This dates back to the Sagas, and to the monumental works of medieval figures such as Snorri Sturluson. Gurn svfursdttir: Gurun is a character in the Laxdla saga who is believed to have actually existed. He is famous for his sculptured and large-scale installation art. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Some of its popular singers are Bubbi Morthens, Megas and Bjrgvin Halldrsson, while Bjrk Gumundsdttir is probably the most famous Icelander of them all. Jhanna Sigurardttir is a former Prime Minister of Iceland. Read on to discover Iceland travel blogs, nature blogs, food Inglfur Arnason overlooks central Reykjavk. (Icelandic Professional Strongman, Regarded as One of the Greatest Strength Athletes of All Time) 24. She formed the Icelandic Womens Rights Association, or Kvenrttindaflag slands, in 1907, which still exists today. Reykjavk Population 372,520 (2021) Iceland About A Nordic island country famous for its Viking history. No edits made. She also accelerated Icelands path towards becoming a bastion of social justice. Though only serving one term, she left the office of Prime Minister having changed the face of Iceland forever. The Danish records of him end here; but in the early 1990s, it was discovered what had happened. Whether it's due to the financial collapse, the Panama Papers, or the system of 'Restored Honour', many of the nation's most recent politicians would be better labelled as infamous than famous. Famous People from Iceland #1: Actor Stefn Karl Stefnsson aka Robbie Rotten Stefn Karl Stefnsson was a stage and screen actor best known for his portrayal of Robbie Rotten on the Nick Jr. series LazyTown. Although comprehensive, detailed, and a vital work in understanding medieval Viking history, the oldest partsare still two hundred years younger than Arnarson, so it is not completely reliable. The authorities cruelly ruled against him, and ordered he return to slavery in the Caribbean; once again, however, he escaped. He is best known for his frequent collaborations with singer-songwriter and composer Bjrk. Famous for being one of the top three countries in the world for women to live in, Iceland was the first country in the world to have a political party formed and led entirely by women. Iceland may have Bret to thank for becoming a progressive place for womens rights, but it has Sigrur Tmasdttir to thank for the deep-seated cultural appreciation for nature. (Icelandic Professional Strongman, Regarded as One of the Greatest Strength Athletes of All Time) 21. When you visit Iceland, you will see places where individuals shaped history in the most consequential of ways. Famous People from Iceland & Trailblazers - Reykjavik Cars The actress resides in Hollywood with her husband and new-born daughter. Read ahead, to learn of theadventurous Icelandic Vikings, incrediblewriters, and trail-blazing Icelandic men and women who came from this little island, and went on to change the world. Going all the way from Viking times with explorer Leif Erikson to Iceland's most famous singer Bjrk, the small Nordic nation's contribution to culture is undeniable. Out of these, several have made . 23 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Iceland | PlanetWare Icelandic former footballer and coach Eiur Gujohnsen began his senior career with Valur and then had successful stints with clubs such as Chelsea and Barcelona as a forward/midfielder. . Other notable artists include Einar Hkonarson and sgrmur Jnsson. This novel covers the years up to, during, and after the First World War in Iceland, a period through which the country went from a rural, disconnected land, unchanged for centuries, to a modern nation with electricity and machinery. She also played the role of Hannah sgeirsson in the adventure film Journey to the Centre of the Earth. Jeannie Iceland Planning on Instagram: "3 Ways To Protect Yourself Jhanna had the undesirable job of governing the country during the months after the economic crash in 2008. This began the settlement period of Iceland, which finished when the Commonwealth era began, with the creation of the Althing in 930 AD. Actor Darri Inglfsson gained international attention in 2012 for his role in the television series Last Resort. From Inglfur Arnarson to Jhanna Sigurardttir, the people of this little island nation have carved their distinct places in world history, and put Iceland on the map. Because of the lack of this side of celebrity culture, there are few in Iceland who are famous for being famous. There's evidence that the first people to live in Iceland were Gaelic Celts from Ireland, but they didn't stick around long. Over the course of her illustrious career, Bjork has received several awards. While this may not seem to be a thrilling read, in fact, it fills a huge gap in history; most knowledge about the medieval era in Europe has disappeared, and this is the sole source for much of what we have since learnt about it. No edits made. While female suffrage had been achieved decades earlier, however, women were still hugely underrepresented in the public sphere by the 1970s. Starting his senior career with Fjlnir, he later had successful stints with the Dutch club AZ and the Danish club AGF. Prior to 2016, Eiur Smri Gudjohnsenwas Iceland's most known footballer, having played for clubs such asChelsea and Barcelona. Following her very successful presidency, Vigds formed the Council of Women World Leaders in 1996. These declarations come from the number of Icelanders who have won international competitions in these fields, which when considered in terms of population size, does make them the most successful. The Top 11 Souvenirs From Iceland | Guide to Iceland The final person on this list of the most famous Icelanders throughout the ages is the only one to make history in the 21st Century. Furthermore, she promoted the rights and opportunities of women, most notably by leading Iceland to be the first country in the world to ban stripping; though not uncontroversial, she was adamant in the belief that no womans body should be used as a commodity for others to make money off. Today, food from all over the world is widely available at the restaurants in Reykjavik and other cities. Some of its popular singers are Bubbi Morthens, Megas and Bjrgvin Halldrsson, while Bjrk Gumundsdttir is probably the most famous Icelander of them all. That is not to say that Iceland did not have its share of significant people in that time, but under Norwegian and subsequently Danish rule, Iceland was incredibly poor and undeveloped. Iceland has now been listed as the worlds most gender-equal country for eight years running, according to the World Economic Forums survey on gender equality, and comes near the top of multiple other lists, such as the most educated and the happiest nations. Even when the Danish King revealed that he fully expected Iceland to remain part of his state following the end of the war, Sveinn was very clear that this was not the future his nation envisioned. Bjrk Gumundsdttir OTF (/ b j r k / BYURK, Icelandic: [pjrk kvmntstouhtr] (); born 21 November 1965) is an Icelandic singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, and actress.Noted for her distinct three-octave vocal range and eccentric persona, she has developed an eclectic musical style over her four-decade career that has drawn on electronic, pop, experimental . Olafur's father was busy studying medicine there when Olafur was born, but the family returned to Iceland when he was just 4 years old. Eyjafjallajokull: Iceland's Most Famous Volcano Most people are familiar with the Eyjafjallajokull volcano after its eruption in 2010 caused a massive disruption in European flights. While Iceland had previously been visited, and a few others had resided on it for short periods, he was the first person brave enough to relocate from Norway, and permanently settle here with his family. The election of a person in the queer community to lead the government, however, was an enormous landmark, and to this day, Jhanna remains the only openly lesbian leader of any country throughout history. Furthermore, Roman coins from the beginning of the third century AD have also been discovered, and although they were most likely brought over by later visitors, no one is quite certain of this. Famous people from Iceland - Car Rental Iceland Photo fromWikimedia, Creative Commons, by Magnus Frderberg. Bjrk Gumundsdttir She is one of the most famous people from Iceland who has gained popularity worldwide. Two of these slaves fought against their chains and killed their master, who unfortunately for them was Inglfurs brother-in-law. She was popular throughout her terms and is still popular today. These are people you will no doubt see in the streets of Iceland when holidaying here and not even realise that they are esteemed. While they have not yet won an international competition, they have represented Iceland with talents that no one was expecting over the past few years. The only reason Snorri sneaks ahead or Ari on this list is because his texts have wider implications within European history, and because of his influences outside of his writings. In June 2018, he was honored with the Order of the Falcon. Leif joined his father in these travels, learning about ship craft as he did. Stream songs including "Function Pt 1 (feat. As noted, there is no way to compile a list of famous historical Icelanders without leaving a few out. Inglfur Arnarson is without a doubt the most important historical Icelander. What is said, however, is that he settled and named Reykjavk. In 1915, women over 40 who were not servants were granted the right to vote, and in 1920, the franchise was made universal. In the 1975 UN Year of Women, over 90 percent left work, be it paid or domestic, to demand better conditions in the streets of the capital. The roots of Iceland's cuisine comes from the Scandinavian cuisine after Norse Vikings settled here during the 9th century and onwards. He was not the first to discover it (there were, of course, millions of people who had been there for millenniums, and other sailors who had claimed to have seen it), but he was the first European to explore and form a settlement on it. Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, byJabbi. She founded the Womens Society in 1894, and owned a womens magazine that was well-loved around the country. Do you want to know more about this subject? Leif Erikson was a Norse explorer widely believed to have been one of the earliest Europeans to have set foot on North America, at least 500 years before Christopher Columbus. Laxness old house has been turned into a museum in the valley of Mossfellbr, just outside of Reykjavk. He was born in Iceland and now resides in France. The most famous Icelandic handballer, lafur Stefnsson, announced his international retirement from playing after the 2012 Olympics. History of Iceland - Wikipedia Some of the people below are celebrities born in Iceland, while others are simply notable locals. When do the best annual events in Iceland occur? It was, however, always part of Vigdss agenda to raise the profile of smaller nations and to aim for a world without the need for nuclear arms or NATO. Without a doubt, the most famouscurrentIcelandic writer is Arnaldur Indriason, author of crime fiction stories that have been translated into many languages and published in 26 countries. The other work was Heimskringla, an account of Scandinavian kings and their lineages. Opportunities to break out of fishing and farming communities to challenge the values of the world were practically non-existent. He and his wife Hallveig can be considered the nations father and mother, and the first true Icelanders. These people were called Westmen as, before Icelands discovery, Ireland was thought to be the westernmost landmass. He went from a devout Catholic to an ardent critic of Christianity; he changed from a supporter of capitalism to Soviet communism, then to a more gentle socialism, before dropping all doctrines but a loose interpretation of Taoism. This protagonist, Bjartur, is determined to the point of callous, but a fantastic representation of Icelanders of old. Stefan Karl Stefansson Stefan Karl Stefansson is an Icelandic actor on the stage and screen. A black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, he had been interested in football and ice hockey till age 13, when he began training in Gj-ry Karate. The most internationally famous Icelander by far is the singer BjrkGumundsdttir, better known simply as Bjrk. Berglind Ros - May 4, 2018 I celand is a small country both in terms of landmass and population. The winning team, Portugal, however, drew against Iceland in their first match. Icelanders are incredibly proud of their environment and incredibly protective over it. Musicians: One of the most famous people from Iceland is the singer Bjork. The musician is perhaps best known for her unique singing-voice as well as the infamous swan dress she wore to the Academy Awards in 2001. Top 10 Foods to Try in Iceland - Adventures.com Famous People From Iceland: Top Celebrities Her government passed marriage equality with a unanimous vote in parliament, and she and her partner became one of the first couples in Iceland to have an official same-sex union. She was first noticed as part of the alt-rock band the Sugarcubes from 1986 to 1992, before going on to become an international music sensation and stylistic icon. Dai Freyr is an Icelandic musician best known as the frontman of a musical band named Dai & Gagnamagni. 8 Famous People from Iceland who are popular in the world! - Discover It is located in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Vigds Finnbogadttir was the first woman to be president in Europe and Iceland (there had been others across the world, but none democratically elected). Popular website Buzzfeed.com even did a post about the actor, calling him a Ryan Gosling look-alike and listing nine reasons why one should get to know Inglfsson (one of them being his nationality). Iceland has now just become the smallest country ever to qualify for the FIFA World Cup. He remained part of the national squad during UEFA Euro 2016 and 2018 FIFA World Cup. Icelandic is the official and national language of Iceland. 5. Other than Bjrk, there are some famous people from Iceland that perhaps you did not know were Icelandic. Tmas Lemarquis Tomas lemarquis by El floz from Wikimedia Commons Tmas is a Paris-based actor who is the son of an Icelandic mother and a French teacher. Famous People. Dav r Viarsson Age: 39 Birthplace: Reykjavik, Iceland Dav r Viarsson (born 24 April 1984) is an Icelandic footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for FH and the Iceland national team. The country has produced a wealth of musicians, scientists, artists, writers, historians, adventurers and political figures, all with their own significant value. No edits made. Photo/Stefn Karlsson, Jhanna Sigurardttir is the former Prime Minister of Iceland and the wolds first openly gay PM. Famous people of Iceland - countrylicious To learn more about the settlement era altogether, there is the excellent Settlement Centre Museum in Borganes. Iceland's most famous witch trial, the father and son plead guilty to the use of sorcery against the minister, who . Snorrastofa Museum in Reykholt is dedicated to his works and is situated in the town where he did the majority of his writings. Katrn Tanja Davsdttir also won the CrossFit championshipsin 2015. Which famousIcelanderhad the biggest impact on culture and history? As Norway tried to force its influence more and more, tensions continued to rise until civil war broke out. In her lifetime, she changed the way that Iceland viewed women forever, to the extent that Iceland now leads the world when it comes to womens rights. He is best known for his role as bad guy Robbie Rotten in Nick Jr.'s series LazyTown. She owns a band named the "Sugarcubes". She and her sisters laid the first path down to the falls, and would take visitors to come and see it; even in the 19th Century, it drew people from around the world. As of March 2013 it has sold over two million copies in the US alone. Those who have achieved international success have done so far more on the merits of their talents in their field, rather than their interactions with the media. Icelanders used to eat hkarl back in the day when they did not have refrigeration or many other food options. Omnom Chocolate is one of Iceland's leading chocolate brands, and its bars are excellent souvenirs. A trained drummer and pianist, he uses his customized software to mingle classical and modern notes. Two other Icelanders were nominated for the Nobel Prize in literature in 2017, Sjn (Sigurjn Birgir Sigursson) and Jn Kalman Stefnsson, although neither one took the prize home. The people below are listed by their popularity, so the most recognizable names are at the top of the list. Her efforts seemed futile against the capitalist machine that was moving the plans forward, but she refused to accept defeat. Viking Iceland: A Viking Age Travel Guide - Forbes He made his name with Bolton Wanderers and later played with Premier League club Chelsea and the Spanish team FC Barcelona. Marketa Irglova is a Czech-Icelandic musician, singer-songwriter, and actress. Because of his caregiver's background, Snorri received an exemplary education. The Parliament building, or Althing, that Jhanna used to preside over is located in the middle of the downtown area, besides the citys humble and quaint cathedral. Trivia More than 60% of the Icelandic population live in the capital city. Icelandic weightlifter and CrossFit athlete Sara Sigmundsdttir was placed 3rd in the CrossFit Games twice. The main evidence that this American community ever existed is what was written in the Book of Settlements, but as it was not mentioned in wider European literature, it was considered to be a legend for centuries. JuggBaby)", "Function Pt 2 (feat. Re-elected twice, his stern resolution meant that Icelands newly discovered nationhood was impossible to deny. Emilana Torrini is also known for her single Jungle Drum and her third album Love in the Time of Science. Discover the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland. 2. There, she was encouraged to bring the movement to Iceland, and she brought it with force. Bret played a major role in propelling Iceland from a patriarchalsociety into a bastion of womens rights, literacy, universal education, and social justice. Second to himis probablyYrsa Sigurardttir, who is becomingincreasingly known for her mysterious and macabre novels. The launch of a performing arts academy in his honor was announced after his death. Torrini is perhaps best known for performing Gollum's Song for the 2002 epic fantasy adventure film The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Listen to Active Vol 1 by Famous Webz on Apple Music. No edits made. The only reason she is not included on this list is because her career is still thriving; the full effect that she has had on Icelandic society, pop culture and the wider world is still to be determined. They fled to a group of islands south of the mainland, but Inglfur hunted them down and killed them. Movie fans will soon be able to enjoy his talent even further in the film A Walk Among the Tombstones which also stars veteran actor Liam Neeson. Although the first central female protagonist of any Icelandic story, however, she did not change the country in the same way that later women did. Retired Icelandic gymnast and track athlete Katrn Davsdttir scripted history as the second woman to be a CrossFit Games champion twice. A lot of the restaurants specialize in seafood with an emphasis on quality of products, rather than . In spite of initial scepticism and judgement at home and abroad, Vgdis went on to serve four successful terms, stepping down in 1996. She also performs at the various international tours and in the music festivals of Iceland. Jhann Jhannsson was an Icelandic music composer best remembered for his wide array of work for various medium like theatre, television, and film. The Icelandic flag Iceland is famous for its flag - and it's had many flags over its turbulent history. He is perhaps best known for his work in the 2014 biographical romantic drama film The Theory of Everything, for which he received an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe Award. . He is also known for his collaborative initiatives, such as his work with the techno duo Kiasmos. 1. It became one of the first countries to recognise same-sex partnerships in 1996, and granted the community full adoption rights in 2006. The former gymnast withdrew from the 2015 CrossFit Games due to heatstroke, but baring that occasion, she has never finished below top 13. She lifted Iceland out of its post-crash slump and strengthened trade unions to protect workers. Other internationally famous Icelandic bandsinclude Sigur Rs,GusGus and Of Monsters and Men, while successful solo artists likeEmiliana Torriniandsgeirarebecoming more and more recognised abroad. Politician. Actor and director Baltasar Kormkur has become a household name after making it big in Hollywood. Considered to be Icelands first environmental campaigner, she fought for the preservation of one of the countrys most beautiful features and in doing so, inspired changes in laws that would keep so much of her land protected. Sigrur was born to in 1874, daughter of a man called Tmas who owned the farmland surrounding Gullfoss waterfall, now one of Icelands most popular tourist destinations. In fields as diverse as music, literature, sport and politics, they have made their markon the international map. She has been a member of the Althing for Reykjavk constituencies since 1978, winning re-election on eight successive occasions. Her resilience in valuing nature over profit made her Icelands first environmental campaigner. Iceland's current flag came years after a struggle for independence from their Nordic forefathers. Bjrk Gumundsdttir is probably the most famous Icelander of them all. The nation was ecstatic with their achievements, and Europe was in awe. The success drew great attention to each of the players (though it should be noted that the women's team reached the same position in 1995 and 2013 to much less furore). Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Furfur. No edits made. Leif Erikson Biography - Famous People in the World Her magazine became a political tool to motivate women to demand their rights to vote. 30 Things Iceland Is Known and Famous For - Nomads Unveiled 16. Gray Line Iceland - Famous People From Iceland No edits made. She has been a major force in the music industry for decades, and her unique and experimental approach to her work has won her numerous awards and accolades. If you're from Iceland. 10. Ahead, however, are nine people that it would be almost impossible to exclude. 10 World Famous Icelanders. He was invited to Norway, and became a hirdman, or Housecarl, for the King Olaf Tryggvasson. The Greatest Icelander Men - Famous People in the World His popularity as a strongman earned him the role of Gregor Clegane in the popular series Game of Thrones. The most known novelist the country has ever produced sadly passed away in 1998. Birthplace: Reykjavk, Iceland. Famous People From Iceland | List of Celebrities Born in Iceland - Ranker
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