Nina Arvesen

Nina Arvesen (born May 16, 1961) is anAmerican film and television actress, model, dancer, and businesswoman. Best known for her performances in American soap operas, Arvesen landed her two most prominent acting roles as Cassandra Rawlins on The Young and the Restless and as Angela Raymond on the NBC television series Santa Barbara. In her native Norway, Nina Arvesen subtitled American films, ran a televisionstation, and opened up the county's first RCA / Motown affiliate. Arvesen is of Norwegian descent and speaks fluent Norwegian.

Early life

Arvesen was born in White Plains, New York, but grew up in Norway through her early childhood. Arvesen also spent time living in Egypt, Brazil, Costa Rica and then again in United States, (however, both her parents are from Norway). She is a dual citizen of Norway and the United States.

Her father Jan Arvesen was a Norwegian diplomat and was Norway´s ambassador to Mexico (1979-1985), to Costa Rica (1985-1991) and to Portugal (1976-1998). Her mother is Sidsel(pronounced "sis-sell") Arvesen mother was also a Norwegian actress in Norway.Nina also has two brothers, Jannik Arvesen who is a financial investment adviser in Norway and Christian Arversen who works in film and special effects in Los Angeles California.

Career

Arvesen initially began her career during her teens as an actress, model, dancer and a classically trained pianist in Norway. After college, she made the decision to leave Norway to pursue her dream of an acting career in the United States of America where she has appeared in several television shows, commercials and movies. After she stopped working in the various soap operas that made her famous her career aspirations shifted from acting to work modeling for television commercials, print ads and popular magazines. Arvesen went on to launch and create her own production company, The Arvesen Group.

Soap Opera Digest called Arvesen one of "TV's Most Beautiful Women" in their March 21, 1989 publication, which had over 1 million subscribers at the time.

Arvesen currently owns and operates her own dance studio in California, after retiring from movies and television.

Charity work

Besides being the Master of Ceremonies of more than one St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's annual fund-raising events, Arvesen has been involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).