Anna Nielsen (1803–1856)

Anna Helena Dorothea Nielsen, née Brenöe, (September 4, 1803 – July 20, 1856), was a Danish stage actress and opera singer (mezzo-soprano). She was one of the most famous female stage artists in Denmark of her time. She was a mentor for many talents, such as for example Louise Phister and her private home was a center of the theatre world.

Born in Copenhagen to the compass-maker Peter Christian Brenøe and Olave Frederikke Caroline Leth. She was educated in a girls' school until her father was ruined, and was a member in the drama society there. She was also a student of a master of the chapel at the Royal Danish Theatre. She was a tall and blue-eyed blonde. She was accepted as a student at the theatre, where she was given Johanne Rosing as her mentor.

She debuted in the title role of Dyveke by Ole Johan Samsøe on the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen in 1821, and made a great success. She was described as versatile, with a fine singing voice, vivid, and recommended for her natural, sensitive and poetic way of acting, her best interpretation were repressed but strong emotion. Initially much used for the leading roles of heroine, she eventually performed all sorts of parts. She was active on stage until her death. As was common in her time and place, she was active within both opera and theatre. She played heroine in both theatre and opera, often in the part of "Nordic maiden". She was famed for her parts in the work of Adam Oehlenschläger, and contributed to the breakthrough for the vaudevilles of J. L. Heiberg. Søren Kierkegaard called her an interpreter of femininity. She was one of the strongest speakers in favour of a realistic way of acting at the theatre.

She was married in 1823 to the Norwegian violinist Frederik Thorkildsen Wexschall, (separated in 1831) and in 1834 to the actor Peder Nielsen and had one daughter. The fact that she divorced her second spouse in order to marry another was considered scandalous.