Who is Liv Ullmann? And what kind of extraordinary life has she lived?

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About the actress, director, author, and (fellow)human being Liv Ullmann:

Honorary Oscar Academy Award

Liv Ullmann receives an Honorary Award at the 12th Governors Awards (watch the video) in 2022, in Hollywood (Oscars).

In 2025, the European Film Academy awarded Liv Ullmann the European Lifetime Achievement Award. Award in recognition of her contributions to the art of film as an actress, screenwriter, and director — watch the ceremony here.

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Her compassion and dedication to refugees

About Liv Ullmann, who lends her voice to the voiceless. Through her deep commitment to refugee advocacy and humanitarian work.

She has dedicated much of her life to charitable efforts – especially for people forced to flee their homes – a reality she experienced herself early in life (in Norwegian, use Google translate.)

Liv Ullmann co-founded the Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children, and gave a speech about its founding in 1989 when the organization marked its 30th anniversary.

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When War Stole Childhood: Liv Ullmann in Exile as a Refugee During World War II

Before she became a world-renowned artist, Liv Ullmann was a child on the run. During World War II, she lived in exile in North America alongside two children of the Norwegian royal family.
In Little Norway in Canada, they shared a childhood marked by uncertainty, longing, and hope.
In the photograph, Liv stands in front of the highly decorated colonel and athlete Ole Reistad, with Ragnhild to the left. Harald stands to the right, holding hands with Liv Ullmann’s older sister, Janna Erika Ullmann (later Bitten Øie).
A quiet testament to children who carried the reality of war.

This photograph was carried on board the Restauration throughout the entire Crossings200 voyage in 2025, sailing from Norway to North America:

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The TV-seies “Liv Ullmann – A Road Less Travelled”

This 2023 series portrays Liv Johanne Ullmann – a Norwegian icon and internationally renowned artist – in three episodes that explore her life, career, and contributions to Norway’s cultural heritage.

Trailer. Official Clip: No. 1 and No. 2.

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Interviews in American/English

Liv Ullmann – A Road Less Travelled: Q&A with Liv Ullmann and director Dheeraj Akolkar (DOCNYCfest, 2023).

Liv Ullmann – In Conversation With… (TIFF, 2018).

2013 interview with Liv Ullmann on Ingmar Bergman’s Autumn Sonata (1978).
In conversation with… Liv Ullmann on Ingmar Bergman (British Film Institute / BFI, 2018).
Liv Ullmann on Autumn Sonata, Coolidge Corner Theatre (2018).

From 1980: It is me: Liv Ullmann. Interview (Serbian TV).

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Additional Videos Featuring Conversations, Interviews, and Reports

About the Honorary Oscar and other projects Liv Ullmann has been involved in, Norwegian Film Institute (use Google translate).

And “Norway’s greatest once called herself Miss Nobody.” (NRK, year 2013 - use Google translate).

You’ll find even more on the Norwegian-language section of this website (in Norwegian).

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Podcast

“Liv – historier fra virkeligheten (True Stories)“
Who is Liv Ullmann? Discover Liv’s extraordinary life and more. Podcast series in Norwegian.

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