Gísli Örn Garðarsson

Gísli Örn was born in Reykjavík but grew up in Oslo. His father, Garðar Gíslason, is a teacher; his mother, Kolbrún Högnadóttir, worked for the publisher Fróði. Gísli Örn finished school at Hamrahlið College in Hlíðahverfi and studied Sociology at the University of Iceland and West European Studies at the University of Oslo before completing training in drama at the Iceland Academy of the Arts.{{cite news |author=Jóhanna Ingvarsdóttir |url=http://www.mbl.is/greinasafn/grein/631010/ |title='Þráin eftir frelsinu er rík' |newspaper=Morgunblaðið |date=13 October 2001 |language=Icelandic }} He had wanted to study drama in Oslo but failed to gain entry.{{cite news |author=Merete Skogrand |url=http://www.dagbladet.no/kultur/gisli-ble-oppringt-av-nick-cave-klokka-atte-om-morgenen/63451984 |title=Gisli ble oppringt av Nick Cave klokka åtte om morgenen |newspaper=Dagbladet |date=31 December 2011 |language=Norwegian }}{{cite news |url=http://www.dn.no/d2/2015/07/23/2131/Profil/gslis-saga |title=Gíslis saga |newspaper=Dagens Næringsliv |date= 23 July 2015 |language=Norwegian |type=subscription required }} For many years he was a gymnast, competing for the Icelandic, Norwegian, and Danish national teams and belonging to the elite Ármann club together with Guðjón Guðmundsson, who was national champion in his age group for several years;{{cite news |url=http://timarit.is/view_page_init.jsp?pageId=4637529 |title=Guðjón Guðmundsson íslandsmeistari í fimleikum í aðalviðtali: 'Umfram allt falleg íþrótt' |newspaper=Æskan |date=1 April 1989 |page=10 |language=Icelandic }} he considered becoming a gymnastics coach but found it unappealing.

Gísli Örn has appeared in many Icelandic films, beginning in 2001 with a major role in Dramarama. That year he also co-founded the drama company Vesturport with 13 others. In 2010 he had a supporting role in the Disney film Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.

He made his directing début with a circus-themed production of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet at the Reykjavík City Theatre in 2003, also playing Romeo. The production's success led to an invitation to transfer it to the Young Vic in London, from where it moved in 2004 to the Playhouse Theatre.{{cite news |author=Marc Lee |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/3647133/The-action-man-of-the-theatre.html |title=The action man of the theatre |newspaper=Daily Telegraph |date=10 October 2005 }} He has since directed further stage productions, including an adaptation of Kafka's The Metamorphosis in association with David Farr and the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, which toured in many European countries and the US in addition to the UK and Iceland. Büchner's Woyzeck at the BAM Next Wave Festival in 2008, directed by Gísli Örn, was Vesturport's first appearance in the US;{{cite news |url=http://www.iceland.is/iceland-abroad/us/nyc/news-and-events/vesturport39;s-woyzeck/6996/ |title=Iceland Abroad: Vesturport's Woyzeck |website=Iceland.is |date=2008 }} with the American Repertory Theater production of The Heart of Robin Hood, also written by Farr, he became the first Icelander to direct on Broadway.{{cite news |author=K. Kelly Nestruck |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/theatre-and-performance/the-heart-of-robin-hood-an-old-tale-revamped---jungle-gym-included/article22386198/ |title=The Heart of Robin Hood: An old tale revamped – jungle gym included |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=12 January 2015 |orig-year=9 January 2015 }} He has also acted as producer and scriptwriter in some Vesturport projects.

Gísli Örn's directorial work draws on his gymnastics experience and is often described as very physical and highly theatrical.{{cite news |author=Vincent Dowd |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4674190.stm |title=Circus arts take to the stage |publisher=BBC News |date=3 February 2006 }}{{cite news |author=Patti Hartigan |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/theater-art/2013/12/07/natural-world-looms-large-art-the-heart-robin-hood/6ZIFFAAR8At47YZD5Z0bII/story.html |title=Natural world looms large in ART's 'The Heart of Robin Hood' |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=7 December 2013 }}{{cite news |author=Helen Shaw |url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/theater/vaulting-ambition |title= Vaulting ambition: An Icelandic gymnast-turned-director puts Woyzeck through its paces |newspaper=Time Out |location=New York |date=9 October 2008 }}{{cite news |author=Tone B. Værvågen |url=http://www.aftenposten.no/osloby/byliv/Farlig-og-fysisk-170389b.html |title=Farlig og fysisk |newspaper=Aftenposten |date=28 December 2011 |language=Norwegian }} Beginning with Woyzeck, the productions have often included music specially composed by Nick Cave.

In 2023, a non-replica version of the musical "Frozen" based on the Disney Film of the same name directed by Gísli Örn opened at Det Norske Teatret starting a tour in all Scandinavia, this new version had a nordic vision changing sets and orchestrations to match the culture better. This tour is and will be shown in Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Finland and Denmark.

• 2003: Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Reykjavík City Theatre, subsequently Young Vic Theatre and Playhouse Theatre, London: director, Romeo{{cite news |author=Michael Billington |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2003/oct/02/theatre |title=Romeo and Juliet, Young Vic, London |newspaper=The Guardian |date=2 October 2003 }}
• 2005: Georg Büchner's Woyzeck, with music by Nick Cave, Barbican Theatre, London, Brooklyn Academy of Music: director.{{cite news |author=Jon Pareles |author-link=Jon Pareles |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/14/arts/music/14cave.html |title=Shaking Up 'Woyzeck' With Earthy Rock and Flying Trapeze |newspaper=The New York Times |date=13 October 2008 }}
• 2006: adaptation of Angela Carter's Nights at the Circus, touring production with Kneehigh Theatre: main cast{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/articles/2006/02/10/theatre_nights_at_the_circus_feature.shtml |title=Theatre and Dance: Nights at the Circus |publisher=BBC |location=Leeds |date=15 March 2006 }}
• 2006–2013: adaptation of Kafka's The Metamorphosis, Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith; Dublin; National Theatre, Oslo; Cuvilliés Theatre, Munich; Kennedy Center, Washington; Paramount Center, Boston: director, scriptwriter with David Farr, Gregor{{cite news |author=Nelson Pressley |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/at-kennedy-center-metamorphosis-turns-kafkas-tale-on-its-side/2013/02/21/2eccd058-7c44-11e2-9073-e9dda4ac6a66_story.html |title=At Kennedy Center, 'Metamorphosis' turns Kafka's tale on its side |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=21 February 2013 }}{{cite news |author=Joel Brown |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/theater-art/2013/02/21/climbing-walls-with-kafka-metamorphosis-artsemerson/obc6izMBm4SFlIK7pJxEtK/story.html |title=Climbing the walls with Kafka's 'Metamorphosis' |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=21 February 2013 }}
• 2008–2009: Don John, adaptation by Emma Rice of Mozart's Don Giovanni, Kneehigh Theatre, Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-on-Avon; Spoleto Festival USA: Don John{{cite news |author=Charles Spencer |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/3900050/Don-John-at-Courtyard-Theatre-Stratford-upon-Avon-review.html |title=At passion's wintry heart |newspaper=Daily Telegraph |date=22 December 2008 }}{{cite news |author=John Stoehr |url=http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/charleston/he-may-be-from-iceland-but-this-don-juan-is-hot/Content?oid=1194041 |title=He may be from Iceland, but this Don Juan is hot |newspaper=Charleston City Paper |date=2009 }}
• 2010: Goethe's Faust: director, scriptwriter{{cite news |url=http://www.pressan.is/Menning/LesaMenningafrett/magnad-sjonarspil-ny-leikgerd-a-faust-frumsynd-a-stora-svidi-borgarleikhussins |title=Magnað sjónarspil: Ný leikgerð á Faust frumsýnd á Stóra sviði Borgarleikhússins |website=Pressan |date=12 January 2010 |language=Icelandic }}
• 2011: The Heart of Robin Hood, script by David Farr; Royal Shakespeare Company: director
• 2013: Shakespeare's The Tempest, Residenz Theatre, Munich: director{{cite news |author=Isabel Winklbauer |url=http://www.nachtkritik.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8651:der-sturm-am-muenchner-residenztheater-ueberfluegelt-gisli-oern-gardarsson-shakespeare-mit-einer-utopiefreien-umdeutung-seines-spaeten-dramas-&catid=38:die-nachtkritik&Itemid=40 |title=Die Insel der Gerächten |website=Die Nachtkritik |date=20 October 2013 |language=German }}
• 2013–2015: The Heart of Robin Hood, American Repertory Theater: director{{cite web |url=http://americanrepertorytheater.org/media-room/press-releases/art%E2%80%99s-production-heart-robin-hood-open-broadway-march-29-2015 |title=The A.R.T.'s Production of "The Heart of Robin Hood" to Open on Broadway on March 29, 2015 |publisher=American Repertory Theater |date=2 December 2014 |type=press release }}
• 2023-present: Frozen, Det Norske Teatret, Oslo; The National Theater, Iceland; the City Theater, Stockholm; the City Theater, Finland: director{{Cite web |title=Frost - Þjóðleikhúsið |url=https://leikhusid.is/syningar/frost/ |access-date=2024-05-22 |language=en-US}}

• 2001: Dramarama: main cast
• 2003: Karamellumyndin: main cast
• 2004: Niceland (Population. 1.000.002)
• 2005: Beowulf & Grendel
• 2006: Children: main cast, screenplay, producer
• 2006: Áramótaskaupið (television)
• 2007: Foreldrar (Parents): producer
• 2008: Mannaveiðar (I Hunt Men): main cast
• 2008: Country Wedding
• 2010: Kóngavegur (King's Road): main cast, co-producer
• 2010: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
• 2010: Jitters
• 2010: Undercurrent: main cast, screenplay, producer
• 2011: Borgríki (City State)
• 2011: Korríró
• 2013: Spooks and Spirits: main cast
• 2014: Grafir & Bein (Graves & Bones)
• 2016: The Oath: main cast
• 2016: Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands (television): main cast{{cite news |author=Ásdís Ásgeirsdóttir|url=http://www.mbl.is/frettir/innlent/2016/09/02/helviti_gott_ferdalag/ |title=Helvíti gott ferðalag |newspaper=Morgunblaðið |date=2 September 2016 |language=Icelandic }} Gísli Örn had a contract for five seasons of this British series, but renegotiated it to appear only in the first season in order to have more time with his family. In the event the series was not renewed after Season 1.
• 2017: Prisoners (television){{cite web |url=http://www.icelandicfilms.info/person/nr/457 |title=Gísli Örn Garðarsson |publisher=Icelandic Film Centre |access-date=9 January 2017 }}
• 2018: One Night
• 2020: Ragnarok (TV series) (Netflix)
• 2021-2022: Blackport (series)
• 2023: Wild Game

In addition to awards won by Vesturport, Gísli Örn received a Shooting Stars Award at the 2007 Berlin Film Festival for his role in Children.{{cite news |author=Sigurbjörg Þrastardóttir |url=http://www.mbl.is/greinasafn/grein/1129582/ |title=Sjá, stjörnurnar kvikna |newspaper=Morgunblaðið |date=14 February 2007 |language=Icelandic }} In June 2010 he was awarded the Order of the Falcon, Knight's Cross, for services to Icelandic culture.{{cite web |url=http://vesturport.com/gisli-orn-gar%C3%B0arsson-awarded-the-order-of-the-falcon-the-knights-cross/ |title=Gísli Örn Garðarsson awarded The Order of the Falcon, the Knights Cross |publisher=Vesturport |date=15 October 2010 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.forseti.is/falkaordan/orduhafaskra/ |title=Fálkaorðan: Orðuhafaskrá |publisher=Office of the President of Iceland |access-date=8 January 2017 |language=Icelandic |archive-date=26 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190826052816/https://www.forseti.is/falkaordan/orduhafaskra/ |url-status=dead }}

Gísli Örn has a younger sister, Rakel. He has two children with his partner, Nína Dögg Filippusdóttir, who is also a member of Vesturport.{{cite news |url=http://www.dv.is/folk/2011/12/3/gisli-orn-og-nina-dogg-eignudust-son/ |title=Gísli Örn og Nína Dögg eignuðust son |newspaper=DV |date=3 December 2011 |language=Icelandic |access-date=7 January 2017 |archive-date=10 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310190905/http://www.dv.is/folk/2011/12/3/gisli-orn-og-nina-dogg-eignudust-son/ |url-status=dead }}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [http://vesturport.com/about/people-artists-in-our-production/gisli-orn-gardarsson/ Gísli Örn Garðarsson] at Vesturport
• [http://www.nationaltheatret.no/Gisli+%C3%96rn+Gardarsson.b7C_wJDIWU.ips Gisli Örn Gardarsson] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109022712/http://www.nationaltheatret.no/Gisli%20%C3%96rn%20Gardarsson.b7C_wJDIWU.ips |date=2017-01-09 }} at Norwegian National Theatre {{in lang|no}}
• {{IMDb name | 1458629 }}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gisli Orn Gardarsson}}

Gardarsson, Gisli Orn

Gardarsson, Gisli Orn

Category:21st-century Icelandic male actors

Category:Icelandic expatriates in Norway

Category:Icelandic film directors

Category:Icelandic gymnasts

Category:Icelandic male stage actors

Category:Icelandic male film actors

Category:Icelandic producers

Category:Icelandic screenwriters

Gardarsson, Gisli Orn

Category:Male actors from Reykjavík

Gardarsson, Gisli Orn

Category:University of Iceland alumni

Category:University of Oslo alumni