Sofia Helin is for most Norwegians best known as forensic scientist Saga Norén in the Danish-Swedish series «The Bridge». Soon she will be seen on the TV screen as the Norwegian-Swedish Crown Princess Märtha.
Tobias Santelmann, who played the financier Henrik in the NRK success «Exit», plays the role of Crown Prince Olav.
The setting for the drama in the series deals with the Germans’ attack on Norway during World War II, where Märtha and the children had to flee to the United States, while Crown Prince Olav remained to fight.
Training at the castle
To play the role of crown princess, Helin not only had to learn Norwegian, she also had to take a etiquette course. She did this at the castle in Stockholm. There she received a thorough introduction to how to sit, stand, refuse and eat like a royalty.
– LEARNED NORWEGIAN: Now that Sofia Helin has learned the language, she is happy to play several roles in Norway. Photo: Celina Morken
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– I learned that you have your hands on the table, and never in your lap during a dinner.
To acquire the royal demeanor, Helin has watched TV features by Swedish Queen Silvia. Something she has noticed is that the queen often crosses her fingers on the table to rest her fingers.
She points out that some of the etiquette rules no longer apply – but in the 40s, where the action in the series takes place, women should not drink alcohol unless they were toasted by a man.
– They should also not go to the toilet or go anywhere else during the whole dinner, says the Swedish actor.
Reveals Queen Sonia’s violation of etiquette
During the etiquette training at the castle, Helin heard about an incident that took place at the Nobel party. A woman facing Queen Silvia did an “absolute no-no” to the etiquette.
STOCKHOLM: Queen Silvia pictured with Barry Barish during the Nobel dinner in 2017. Photo: Jonas Ekströmer / Scanpix
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– She put her handbag on the table. And what did Queen Silvia do then? She also put her handbag on the table, says a smiling Helin.
Furthermore, she says that during the recording she found it challenging to constantly have to maintain the inner form of royalty and control.
– I felt like saying ugly words and screaming.
Norwegian of the century
Santelmann says that many ask if he felt awe by playing Crown Prince Olav, who was later named Norwegian of the century.
– I thought little about it. It does not help me in my work. I was interested in finding my version of him, says the 40-year-old.
He says that it was important to try to imagine how Olav was private.
GREAT VARIATION: Tobias Santelmann says that the role as Crown Prince Olav is closer to him than the role as Exit-Henrik, but that it is fun with the challenge of playing such different roles. Photo: Celina Morken
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– We do not know much about what happened in private between him and his father, and he and Märtha. But I have talked to family, people who knew him and who worked with him.
In addition, he spent a few days at the National Library and watched everything they have of videos of Olav and Märtha.
Crown Princess Märtha and Crown Prince Olav photographed in the USA, probably in the year 1940 when Olav came on a surprise visit at Christmas. Photo: Scanpix
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– Then you look at small details such as how they get out of a car, who goes first and how he receives or helps Märtha out, how he waves to the audience and things like that, he explains.
– I have no idea who Märtha was
Helin reveals that she knew little about Norwegian royal history before she took on the role.
– It was a completely new story for me, even though Märtha is Swedish, I had no idea who she was, she admits.
Helin says that it fascinated her how Märtha went from being a passive public figure to actively making drastic choices.
REVIEW: The first meeting between Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Märtha in Christmas 1940 after the separation in Norway in April. Photo: NTB
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– She interfered in politics, even though she was not allowed. She started working for the Americans to help Norway in the war.
Märtha did a number of things that were completely forbidden to do as royalty at that time.
– She invited Norwegian sailors, who were homeless in the US, to stay with her.
Finally, Helin reveals that we will see her in season 2 of Exit.
– I wonder if people will recognize me at all, she laughs.
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