‘Vigdís’ Co-Scribes on the Icelandic Show from ‘Blackport’ Creators

One of 5 TV exhibits battling for Göteborg’s coveted Nordic Series Script Award, Iceland’s four-parter “Vigdís,” brings to global screens the inspiring true story of Vigdís Finnbogadóttir who made historical past in 1980, not only as the small Nordic nation’s first feminine president however also as the world’s first democratically elected feminine headvert of state.

Under the pen of producer-turned author Ágústa M. Ólafsdóttir and Björg Magnúsdóttir (“The Minister”), the collection focuses on Vigdís’ youth from an adolescent in the late Nineteen Forties, her research in France and experience as head of the Reykjavík Theatre Company up until her election in 1980

Remarkably performed by Elín Hall (“When the Light Breaks”) as the younger Icelandic politician in the making and the seasoned Nína Dögg Filippusdóttir (“Blackport,” “Trapped”), “Vigdís changed into one in all Iceland’s most profitable local TV collection ever when it aired early 2025 on RÚV, because of Finnbogadóttir’s inspirational journey for generations of Icelanders and for women round the world.

Helmed by Björn Hlynur Haraldsson (King Eisin in “The Witcher”) and Tinna Hrafnsdóttir (“Descendants,” “Reykjavik 112”) for Vesturport (a Series Mania top prize winner with “Blackport”), the biopic, co-created by producer Rakel Garðarsdóttir and Ólafsdóttir, was offered by Reinvent Yellow to GSN Networks for the U.S. and Canada, Viaplay for Eastern Europe and Err Estonia.
Ólafsdóttir and Magnúsdóttir spoke to Variety ahead of Göteborg’s TV Drama Vision, unspooling Jan 27-28.

First of all, what’s your individual private reminiscence of Vigdís Finnbogadóttir as head of state and for you, what does she stand for?

Ágústa M. Ólafsdóttir: In 1980, my mom took my brother and me to hitch the crowd outdoors Vigdís’ dwelling to have a good time her election. Although I used to be only three, the event’s significance remained with me. When I used to be a bit older my mum helped me respect the contributions women had made in the past, and to know just how important Vigdís’ election was. To me, Vigdís stands for braveness, open-mindedness, hope and resilience. She has always been a outstanding source of inspiration and an admirable function mannequin.   

Björg Magnúsdóttir: Through my childhood Vigdís was the head of state in Iceland so I met her on quite a few events. I just bear in mind the general feeling of being happy with this superior lady who I later on realised is the greatest function mannequin of my technology – each women and boys. In my thoughts she stands for the future, equality and progress. Quality. We want more of all that today. 

At what point of the development course of did you each come on board and the way did you break up the writing?

Ólafsdóttir: Rakel [Garðarsdóttir] and I had been working together when she acquired the concept, so she pitched it to me very soon and I immediately knew we needed to do it. As producers, we started to develop the concept initially as a feature movie however later decided that a mini-series would offer the mandatory scope to totally convey Vigdís’ story. Rakel inspired me to be part of the author’s team, and I knew this was the ideally suited project to understand my ardour for screenwriting. When Björg agreed to collaborate, I felt confident that together we may inform this extraordinary story.

We devoted vital time to research and script development, collaboratively drafting the preliminary variations. Later in the course of we also assigned episode sections and wrote independently before reconvening to combine our work and consider our progress. We acquired invaluable suggestions from Rakel, Nína, the lead actress, and Björn Hlynur, one in all the administrators, which contributed to bettering the general high quality of the scripts. In the development course of, we also had another author with us, Jana María Guðmundsdóttir, who participated in the treatment and writing of the first episode.

Magnúsdóttir: We did the research together and wrote all episodes together. 

Was it clear from the inception that the focus could be on Vigdís’ journey before she turned president?

Ólafsdóttir: While many know her as President Vigdís, few are aware of her earlier life. There’s a standard false impression that completed people have always had their lives figured out or deliberate from an early age, however Vigdís’ story proves in any other case. At 30, she was just lately divorced, without kids, missing a college diploma, and residing again along with her mother and father, undoubtedly a low-point. But instead of giving up, she completed her diploma, took on a number of jobs, and rebuilt her life. Even while going through deep insecurities, she persevered and in the end succeeded. 

Magnúsdóttir: Yes it was always the concept to inform the story of how this particular person turned the first feminine elected president in the world. And for me, a method greater query than how did the presidency go, since I really feel like all people is aware of she was superior there. But fewer people know the way it occurred.

Getting approval from Vigdís was after all quintessential. How was your first encounter along with her, and interplay along with her by means of the development and writing course of

Ólafsdóttir: Rakel and Nína had developed a detailed friendship with Vigdís, and someday they invited me to hitch them for lunch along with her. I felt a bit like a schoolgirl again on the technique to the assembly – so excited! She was humble, humorous and really welcoming so it was simple to chill out in her company. Later, Björg and I visited her dwelling for an interview, the place she welcomed our detailed questions about matters that fascinated us. She also visited the set, lent us her garments and was exceptionally beneficiant along with her time and encouragement. 

Magnúsdóttir: I bear in mind going to her home so freaking nervous and feeling so small! But Vigdís has this distinctive expertise of lifting up the people round her and I really feel the same factor occurred with us writers because it occurred with the nation when she was elected. Vigdís sees everybody in the room, wherever she is and makes us really feel appreciated and really important. When we left the home, after lengthy session of questions I bear in mind feeling so good about myself and optimistic about all the pieces.

Tell us about the research part, the key individuals and archive materials that helped you flesh out the characters and storyline?

Ólafsdóttir: Páll Valsson’s biography of Vigdís was a useful useful resource that guided us in choosing key moments from her life. We also performed interviews along with her shut associates, household and colleagues. Our research included reviewing all accessible news articles about her, in addition to analyzing radio exhibits and TV footage. To better perceive the eras depicted in the story, we explored extra biographies and articles and listened to period-specific radio packages. We devoted vital time to conducting in-depth research, in addition to fastidiously crafting the treatment. We needed the script to seize Vigdís’ distinctive character and ship the story in a way she deserves.

Magnúsdóttir: We read all the pieces on the net about Vigdís, biographies of people during the time in focus, we read and re-read Vigdís’s biography and interviewed people near her. Vigdís was also beneficiant and answered nearly every query we had. When we had as many solutions about Vigdís’ life as we may, we began writing and killing our darlings.

How was your collaboration with Rakel, Nína Dögg Filippusdóttir, Elín Hall, and co-directors Björn Hlynur Haraldsson and Tinna Hrafnsdóttir?

Ólafsdóttir: Rakel, Nína and Björn Hlynur had been concerned from the outset, offering invaluable suggestions on all drafts. Their contributions had been instrumental in refining the final script. Once the script was greenlit, Björg transitioned to her next vital dedication – welcoming her first baby.

I turned the showrunner for the collection and stored bettering the script at every stage. Tinna joined the team when pre-production started and made vital contributions to each the group and the project itself. Throughout manufacturing, I collaborated carefully with Björn Hlynur, Tinna and the inventive team to make sure the script was aligned with their inventive imaginative and prescient while accommodating our restricted price range.

Nína and Elín delivered excellent performances as Vigdís across different eras. Their dedication, diligence, and excellent expertise considerably enhanced the narrative. Their delicate and correct interpretations added depth and authenticity to the script. I’d prefer to highlight our cinematographer, Eli Arenson and division heads-Heimir Sverrisson (artwork), Helga Stefánsdóttir (costumes), and Joséphine Hoy (hair & make-up) who demonstrated distinctive skill of their respective areas. 

What had been the greatest challenges? Adapting to the financing? Squeezing practically a decade in each of 4 episodes and sticking to the operating time? Distancing your self from documentary narration to create a true fictition piece while ensuring you’d keep as respectful as attainable to Vigdís?

Ólafsdóttir: query and ‘yes’ to all the pieces talked about. Although we had a decent price range, the capturing script is bold, encompassing 4 a long time and a broad forged of characters.

The hardest half was crafting a script that was traditionally correct and mirrored Vigdís’ character, while also being participating and well-paced. We tried to highlight Vigdís’ complexities and private struggles while staying true to her open-minded nature and respectful perspective in the direction of others. With other characters, we allowed ourselves more inventive freedom, for example, by combining a number of of Vigdís’ associates into the character Magga.

Magnúsdóttir: Definitely staying respectful to Vigdís and her story however at the same time telling an attention-grabbing story… not a straightforward process in any respect moments however we mentioned it endlessly and had been proud with the result. Killing your darlings is also tough however mandatory in that discipline.  

How did you make sure that the present could be engaging to all-including the youthful technology, and to a wider worldwide viewers, not so aware of Vigdís’ story?

Ólafsdóttir: The collection will not be about a president or politics, however a woman who needs to have the same freedom and alternatives males have. It doesn’t matter if viewers know Vigdís or not. Her hope for a better future is common, connecting with people of all ages. 

Magnúsdóttir: In my thoughts Vigdís’ story has a classical grand theme: an underdog against all odds, who faces many different challenges and tough people and conditions, and still finally ends up altering the world. It’s completely timeless. 

The collection was an enormous success in Iceland. You must have been so happy. How did Vigdís react to the collection?

Ólafsdóttir: We had been extremely grateful with the collection’ success in Iceland. We realized that households – often spanning three generations – would collect every Sunday to observe the episodes together. Afterwards, youthful viewers would ask questions, giving older kin an opportunity to share tales from the past. Vigdís was as soon as again uniting people, a lot as she had during her time as president.

It was clearly fairly nerve racking to listen to what Vigdís, her household and shut associates thought about the collection, however their suggestions was extremely optimistic. Vigdís’ approval was particularly vital and significantly valued by our team. 

Besides her iconic standing at dwelling, Vigdís’ also had strong function on the global political stage. She oversaw, for instance, the Reykjavik summit of 1986, credited for bettering relations between the superpowers and contributing to the end of the Cold War. In other phrases, there’s loads of crunchy materials for more fiction. Is a second season on the playing cards?

Ólafsdóttir: Vigdís’ presidency had a terrific impression, and during her 16 years in workplace she earned widespread respect from each worldwide leaders and her personal nation. After her presidency, she was appointed as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for languages, the place she continued her dedication to schooling, and later served as a member of the high-level panel on peace and dialogue among cultures. There’s definitely loads of inspiration for more tales! Time will inform if we’ll share her next chapter sometime. 

What’s next for you?

Ólafsdóttir: I’m presently collaborating with Rakel on the manufacturing of two feature movies, each exceptionally written, one by Björn Hlynur and the other by Sjón. 

Magnúsdóttir: I’m operating for the City Council in Reykjavík utilizing Vigdís as my final function mannequin, practising braveness just like she did!