**Birgitte Federspiel (1925-2005)** was a Danish actress with a distinguished film career spanning over fifty years. She is internationally renowned for her iconic roles in two masterpieces of Danish cinema.

In 1955, she played the unforgettable Inger in Carl Theodor Dreyer's *Ordet* (The Word), a role for which she won the Bodil Award and solidified her as a dramatic figure of great intensity. Decades later, in 1987, she achieved global fame as Martine in Gabriel Axel's Oscar-winning *Babette's Feast*.

Federspiel was known for her ability to portray complex female characters: often austere, possessing strong moral integrity or profound spirituality, yet also capable of great dignity and subtle vulnerability. Her acting was characterized by a measured screen presence and an emotional depth that made her unforgettable.