Oda Nielsen

[1] Nielsen's début was in May 1870 at the Casino Theatre, Copenhagen, when she acted anomynously in Erik Bogh's Vaudeville play Et enfoldigt Pigebarn.

Despite her lack of any previous stage experience, she proved a great success, thanks to her natural grace and her good singing voice.

Now familiar with the theatrical repertoire in Paris, she returned to the Casino in 1881, playing the title role in Victorien Sardou's Dora, arousing comparisons with the French actress Sarah Bernhardt.

Her popularity continued to increase, especially when she imitated the French singer Yvette Guilbert in works such as Sardou's Madame Sans-Gêne.

[2][3] In later life, one of her most successful roles was Grevinde Danner in Svend Leopold's Hos Grevinden which she continued to perform in the provinces until she was almost 80.