Björk

Björk Headshot

Singer • Songwriter • Actress • Composer • Record Producer

Birth Date: November 21, 1965

Age: 58 years old

Birth Place: Reykjavík, Iceland

A quirky chanteuse and songwriter who segued successfully from punk rock bands to a post-modern electronica solo career, dark-haired, pixieish Bjork emerged as Iceland's best known export beginning with the sweeping underground success of her band Sugarcubes in 1988. By 2000 the eclectic performer had not only conquered the music industry with her inimitable vocal style and songwriting but had moved into acting, winning the Best Actress prize at the Cannes Film Festival for her work in Lars von Trier's period musical "Dancer in the Dark."

Bjork's recording career began in 1977 when she released a self-titled Icelandic album at age 11. A collaborative effort with her musician stepfather, the record was a big seller in Iceland, and featured covers of classic pop tracks like The Beatles' "Fool on the Hill" in her native tongue as well as original compositions. Passionate about music, the trained vocalist, pianist and flutist formed many bands over the years, including the all-girl punk outfit Spit and Snot, the Goth-inspired rock band Kukl and the successful early 1980s new wave project Tappi Tikarrass. Already a star in her homeland, Bjork catapulted to fame in Europe and North America as vocalist of the avant-rock band Sugarcubes, who landed a US record deal with Elektra in 1988. Their debut album "Life's Too Good" and their single "Birthday" both quickly became cult classics. Their final album "Stick Around For Joy" was similarly successful, and the band split at the top of their game in late 1992.

Interested in opportunities and soundscapes outside of the traditional guitar-bass-drum rock configuration, Bjork began working with 808 State, forerunners of electronica, in 1990. When her solo record "Debut" hit in 1993, the influence of techno was apparent. Bjork's odd phrasing and breathy but surprisingly strong voice was a good match for the unpredictable neo-dance genre, and her strange and evocative music videos garnered much notice and acclaim. More celebrated and artistically free than she had been with the Sugarcubes, Bjork enjoyed a successful and innovative solo career and her eccentric fashion sense and peculiar persona won her status as something of a pop culture icon. When similarly renowned director Lars von Trier embarked on the dramatically gripping musical "Dancer in the Dark," he called on Bjork not only to contribute songs (which she had recently done with 1999's acclaimed independent feature "Being John Malkovich"), but to star in the film. Not exactly a stranger to the craft, Bjork counted among her credits a starring role in the Icelandic production "The Juniper Tree" (filmed in 1986, screened at film festivals around the USA in 1991), a fairy tale inspired drama, and a turn as a troubled teen in the 1987 teleplay "Glerbrot" in addition to a cameo in Robert Altman's celebrity-studded 1994 feature "Ready to Wear (Pret-a-Porter)." A peek inside a struggling single mother's fantasy world, "Dancer in the Dark" required Bjork to delve deep into her consciousness and to sing and dance, as she essayed a woman who envisioned herself and her factory co-workers as players in spectacular Hollywood musicals. The artist had previously studied dance in order to wow viewers with her remarkable breakthrough video "It's Oh So Quiet" but gladly underwent additional training for the film. More complicated was the acting end. Bjork's internalized approach to the devastating role reportedly caused the real-life single mother personal emotional distress as well as strife with von Trier. Troubles aside, "Dancer in the Dark" and Bjork herself received high praise and top honors when the film debuted at Cannes in 2000. With this celebrated performance and a long-awaited new album on the horizon for 2001, the artist (who has predicted she will be still singing at age 90) seemed sure to maintain a rewarding and illustrious career for many years to come.

Credits

The NorthmanStream

Actor
Seeress
Movie
2022
90%

6 Music Artist Collection

Music Performer
Show
2020

Fierce Women

Guest
Show
2020

15 Revolutionary Women in Music

Music Performer
Show
2020

Iconic Women

Music Performer
Show
2018

The South Bank Show Originals

Actor
Show
2014

Glastonbury

Music Performer
Show
2014

Mary Anne Hobbs

Guest
Show
2014

Björk: Biophilia Live

Actor
Movie
2014

Michael Jacksons koreograf - The man behind the throne

Guest
Show
2013

When Björk Met Attenborough

Actor
Movie
2013

Björk: Crystalline

Music Performer
Show
2011

Video Killed the Radio Star

Self
Show
2009

Later Live... with Jools Holland

Music Performer
Show
2008

Björk

Music Performer
Show
2007

Bjork: Earth Intruders

Music Performer
Show
2007

Bjork: Innocence 1

Music Performer
Show
2007

Bjork: Oceania

Music Performer
Show
2006

Bjork: Hunter

Music Performer
Show
2006

Bjork: Triumph of a Heart

Music Performer
Show
2006

Glastonbury

Actor
Movie
2006

The Colbert Report

Guest
Talk
2005

Drawing Restraint 9

Actor
Occidental Guest
Movie
2005

Bjork: Who Is It

Music Performer
Show
2004

Dancer in the DarkStream

Actor
Selma Jezkova
Movie
2000
70%

Dancer in the DarkStream

Original Music
Movie
2000
70%

The Mod SquadStream

Original Music
Movie
1999
3%

Being John MalkovichStream

Original Music
Movie
1999
94%

Free Tibet

Self
Movie
1998

Die Harald Schmidt Show

Actor
Show
1995

Anton

Music
Movie
1995

Late Night With Conan O'Brien

Guest
Talk
1993

Bjork: Human Behaviour

Music Performer
Show
1993

Later ... with Jools Holland

Music Performer
Show
1992

The Juniper Tree

Actor
Margit
Movie
1990

Saturday Night LiveStream

Music Performer
Series
1975