Vendela Maria Kirsebom (born 12 January 1967) is a Norwegian-Swedish model, television host, and actress.
Early life and education
Kirsebom was born in Stockholm, Sweden, to a Norwegian mother and a Turkish father.
At the age of 13, she was discovered in a Stockholm restaurant by Eileen Ford. At age 18, she graduated from the Oslo Waldorf School and moved to Italy to pursue a modeling career under the guidance of Ford Models.
Career
Kirsebom moved to New York City at age 20 and signed a six-year contract with Elizabeth Arden soon after, in addition to modeling for fashion brands in the United States and Europe. During the 1990s, Kirsebom appeared on the magazine covers of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Harper's Bazaar, Brides, Flare, Shape, FHM and Zest. In 1996, she became a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. In 2023, she walked the runway for Sports Illustrateds Swimsuit Runway Show at Miami Swim Week.
Personal life
Kirsebom was engaged to American film producer Jon Peters during the early 1990s. In 1996, she married Norwegian politician Olaf Thommessen, with whom she shares two daughters. They separated in 2007 after 11 years of marriage.
In addition to Swedish, Norwegian and Danish, Kirsebom speaks German, Italian and English fluently.
Filmography
Film
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
|1997
|Batman & Robin
|Nora Fries
|
|-
|1998
|The Parent Trap
|Bridal Gown Model
|
|}
Television
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
|1988
|Piazza Navona
|Ingrid Allberg
|Episode: "Cuore di ladro"
|-
|1992
|Blossom
|Fairy Godmother
|Episode: "Driver's Education"
|-
|1995
|Murphy Brown
| rowspan="2” |Herself
|Episode: "Model Relationships"
|-
|1995
|The Larry Sanders Show
|Episode: "The Bump"
|-
|1995
|Dweebs
|Greta Nyquist
|Episode: "The Actress Show"
|-
|1996
|Muppets Tonight
|Princess Vendela
|Episode: "Jason Alexander"
|-
|1997
|Johnny Bravo
|Herself (voice)
|Episode: "Talk to Me, Baby"
|-
|1999
|Melodifestivalen 1999
|Host
|Television special
|-
|2000
|Model Behavior
|rowspan="2" |Herself
|Television film
|-
|2005
|Romy and Michele: In the Beginning
|Television film
|-
|2005–2007
|Top Model Sverige
| rowspan="2" |Host
|4 episodes
|-
|2006–2008
|Top Model Norge
|3 episodes
|}
References
External links
- Aftonbladet, "Jag vet inget om min pappa", 11 December 2006
- Aftonbladet, "Vi måste alla hjälpa barn", 18 June 2001