Mathilde Norholt: “There’s something magical about watching the city wake up”
Mathilde Norholt, 42, actress and director. Among other projects, she co-directed the short film Ciao Bella with Julie Brochorst and currently stars in the new season of the crime series Sommerdahl. She lives in Vesterbro. Follow Mathilde on @mathildenorholt and mathildenorholt.com. Photo: HEIN
1. When does Copenhagen feel most like your city?
“In the spring, Copenhagen is absolutely magical. Copenhageners—and Danes in general—are a bit collectively schizophrenic: in the winter, when it’s dark and cold, we barely make eye contact with anyone and just walk around grumbling a bit. But now, with the sky so beautifully blue and the sun shining, everyone’s high on endorphins, greeting each other and making small talk. You can really feel that spring has arrived, and that’s exactly when Copenhagen feels most like my city.”
I have a soft spot for these tiny little houses that can be found in various places around town. They’re only one window wide and two or three stories tall, and I’m so fascinated by them.
2. What place in the city do you always return to?
“I love both Vesterbro and Nørrebro and feel very much at home in both places, but for me, the center of the universe is Frederiksberg. Gammel Kongevej and Frederiksberg Allé—that’s where my map of the world begins. I was born and raised in Frederiksberg, and my parents still live on a side street off Frederiksberg Allé, so it’s an area I return to again and again.”
Mathilde loves the area around Gammel Kongevej
3. What hidden gem in the city is almost too good to share?
“I have a soft spot for these tiny little houses that can be found in various places around the city. They’re only one window wide and two or three stories tall, and I’m so fascinated by them. For example, there’s one on H.C. Ørstedsvej, on Istedgade, in Bagerstræde, and on Sankt Thomas Plads. They’re just kind of squeezed in between two buildings. How were they built, and what do they look like inside? I love taking a walk past one of them with a cup of coffee and maybe sitting in a little patch of sunshine to admire them. I think they’re so wonderful.”
One of the tiny houses that Mathilde is fascinated by
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4. What’s your best tip for a unique experience in Copenhagen?
“I’m a theater kid at heart, so my best tip is to find a small theater in town that suits you, book a show, and then spend a whole day in the neighborhood where the theater is located. I’m personally a big fan of FÅR302, which has a wonderful little stage and has put on some wild and daring productions.
Get up early—I never thought I’d say this, but there’s something magical about watching a city wake up—and hang out in the neighborhood, ask the locals where you can get a good cup of coffee and where to have lunch, sit in a park for a bit, and then head to the theater in the evening to enjoy the show. Afterward, you might find a place to have a drink, and then bike home, completely tired and full of experiences.”
Mathilde Recommends Theater FÅR302
5. Which metro station is your favorite?
“I’ve got a little crush on Nørrebro St. because the architecture is so cool. And it’s just such a great part of town. It’s so urban, and there’s this amazing vibe where all kinds of different things come together. It’s so lively! I feel like I’m in Berlin, and it’s just awesome.”
Mathilde loves Nørrebro Station for its cool architecture
Experiences with the Metro
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