Tove Maës
Encyclopedia
Tove Maës was a Danish
actress of stage, television and film best known for her starring roles in the series of "Morten Korch
" films, in particular The Red Horses. Maës was a three-time recipient of the Bodil Award for Best Actress, winning in 1954, 1971, and 1983.
, Denmark
on 30 April 1921. She studied with the Danish actor Albert Luther and, in 1942, was "discovered" by Theater Director Helge Rungwald who employed Maës at the Odense Theater. Shortly thereafter, Maës played the lead in Selma Lagerlof
's Dunungen. Maës sought an apprenticeship at the Royal Danish Theatre
after appearing there in Carl Erik Soya
's Natteherberget, but was turned down. Instead, she worked at the Riddersalen theater, performing in a series of roles.
In 1946, Maës made a critically acclaimed screen debut as Ditte Godpige in the filmatization of Martin Andersen Nexø
's novel, Ditte Menneskebarn (Ditte, Child of Man
). Her performance in the film about the hardships of a young impoverished girl received international recognition. Especially noticed was her thoroughly wholesome and pure sensualism even while bathing nude. However, film reviewers in the United States (where the movie was seen in an edited version which removed any nudity) dismissed the movie as being too melodramatic. Maës replied in a later interview that the American audience had never been confronted with poverty in such a realistic portrayal on screen. During the 1950s, Maës performed in many of light-hearted films in the role of the sweet young ingenue. She played starring roles in several family films adapted from the popular Morten Korch
novels, the first of which, The Red Horses, became the biggest box-office success in Danish cinema. Maës also was able to bring a more serious side to her acting, and in 1954, she was awarded the Bodil Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of an insane girl in Sven Aage Lorentz's experimental film, Himlen er Blå.
Maës focused again on her stage work during the 1960s with several performances at the Århus Theatre. In 1966, she caused a public reaction when she went against her usual movie persona, playing against type in the role of a prostitute named Lucy in the black comedy Galgenhumor (Gallows Humor). She explained that she was tired of playing the nice young girl. She also began acting in a series of roles playing middle-aged mothers and wives. In 1971, Maës starred in the title role of Det er nat med Fru Knudsen (Curtains for Mrs. Knudsen). The film, directed by Henning Ørnbak and Leif Petersen, was an adaptation of Petersen's stage play that had debuted one year earlier with Maës in the same role. Maës' portrayal of the drunken and grotesque mother of a small-time criminal brought her the Bodil Award for Best Actress. For the 1975 comedy film Ta' det some en mand, frue! (Take it Like a Man, Miss!) she was awarded the Mathilde Prize from the Danish Women's Society. She again won the Bodil Award in 1982 for her performance as an overlooked but fantasy-filled retiree in Erik Clausen's drama Felix.
Maës is noted for a number of supporting roles on television series including the sister, Jette on Rundt om Selma, the mother in the adaptation of Pirandello's Six Characters in Search of an Author
, the subdued Lilly Lund on Matador
, and Mrs. Zachariasen on the TV mini-series The Kingdom.
in 1942. They were subsequently divorced and Maës married a second time to press photographer Jesper Gottschalch with whom she had a son in 1952.
She died in her home on 31 December 2010 at age 89.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
actress of stage, television and film best known for her starring roles in the series of "Morten Korch
Morten Korch
Morten Korch was a Danish writer who wrote populist stories and romances about rural Denmark. During his lifetime, he was the most widely read author in Denmark. Korch wrote 123 novels, several of which were made into popular films. In 1937, Korch was awarded a Danish knighthood in the Order of...
" films, in particular The Red Horses. Maës was a three-time recipient of the Bodil Award for Best Actress, winning in 1954, 1971, and 1983.
Career
Maës was born in CopenhagenCopenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
on 30 April 1921. She studied with the Danish actor Albert Luther and, in 1942, was "discovered" by Theater Director Helge Rungwald who employed Maës at the Odense Theater. Shortly thereafter, Maës played the lead in Selma Lagerlof
Selma Lagerlöf
Selma Ottilia Lovisa Lagerlöf was a Swedish author. She was the first female writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, and most widely known for her children's book Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige ....
's Dunungen. Maës sought an apprenticeship at the Royal Danish Theatre
Royal Danish Theatre
The Royal Danish Theatre is both the national Danish performing arts institution and a name used to refer to its old purpose-built venue from 1874 located on Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen. The theatre was founded in 1748, first serving as the theatre of the king, and then as the theatre of the...
after appearing there in Carl Erik Soya
Carl Erik Soya
Carl Erik Soya, , also known by the single appellation Soya, was a Danish author and dramatist. His works were often satirical provocations against double-standards and dishonesty...
's Natteherberget, but was turned down. Instead, she worked at the Riddersalen theater, performing in a series of roles.
In 1946, Maës made a critically acclaimed screen debut as Ditte Godpige in the filmatization of Martin Andersen Nexø
Martin Andersen Nexø
Martin Andersen Nexø was a Danish writer. He was the first significant Danish author to depict the working class in his writings, and the first great Danish socialist, later communist, writer.-Biography:...
's novel, Ditte Menneskebarn (Ditte, Child of Man
Ditte, Child of Man
Ditte, Child of Man, , is a 1946 socio-realistic Danish drama directed by Bjarne Henning-Jensen based on the novel by Martin Andersen Nexø. The film stars Tove Maës in the tragic story of an impoverished young girl who becomes the victim of harsh social conditions. The film has been noted as the...
). Her performance in the film about the hardships of a young impoverished girl received international recognition. Especially noticed was her thoroughly wholesome and pure sensualism even while bathing nude. However, film reviewers in the United States (where the movie was seen in an edited version which removed any nudity) dismissed the movie as being too melodramatic. Maës replied in a later interview that the American audience had never been confronted with poverty in such a realistic portrayal on screen. During the 1950s, Maës performed in many of light-hearted films in the role of the sweet young ingenue. She played starring roles in several family films adapted from the popular Morten Korch
Morten Korch
Morten Korch was a Danish writer who wrote populist stories and romances about rural Denmark. During his lifetime, he was the most widely read author in Denmark. Korch wrote 123 novels, several of which were made into popular films. In 1937, Korch was awarded a Danish knighthood in the Order of...
novels, the first of which, The Red Horses, became the biggest box-office success in Danish cinema. Maës also was able to bring a more serious side to her acting, and in 1954, she was awarded the Bodil Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of an insane girl in Sven Aage Lorentz's experimental film, Himlen er Blå.
Maës focused again on her stage work during the 1960s with several performances at the Århus Theatre. In 1966, she caused a public reaction when she went against her usual movie persona, playing against type in the role of a prostitute named Lucy in the black comedy Galgenhumor (Gallows Humor). She explained that she was tired of playing the nice young girl. She also began acting in a series of roles playing middle-aged mothers and wives. In 1971, Maës starred in the title role of Det er nat med Fru Knudsen (Curtains for Mrs. Knudsen). The film, directed by Henning Ørnbak and Leif Petersen, was an adaptation of Petersen's stage play that had debuted one year earlier with Maës in the same role. Maës' portrayal of the drunken and grotesque mother of a small-time criminal brought her the Bodil Award for Best Actress. For the 1975 comedy film Ta' det some en mand, frue! (Take it Like a Man, Miss!) she was awarded the Mathilde Prize from the Danish Women's Society. She again won the Bodil Award in 1982 for her performance as an overlooked but fantasy-filled retiree in Erik Clausen's drama Felix.
Maës is noted for a number of supporting roles on television series including the sister, Jette on Rundt om Selma, the mother in the adaptation of Pirandello's Six Characters in Search of an Author
Six Characters in Search of an Author
Six Characters in Search of an Author is a play by the Italian writer Luigi Pirandello.The play is a satirical tragicomedy. It was first performed in 1921 at the Teatro Valle in Rome, to a very mixed reception, with shouts from the audience of "Manicomio!" .Subsequently the play enjoyed a much...
, the subdued Lilly Lund on Matador
Matador (TV series)
Matador is a Danish TV series produced between 1978 and 1981. It is set in the fictional Danish town of Korsbæk between 1929 and 1947. It follows the lives of a range of characters from across the social spectrum, focusing specifically on the rivalry between the families of two businessmen: The...
, and Mrs. Zachariasen on the TV mini-series The Kingdom.
Personal life
Maës married Danish actor, writer and director Carl OttosenCarl Ottosen
Carl Ottosen was a Danish actor, screenwriter and film director. He appeared in 70 films between 1947 and 1972.He was born and died in Denmark.-Filmography:*De pokkers unger - 1947*Bag de røde porte - 1951...
in 1942. They were subsequently divorced and Maës married a second time to press photographer Jesper Gottschalch with whom she had a son in 1952.
She died in her home on 31 December 2010 at age 89.
Filmography
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The Man Who Thought Life The Man Who Thought Life is a 1969 Danish science fiction thriller film directed by Jens Ravn and based upon the 1938 novel by Valdemar Holst... I, a Lover I, a Lover is a 1966 Swedish-Danish comedy film directed by Börje Nyberg and starring Jørgen Ryg.-Cast:* Jørgen Ryg - Peter Isløv* Jessie Flaws - Elizabeth Schmidt* Axel Strøbye - Ole Schmidt* Kerstin Wartel - Sigrid Schmidt... Bussen (film) Bussen is a 1961 Norwegian comedy film, directed by Arne Skouen and starring Leif Juster, and a strikingly similar 1963 Danish comedy film directed by Finn Henriksen and starring Dirch Passer. The plot and script is essentially the same in both films . The Danish version is made suitable for a... (1963) .... Sofie Det stod i avisen Det stod i avisen is a 1962 Danish family film directed by Peer Guldbrandsen and starring Henning Moritzen.-Cast:* Henning Moritzen - Johan Jespersen* Hanne Borchsenius - Kitty* Susse Wold - Johans forlovede* Ebbe Langberg - Søren... (1962) .... Woman with carriage Flintesønnerne Flintesønnerne is a 1956 Danish family film directed by Alice O'Fredericks.-Cast:* Poul Reichhardt - Jesper Poulsen* Peter Malberg - Mikkel* Ib Mossin - Viggo* Ebbe Langberg - Martin* Hanne Winther-Jørgensen - Karen* Astrid Villaume - Anna... (1956) .... Else Flint Det gamle guld Det gamle guld is a 1951 Danish family film directed by Jon Iversen and Alice O'Fredericks.-Cast:* Poul Reichhardt - Niels Sværke* Tove Maës - Grethe Holm* Maria Garland - Martha Sværke* Per Buckhøj - Hans Sværke... (1951) .... Grethe Holm Fodboldpræsten Fodboldpræsten is a 1951 Danish family film directed by Alice O'Fredericks.-Cast:* Jørgen Reenberg - Præst Søren Holm* Grethe Thordahl - Inger Dahl* Ib Schønberg - Direktør Jacob Dahl* Peter Malberg - Degnen Ottesen* Helga Frier - Fru Dahl... (1951) .... Lilly Mosekongen Mosekongen is a 1950 Danish family film directed by Jon Iversen and Alice O'Fredericks.-Cast:* Johannes Meyer - Claus Munk* Poul Reichhardt - Jørgen Munk* Tove Maës - Hanne* Peter Malberg - Sofus 'Fusser' Hansen* Grete Frische - Norma... (1950) .... Hanne De røde heste The Red Horses, , is a 1950 Danish romantic drama directed by Alice O'Fredericks and Jon Iversen, based on the popular novel by Morten Korch. The film stars Poul Reichhardt and Tove Maës as young newlyweds who try to save an old family farm by winning a horse race... (1950) .... Bente Munk ... aka The Red Horses Ditte, Child of Man Ditte, Child of Man, , is a 1946 socio-realistic Danish drama directed by Bjarne Henning-Jensen based on the novel by Martin Andersen Nexø. The film stars Tove Maës in the tragic story of an impoverished young girl who becomes the victim of harsh social conditions. The film has been noted as the... I Love Another I Love Another is a 1946 Danish family film directed by Lau Lauritzen, Jr. and Alice O'Fredericks.-Cast:* Ib Schønberg - Onkel Polle* Marguerite Viby - Annelise 'Peter' Petersen* Ebbe Rode - John Eriksen* Erni Arneson - Connie Smith... |