Henning-Jensen, Astrid (1914–2002)

Danish film director and screenwriter. Born Astrid Smahl, Dec 10, 1914, in Frederiksberg, Denmark; died Jan 5, 2002, in Copenhagen; m. Bjarne Henning-Jensen (1908–1995, film director), Aug 10, 1938; children: Lars.

Celebrated in Denmark, began career as an actor in the Copenhagen theater where she met fellow-actor Bjarne Henning-Jensen; at first, was his assistant director at Nordisk Films Kompagni; with him, worked on several undistinguished films before their breakthrough Ditte Menneskebarn (1943) which established them as the most promising co-directorial team in Danish cinema; collaborated with husband on many documentaries, most notably Dansk politi I Sverige (The Danish Brigade in Sweden, 1945), using sophisticated technology; made 1st solo film (1945), then continued to work either alone or in collaboration with husband until his retirement in 1974; subsequently, made a number of documentaries and features in Denmark, Norway, and Geneva, Switzerland, where she worked for UNESCO; found an international audience with Palle, Alone in the World (1949); appeared as herself in the Danish film Danske piger user alt (Danish Girls Show Everything, 1996). Received Catholic Film Office Award, Cannes Festival for Paw (1960); named Best Director at Berlin Film Festival for Winter Children (1979); won Berlinale Camera at Berlin for Bella min Bella (Bella, My Bella, 1996).

See also Women in World History.