Anne Marie Ottersen with “Fredriksson’s factory” disclosure

The laughter is on the loose when Geir Kvarme (60), Brit Elisabeth Haagensli (70) and Anne Marie Ottersen (78) meet to reminisce about the 90s success “Fredriksson’s factory”.

The Swedish-Norwegian series aired on NRK between 1990 and 1993, and at its peak a total of 2.3 million watched the comedy series.

– “Fredriksson’s factory” was an adventure from A to Z. Saturday entertainment was very important to people at the time. We had so much fun together, recalls Anne Marie.

She reveals that the actors did not agree that the series should be closed after three seasons and a feature film.

– We would have liked to continue after the last episode had been recorded, but then a new entertainment manager came from England and stopped it, she says and elaborates:

– Then Rolv Wesenlund said: “If you had told media people in America that they shut down the greatest success there was, they would have been shocked”. We even beat a World Cup international soccer match between Norway and the Netherlands in viewership!

“Fredriksson’s factory”

Geir Kvarme got a kick start on his acting career with TV production.

– I had just come out of the egg and barely had any feathers on. I had made my debut at Torshovteatret with a play called “The Foreigner”. One day I heard that Bo Hermansson was in the hall. I didn’t know who it was, but it was explained quickly, he chuckles.

The following morning, “Fleksnes” director Hermansson called and wanted to meet the young actor for lunch at the Theatercafé the same day. There he was offered a role in the upcoming production.

– When he rattled off the names of the other actors, I thought he was joking. There were only big names that I had grown up with, he says, looking away at Anne Marie and Brit Elisabeth.

– We share a very important part of our acting career, at least mine. I feel very safe and connected to you, and I relax like that when we are together, says Geir.

– Yes it is true. The recordings spanned four years, so we had a lot of time to get to know each other, agrees Brit Elisabeth.

She will praise the younger colleague for his bubbly spirit and eagerness to learn.

– Geir was full of enthusiasm, so it was also a lot of fun for us to get to know him and work with him.

Also read: Anne Marie Ottersen and Lasse Lindtner met 38 years ago: – We just knew that “this is right”

Played at Oslo Nye Centralteatret

The theater performance “Fredriksson’s factory” is now playing at Oslo Nye Centralteatret.

– It is funny that they have put on a theater performance. It’s a tribute, says Anne Marie and smiles broadly.

The biggest profiles in the TV series were Anne Marie Ottersen, Brit Elisabeth Haagensli, Geir Kvarme, Elsa Lystad, Aud Schønemann and Swede Magnus Härenstam. Now the latter three have expired.

– Half of us are gone now, which is very strange. We became so close. It is incredible to think that I have been allowed to work with these guns. To get to know them and to become good friends with them, says Geir.

The loss of good friends and colleagues has made Anne Marie reflect on aging.

– It’s strange to get older. There is a lot to take in. You have had a different look at your life until you get older and see people start to die in greater numbers around you. The perspective on life changes. You have to accept that, but at the same time I want to continue to be an energetic and happy person.

Brit Elisabeth describes herself as a forward-looking realist.

– Never look back, look forward. Everyone lives with pain, and we have our things that we carry with us. Elsa and Aud said that too. There is a hurt in the fact that the new generation does not know what lies behind us when people disappear. And then I have to say as Rolv Wesenlund said: “We are constantly moving forward in the queue”.

Read also: (+) Mum says she doesn’t want to be a grandmother and it hurts so much

Good memories and robber stories

The trio talk into each other’s mouths, so to speak, when they are asked to reminisce.

Director Bo Hermansson had a good idea of ​​TV comedies, and gave the advice: “Don’t play”. The actors were able to help shape their own roles. Some took it out more than others.

– Elsa never decided what she was going to say until she said it, so she took a few turns to get where she was going. From time to time you can see in the rest of us that we become a little unsure, but it always worked, recalls Geir.

– Yes, Aud wanted things right and could get a little stressed by it. “Yes, what are you going to say?”. She was strict and disciplined, says Anne Marie.

– If I problematized things or said that something didn’t work, Aud could kick me in the shin. Everything she did always worked. She had tremendous timing. A unique talent, says Geir.

– None of us would have taken part if Aud had not accepted us. Theater is group work. If it is one person who causes problems, there will be conflict, says Anne Marie.

Also read: Actress Kari-Ann Grønsund cried when she heard her grandchild’s name

Very private

Geir reveals that all of Norway’s “Modern” was a very private person.

– She didn’t like attention and didn’t want any fuss. After recording, she always took me firmly by the arm and said: “Now we’re going.” She was a national treasure, but didn’t like the attention. Geir remembers another memory from when he played Roger in the play “Nr. 13” with Aud.

– I had a fever of 40 and buckets in the wings if I were to throw up. When I said that I didn’t know if it was going to work, Aud said: “You know what’s so good, Geir? Roger is not bad, you know.” Then we went inside. It wasn’t much comfort, he says and laughs a little.

– Think how lucky we were to be allowed to work with the big stars and end up becoming good friends with them.

This case was first published on 03/04 2024, and last updated on 03/04 2024.