Gísli Örn Garðarsson

Short Biography

Gisli Gardarsson, born in Iceland but grew up in Norway where he started his acting career. He is now more or less based in the UK.He finished a four year acting degree at the Icelandic Academy of the Arts, graduating in the year 2001.Gisli is a founder of the internationally acclaimed theatre and film company Vesturport.Since it's foundation in 2001, Vesturport has performed in most major theatre venues around the World and has produced 5 feature films (Childeren, Parents, Brim, Country Wedding (co-producer) and Kings Road (co-producer).Gisli's international break through came with his directional debut of Romeo and Juliet (where he also played Romeo). It premiered at the Reykjavik City Theatre, but then transferred to the Young Vic Theatre in London where it opened to great critical and audience acclaim. The production transferred to the West End in London in 2004. Again being hailed by the press as one of the most exciting theatrical events for years.Gisli has created numerous theatre productions, which have toured the World.He has collaborated with musicians Nick Cave and Warren Ellis on Woyzeck, Metamorphosis and Faust.Gisli was awarded the European Film award Shooting Star for his role in Children at the Berlin Film Festival in 2007.In England, as an actor, he has performed with Knee High Theatre company under the direction of Emma Rice in A Matter of Life and Death, as Jack Walser in Angela Carters Nights at the Circus and as Don John, in an adaptation of Don Juan.