Icelandic singer Guðrún Ýr Eyfjörð is known to music fans as GDRN. She has released two highly successful albums and won many accolades for her music. She has collaborated with many other Icelandic musicians, including the acclaimed Eurovision act Hatari. But now she turned her talent towards acting and plays a leading role in the hit Netflix series ‘Katla.’
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Intriguing plot
The plot of Katla is intriguing. The monster sub-glacial volcano Katla has devastated its neighborhood. If you are not familiar with the volcano, it suffices to say that it is both big and mean. Katla has not erupted since 1918 and geologists, and the Icelandic Civil Defence constantly monitor this menace. Anyway, Katla, the lovely village of Vík, has been evacuated due to the eruption. Something strange long hidden in the ice of the snow-melted glacier has now been set free with unintended consequences. Guðrún Ýr plays Gríma, a young woman who struggles on her farm with her husband through the eruption.
Icelandic director Baltasar Kormákur is the creator of the series. Baltasar is the man behind the smash-hit series Trapped and such Hollywood films as 2 Guns, Everest, and Contraband. I must mention that my wife, soprano Hallveig Rúnarsdóttir, has worked closely with Högni Egilsson of Hjaltalín and Gus Gus fame in creating the music that does so much to make Katla so intriguing. Guðrún is one of my favorite Icelandic musicians. So, full disclosure, I am a fanboy. I am, therefore, delighted to interview her for her first role as an actor in major international TV series.
Hello Guðrún Ýr, and thank you so much for taking the time for this interview. You are a tremendously successful singer; why this segue into acting?
It was not planned at all! I was performing the music in a play called ‘Shakespeare in love’ at the National Theater of Iceland. I sang and played the violin in the play and after the premiere the director of the play, Selma Björnsdóttir, told me that she was the casting director for Baltasar and wanted to know if I was interested to audition for this role of Gríma. My first thought was “I’m just a musician, I have no idea how to act,” but I decided to give it a try and got a call-back and a couple of weeks later I got the role! Acting and performing music are not that different and I could definitely use my musical experience while acting in Katla.
Katla has expanded me so much as an artist and I am so excited to make more music and hopefully act more in the near future.
Can you tell me about the role you play in Katla on Netflix?
It is a pretty dramatic role, where my character Gríma has to face her own fears and her own shortcomings while dealing with pretty surreal situations. It was a challenging role but so rewarding. I don’t want to tell you too much, because I don’t want to spoil anything! But make sure to check it out on Netflix.
Baltasar Kormákur is a legend. What is it like to work with him?
It was amazing. It is so great to have the opportunity to work with a director who has such vast experience in acting himself. He has such a big understanding of what you’re trying to do and knows exactly how to lead you in the right direction.
I have to ask about your musical career as well; when can we fans expect more music from you?
I don’t want to promise anything, but hopefully this summer!
Do you have a favorite place or activity in Iceland, and if so, which is it?
I love going around the country camping here and there, just enjoying Icelandic nature. My family loves going on camping trips in the summertime and I can promise you that it’s the best vacation you will ever get (if the weather behaves).
What advice would you give to people who are visiting Iceland for the first time?
Check out Icelandic nature, but be sure to respect it so you can enjoy it fully!
Playlist for GDRN
Enjoy!
