Birthe Neumann (born 30 April 1947) is a Danish actress.
Neumann was born in Vanløse, Copenhagen. In 1972 she graduated from the Danish National School of Theatre, and was shortly afterwards employed as an actress at the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen.
At the Royal Danish Theatre she has appeared in a number of productions, among them Marx and Coca Cola, Molière's The Learned Ladies, Henrik Hertz's Sparekassen (The Savings Bank), Jess Ørnsbo's Majonæse (Mayonnaise), Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, and David Hare's A Breath of Life.
Her film appearances include Hovedjægerne (her first film role, in 1971; released internationally as The Headhunters), Lad isbjørnene danse (1990, Dance of the Polar Bears), Kærlighedens Smerte (1992, Pain of Love), The Celebration (1998, Festen, the first Dogme 95 film), Elsker dig for evigt og (2002, Open Hearts, also a Dogme film) and Lykkevej (Move Me, 2003).
She has also appeared in Danish television series including Lars von Trier's Riget (The Kingdom), Forsvar (Defense), and as a repeated guest star on Krøniken (Chronicles).
She has received both of Denmark's leading film awards: a Bodil for her performances in Kærlighedens smerte and Lykkevej, and a Robert for Lykkevej.
In 2013, she received the Lauritzen Award.
Neumann was married to Danish actor Paul Hüttel from 1974 until his death in 2025; they had one daughter.
Filmography
Film
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| Denotes productions that have not yet been released
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{| class="wikitable sortable"
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! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1992
| Pain of Love
| Kirstens mor
|
|-
| 1998
| The Celebration
| Else, the mother
|
|-
|2002
| Facing the Truth
| Eli's Mother
|
|-
|2002
| Open Hearts
| Hanne
|
|-
|2008
| Dancers
| Annika's Mother
|
|-
|2010
| In a Better World
| Marianne's colleague
|
|-
|2020
| Into the Darkness
| Sara
|
|-
|2021
| The Pact
| Karen Blixen
|
|-
|}
Television
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 2013–2024
| Badehotellet
| Olga Fjeldsø
| 64 episodes
|-
| 2022
| The Shift
| Vivi
|
|-
| 2024
| Constellation
| Walborg Bang
| 1 episode
|-
|}
Awards and nominations
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Award
! Category
! Work
! Result
|-
| 1993
| Bodil Award
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role
| Kærlighedens smerte
|
|-
| 1996
| Bodil Award
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role
| Kun en pige
|
|-
| 1996
| Robert Awards
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role
| Kun en pige
|
|-
| 1999
| Robert Awards
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role
| The Celebration
|
|-
| 2002
| Bodil Award
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role
| Fogsvansen
|
|-
| 2002
| Robert Awards
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role
| Fogsvansen
|
|-
| 2003
| Bodil Award
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role
| Open Hearts
|
|-
| 2003
| Robert Awards
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role
| Open Hearts
|
|-
| 2004
| Bodil Award
| Best Actress in a Leading Role
| Move Me
|
|-
| 2004
| Robert Awards
| Best Actress in a Leading Role
| Move Me
|
|-
| 2006
| Bodil Award
| Best Actress
| Solkongen
|
|-
| 2006
| Robert Awards
| Best Actress
| Solkongen
|
|-
| 2013
| Robert Awards
| Best Actress in a Supporting Television Role
| Julestjerner
|
|-
| 2022
| Bodil Award
| Best Actress
| The Pact
|
|-
| 2022
| Robert Awards
| Best Actress
| The Pact
|
|}