her older sister Sophie, after her father's death in 1792. Her other sister, Anne Marie, also worked at the Theatre, as a dresser in the wardrobe department. Mette Marit Astrup gave her last performance in 1823, retiring after fifty years on the stage.

Comediehuset

 * 1773	Den sanseløse	Isabella
 * 1773	Sidney as Mathurine
 * 1774	Coquetten og den forstilte skønhed as Lydia, Cydalises kusine
 * 1774	De pæne piger as Leonore
 * 1774	Den lønlige kærlighed as Lucilla
 * 1774	Den politiske kandestøber

Royal Danish Theatre

 * 1775	List over list as Caroline, Mad. Argans datter
 * 1775	Menechmi as Isabelle
 * 1776	Den taknemmelige søn as Grethe
 * 1776	Den uformodentlige hjemkomst as Juliane
 * 1776	Søhavnen as Benjamine
 * 1776	Væddemaalet as Frøken Adelaide
 * 1777	Den gerrige as Mariane, Cleantes Elskede
 * 1777	Den straffede gæk as Angelique
 * 1777	Den tredieve aars pige as Julie
 * 1777	Det genstridige sindelag as Angelique
 * 1777	Diderich Menschenskræk as Hyacinthe, Leanders Kæreste
 * 1777	Gert Westphaler as Leonora
 * 1778	Balders død as Valkyrie
 * 1778	Barselstuen as Else Skolemesters
 * 1778	Celinde as Markisen af Boisville
 * 1778	Den knurvorne doktor as Clarice Terignans Kæreste
 * 1778	Den politiske kandestøber as Mad. Sanderus, raadsherreinde
 * 1778	Den aabenmundede as Hortensia
 * 1778	Det lykkelige skibbrud as Leonora, datter af første ægteskab
 * 1778	Don Ranudo de Calibrados as	Isabella, Gonzalos søster
 * 1778	Henrik den Fjerdes jagt as Agathe, forlovet med Richard
 * 1778	Hver mands ven as Hortense
 * 1778	Ines af Castro as Constance, forlovet med Don Pedro
 * 1778	Noctambulus as Rosalie
 * 1778	Ulysses von Ithacia as Řllegaard
 * 1778	Zarine as Zarine, Sacernes Dronning
 * 1779	Celinde as Markisen af Boisville
 * 1779	De forstilte utroskaber as Angelica
 * 1779	De nysgerrige mandfolk as Fru Lisidor
 * 1779	Den bedragne formynder as Emilie
 * 1779	Den uheldige lighed as Miss Molly, Kammerpige
 * 1779	Det unge menneske paa prøve as Isabelle
 * 1779	Faderen as Sophie, et ubekendt Fruentimmer
 * 1779	Forøderen as Cydalise
 * 1779	Hekseri as Apelone, skuespillerinde
 * 1779	Melampe as Philocyne
 * 1779	Spøgelset med trommen as Baronessen
 * 1779	Uden hoved og hale	Kærling
 * 1780	Den uformodentlige forhindring as Julie, Lycanders * broderdatter
 * 1780	Henrik som tjener to herrer as Lucilia
 * 1780	Skotlænderinden as Lindane, en Skotlænderinde
 * 1780	Tartuffe as Mariane, Orgons Datter
 * 1781	Den uheldige lighed as Fanny, Berkleys Kone
 * 1781	Huset i oprør as Komtesse Rosaura
 * 1781	Kavaleren og damen as Donna Virginia
 * 1781	Kun seks retter as Wilhelmine
 * 1781	Kærlighed paa prøve as Leonora, Leanders Kæreste
 * 1782	De fortrædelige hændelser as Angelique
 * 1782	De nysgerrige fruentimmere as Julie
 * 1782	Den gifte filosof as Melite, Aristes Hustru
 * 1782	Eugenie as Eugenie, Baronens Datter
 * 1782	Feen Ursel as Berthe, Dronning
 * 1782	Modens sæder as Julie, Gerontes Datter
 * 1782	Tartuffe as Mariane, Orgons datter
 * 1782	Ulysses von Ithacia as Pallas
 * 1783	Berverley as Madam Beverley
 * 1783	Coquetten og den forstilte kyskhed as Cydalise, Damis's Broderdatter
 * 1783	Den forlorne søn as Leonore, Jeronimus's Datter
 * 1783	Den genstridige sindelag as Angelique
 * 1783	Den gerrige as Mariane, Cleantes Elskede
 * 1783	Den værdige fader as Lovise, Wermanns Datter
 * 1783	Eugenie as Eugenie, Baronens Datter
 * 1783	Hververne as Philippine, Rosenaus Datter
 * 1783	Søofficererne as Frøken Winning, Sir Arthurs Myndling
 * 1783	Zaira as Zaire
 * 1784	Arsene as Myris
 * 1784	Bagtalelsens skole as Maria
 * 1784	Den butte velgører as Angelique, Fru Dalancours Søster
 * 1784	Den kærlige kone as Grevinde Eleonora
 * 1784	Den politiske kandestøber as Mad. Abrahams, raadsherreinde
 * 1784	Den stundesløse as Leonore
 * 1784	Diderich Menschenskræk as Hyacinthe, Leanders Kæreste
 * 1784	Tartuffe as Mariane, Orgons datter
 * 1785	Bagtalelsens skole as Maria
 * 1785	De nysgerrige mandfolk as Frøken Julie
 * 1785	Den døve elsker as Julie
 * 1785	Emilie Galotti as Emilie Galotti
 * 1785	Fejltagelserne as Frøken Constance
 * 1785	Mændenes skole as Leonore
 * 1786	Den løgnagtige tjener as Fru Sip
 * 1786	Den politiske kandestøber as Mad. Abrahams, raadsherreinde
 * 1786	Det unge menneske efter moden as Mariane
 * 1786	Fusentasten as Hypolite, Anselmes Datter
 * 1786	Raptussen as Jenny
 * 1786	Vestindianeren as Lovise, Kapt. Dudleys Datter
 * 1787	Bagtalelsens skole as Maria
 * 1787	De nysgerrige fruentimmere as Julie
 * 1787	Democritus as Criseis, Thalers fornemste Datter
 * 1787	Den virkelige vise as Jomfru Sophie Vanderk, Vanderks Datter
 * 1787	Fændriken	Sophie, hans Datter
 * 1787	Tartuffe as Mariane, Orgons datter
 * 1788	Aktierne as Frøken Augusta
 * 1788	Bagtalelsens skole as Maria
 * 1788	Bussemanden as Fru Staverup
 * 1788	Den politiske kandestøber as Mad. Sanderus, raadsherreinde
 * 1788	Den butte velgører as Angelique, Fru Dalancours Søster
 * 1788	Den gerrige as Mariane, Cleantes Elskede
 * 1788	Den politiske kandestøber as Mad. Abrahams, raadsherreinde
 * 1788	Den vægelsindede as Helene, Erastes Søster
 * 1788	Forvandlingerne as Christiane
 * 1788	Hekseri as Lucretia
 * 1788	Jægerne as Cordelila v. Zeck
 * 1788	Raptussen as Jenny
 * 1788	Ringen as Henriette von Darring
 * 1789	Bagtalelsens skole as Maria
 * 1789	Datum in blanco as Leonore
 * 1789	De usynlige as Leanders Usynlige
 * 1789	Den politiske kandestøber as Mad. Sanderus, raadsherreinde
 * 1789	Den skinsyge kone as Lady Freelove
 * 1789	Diderich Menschenskræk as Hyacinthe, Leanders Kæreste
 * 1789	Tartuffe as Mariane, Orogns datter
 * 1789	Henrik den fjerdes jagt as Agathe, bondepige, Richards forlovede
 * 1790	Den forliebte autor og tjener as Lucinde, en ung Enkefrue
 * 1790	Frode og Fingal as Halfdan, Prins fra Thanos Land eller Lifland
 * 1790	Fætteren i Lissabon as Sophie, Alberts Datter af første ægteskab
 * 1790	Skotlænderinden as Lindane, en Skotlænderinde
 * 1791	Bagtalelsens skole as Maria
 * 1791	Erast as Sophie, hans Kæreste, Orgons Datter
 * 1791	Negeren as Anine Godbert
 * 1791	Aabenbar krig as Charlotte
 * 1792	Bagtalelsens skole as Maria
 * 1792	Bortførelsen as Henriette v. Sachau
 * 1792	Den gerrige as Mariane, Cleantes Elskede
 * 1792	Det gode ægteskab as Sophie, hans Kone
 * 1792	Myndlingerne as Augusta, deres Datter
 * 1792	Ringen as En Ubekendt
 * 1793	Bagtalelsens skole as Maria
 * 1793	Den mistænkelige mand as Jacinte
 * 1793	Den værdige fader as Lovise, Wermanns Datter
 * 1793	Den aabne brevveksling as Caroline
 * 1793	Gulddaasen as Vilhelmine, Visbergs datter
 * 1793	Ja eller nej as Lucie
 * 1794	Høstdagen as Amalila Fersen, hans Broderdatter
 * 1795	Bagtalelsens skole as Maria
 * 1795	Bryllupshøjtiden as Henriette
 * 1795	Den godmodige familie as Madam Cleark
 * 1795	Eugenie as Eugenie, Baronens datter
 * 1795	Gamle og nye sæder as Amalia
 * 1795	Gulddaasen as Vilhelmine, Visbergs datter
 * 1795	Kjolen fra Lyon as Fru v. Hornau
 * 1795	Raptussen as Jenny
 * 1795	Ægteskabsskolen as Amalie, hans Kone, Silkeborgs datter
 * 1796	Advokaterne as Sophie
 * 1796	Dormon og Welhelmine as Frøken Wilhelmine
 * 1796	Dyveke as Anna Møenstrup, dronningens hofmesterinde
 * 1796	Gulddaasen as Vilhelmine, Vilbergs datter
 * 1796	Rejsen til byen as Frøken Reising
 * 1796	Væddemaalet as Markisen af Blainville
 * 1796	Ægtefolkene fra landet as Cecilia
 * 1797	Bagtalelsens skole as Lady Teazle
 * 1797	De snorrige fætre as Fru Dormin, Enke
 * 1797	Den politiske kandestøber as Mad. Abrahams, raadsherreinde
 * 1797	Den sanseløse as Clarice
 * 1797	Embedsiver as Hofraadinde Rosen
 * 1797	Galejslaven as Cecilie, Enke af Orfeuil
 * 1797	Høstdagen as Amalila Fersen, hans Broderdatter
 * 1797	Ja-ordet as Charlotte
 * 1797	Menneskehad og anger as Grevinden
 * 1797	Modens sæder as Fru v. Elsing, en ung Enke
 * 1797	Navnsygen as Sophie, Konferensraadens Myndling
 * 1797	Sammensværgelsen mod Peter den Store as Cyrilla
 * 1798	Bagtalelsens skole as Lady Teazle
 * 1798	De to poststationer as Lady Bull
 * 1798	Den ubesindige gæstfrihed as Ketty
 * 1798	Den værdige fader as Grevinde Amaldi
 * 1798	Emilie Galotti as Grevinde Orsina
 * 1798	Enken og ridehesten as Angelique, hans Kone
 * 1798	Falsk undseelse as Fru Heldmand
 * 1798	Ringen as Baronesse von Schønhelm
 * 1798	Ringen as Majorinde
 * 1798	Skumlerne as Emilie
 * 1798	Victorine as Franciska
 * 1799	Bortførelsen as Vilhelmine v. Sachau, hans Broderdatter
 * 1799	Den forladte datter as Henriette Skumring, baronesse
 * 1799	Emigranterne as Amalie Lindberg
 * 1799	Udstyret as Sophie Wallmann
 * 1800	Advokaterne as Sophie
 * 1800	De pudserlige arvinger as Madam Sommer, Skuespillerinde
 * 1800	Den aabne brevveksling as Caroline
 * 1800	Dyveke as Anna Møenstrup, Dronningens Hofmesterinde
 * 1800	Gulddaasen as Vilhelmine, Visbergs datter
 * 1800	Herman von Unna as Prinsessen af Ratibor
 * 1800	Udstyret as Sophie Wallmann
 * 1800	Aabenbar as krig	Charlotte
 * 1801	Advokaterne as Sophie
 * 1801	Den døve elsker as Julie
 * 1801	Den forladte datter as Henriette Skumring, baronesse
 * 1801	Den ubesindige gæstfrihed as Ketty
 * 1801	Fejltagelserne as Frøken Constance
 * 1801	Fændriken	Sophie
 * 1801	Gulddaasen as Vilhelmine, Visbergs datter
 * 1801	Hekseri as Apelone, Skuespillerinde
 * 1801	Hvad vil folk sige ? as Mistress Jenny Hartley
 * 1801	Hververne as Philippine, Rosenaus Datter
 * 1801	Løgneren as Miss Grantam
 * 1801	Rejsen til byen as Frøken Reising
 * 1802	Bagtalelsens skole as Lady Teazle
 * 1802	Den forladte datter as Henriette Skumring, baronesse
 * 1802	Den gerrige as Mariane, Cleantes Elskede
 * 1802	Dyveke as Anna Møenstrup, Dronningens Hofmesterinde
 * 1802	Octavia as Kleopatra, Dronning i ægypten
 * 1802	Syv tusinde rigsdalere as Emilie
 * 1802	Værtshuset as Fru Derval
 * 1803	De lystige passagerer as Madame Saint-Hilaire, Skuespillerinde
 * 1803	Den forladte datter as Henriette Skumring, baronesse
 * 1803	En time borte as Jenny
 * 1803	Rosenkæderne as Fru Norbek
 * 1804	Advokaterne as Sophie
 * 1804	Bagtalelsens skole as Lady Teazle
 * 1804	Kvindelist as Amelina, hans Søster
 * 1804	Maleren af kærlighed as Clemence, Merforts Datter og * Solanges Kone
 * 1804	Rejsen til Ostindien as Arabella
 * 1805	Bagtalelsens skole as Lady Teazle
 * 1805	Den forladte datter as Henritte Skumring, baronesse
 * 1805	Selim, Prins af Algier as Saphira, Enkedronning af Algier
 * 1806	Strikkepindene as Amalia, hans Kone
 * 1808	Bagtalelsens skole as Lady Teazle
 * 1808	Den forladte datter as Henriette Skumring, baronesse
 * 1808	Kærlighed under maske as Ung Enke
 * 1809	Advokaterne as Sophie
 * 1809	Bagtalelsens skole as Lady Teazle
 * 1809	Den vovelige prøve as Fru Dupont
 * 1809	Marionetterne as Celestine, Valberts Søster
 * 1810	Bagtalelsens skole as Lady Teazle
 * 1810	Den forladte datter as Henriette Skumring, baronesse
 * 1810	Den unge moder as Madame Dorimont
 * 1810	Snedkeren i Lifland as Catharina
 * 1811	Tyve-aars-festen as Majorinde
 * 1812	Advokaterne as Sophie
 * 1812	Bagtalelsens skole as Lady Teazle
 * 1812	Den forladte datter as Henriette Skumring, baronesse
 * 1813	Advokaterne as Sophie
 * 1813	Bagtalelsens skole as Lady Teazle
 * 1812	Henrik den fjerdes jagt as Agathe, en Bondepige i Lieursain
 * 1817	Macbeth as Lady Macbeth
 * 1818	Fruentimmerhævn as Fru Saint-Elme
 * 1821	De pudserlige arvinger as Madam Sommer, Skuespillerinde
 * 1823	Emilie Galotti as Grevinde Orsina

Hofteatret

 * 1779	Forøderen as Cydalise
 * 1780	Henrik som tjener to herrer as Lucilia
 * 1782	Tartuffe as Mariane, Orgons datter
 * 1784	Bagtalelsens skole as Maria
 * 1784	Tartuffe as Mariane, Orgons datter
 * 1785	Bagtalelsens skole as Maria
 * 1786	Tartuffe as Mariane, Orogns datter
 * 1815	Machbeth as Lady Macbeth