- Brigitte Nielsen
Infobox Actor
name = Brigitte Nielsen
caption = Nielsen in 1985, at age 22
birthname = Gitte Nielsen
birthdate = birth date and age|df=yes|1963|7|15
location =Rødovre ,Denmark
spouse = Kasper Winding (1983-1984)
Sylvester Stallone (1985-1987)
Sebastian Copeland (1990-1992)
Raoul Meyer (1993-2005)
Mattia Dessi (2006-)
goldenraspberryawards = Worst Supporting Actress
1985 "Rocky IV "
Worst New Star
1985 "Red Sonja" ; "Rocky IV "Brigitte Nielsen (born 15 July 1963) is a Danish actress who became known for appearing in the 1985 films "Red Sonja" and "
Rocky IV " and then marrying "Rocky's" star,Sylvester Stallone . She subsequently appeared with him in the 1986 film "Cobra", and was noted for her widely publicized breakup with Stallone in 1987, and her extramarital relationship withNew York Jets greatMark Gastineau in 1988.She later built a career appearing in
B-movies , and in the 2000s, for appearing on reality shows such as "The Surreal Life ", on which she met and began a relationship withrap perFlavor Flav . In 2008 she appeared on the reality show "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew ", which depicted her and several other celebrities dealing with recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.Biography
Early career
At the beginning of the '80s she became famous as a model, working for top designers such as
Armani , Valentino,Ferrè and was photographed byHelmut Newton andFrancesco Scavullo .Nielsen began her acting career in 1985, in "Red Sonja" alongsideArnold Schwarzenegger .In the same year she met and marriedSylvester Stallone ; the couple acted in two movies together ("Rocky IV " and "Cobra") before divorcing in 1987.Nielsen started a music career shortly after her
divorce from Stallone in 1987. She released her debut album "Every Body Tells A Story" in that year and recorded a duet withAustria n pop star Falco called "Body Next To Body" which went to #22 inGermany and #6 inAustria . In 1990 she recorded a single called "Rockin' like a radio" .She released a follow-up album, "I am the one..nobody else", in 1991, although it was also not a success. In 2000 she made a musical comeback by recording the dance track "No more turning back" under thepseudonym of "Gitta" and reached #1 inSpain and topped several otherEurope an dance charts. Other tracks recorded as Gitta were 2001's "Tic Toc" and 2002's "You're No Lady", a collaboration withRu Paul .In the late 1980s,
Marvel Comics approached Nielsen to pose for photographs dressed as thecomic book characterShe-Hulk . [ [http://shulkie.com/node/26 Picture of Nielsen as She-Hulk] ] She had previously impressed the company with her prior portrayal of their characterRed Sonja , and they hoped she would prove just as successful in a new movie venture. The photos did not produce a large amount of investors in the potential film and Marvel was forced to scrap the project. Subsequently she starred in "Beverly Hills Cop II ", "Galaxys" and "The Double 0 Kid " and someEurope an movies.In the 1990s, she hosted an
English language talk show that was broadcast acrossEurope , to much acclaim. In 2000, she appeared inheavy metal bandKorn 's music video for the single "Make Me Bad ".She has worked for Italian television hosting hit shows such as the 1992 edition of the
Sanremo Music Festival ; "Retromarsh!" (1996-1997), and "..la sai l'ultima?" (1999); starring in theTV movie "Fantaghirò 2 " and its sequels (1992-1996); and guest starring in theRai Tre 'ssoap opera "Un posto al sole" (2000).On 29 August 2008, German record label
Edel Music re-released her 1991 album "I am the one nobody else" and the 1987 "Every body tells a story", under the title "Brigitte Nielsen" [http://www.edel.de/Aktuell.77.0.html?&L=0&artist=9577&cHash=a53e08f56c (see webpage at Edel Music Germany)]Reality TV appearances
She appeared on the first season of the Italian version of "
The Mole " (2004) and on the third season of theVH1 reality show "The Surreal Life " (2004). In the show, Nielsen was seen flirting with Public Enemy rapperFlavor Flav and it was confirmed that they were a couple, even though she was still legally married to Raoul Meyer. The show was such a success thatVH1 produced aspin-off reality show called "Strange Love ", which began airing on the channel on 9 January 2005. Nielsen also appeared with Flav on VH1's "Big in '04 Awards". In 2006, she guest-starred on Flav's other reality show, "Flavor of Love ".In 2004, Nielsen appeared in the Danish "Big Brother VIP", one year later in January 2005 she was also a contestant in the British equivalent "Celebrity Big Brother" along with her former mother-in-law
Jackie Stallone and the writerGermaine Greer , Nielsen eventually coming third in the final public vote. In 2006 she appeared in another reality TV series, VH1's "". In March 2007, she starred in a new British documentary called "Killing Brigitte Nielsen" aired onSky Travel . Her most recent excursion into the world of reality tv, "Celebrity Rehab ", began airing in January 2008 onVH1 .In May 2008 she revealed on German television that she would "renew" her body this year by having six plastic surgeries (which will cost 66.000€ altogether). Nielsen will be filmed during those surgeries by RTL and will have her own television show "Aus alt mach neu - Brigitte Nielsen in der Promi-Beauty-Klinik"."
Personal life
Nielsen was born Gitte Nielsen in
Rødovre ,Denmark , the daughter of Hanne, a librarian, and Svend Nielsen, an engineer. [ [http://www.filmreference.com/film/14/Brigitte-Nielsen.html Brigitte Nielsen Biography (1963-) ] ] She has a brother, Jan.Nielsen is fluent in Danish, English, Italian and speaks some German.
Nielsen's first marriage was to Danish musician Kasper Winding, with whom she has a son, Julian (born in 1984). She was then married to actor
Sylvester Stallone , her co-star in "Cobra". She later became engaged (but not married) toAmerican football playerMark Gastineau , with whom she has a son, Killian (born in 1989). She then marriedSwiss racecar driver Raoul Meyer from 17 December 1993 to 2005, and they have two sons: Douglas Aaron and Raoul Jr. Ayrton (named after her friendAyrton Senna ). It is often claimed that she married photographer/director Sebastian Copeland, but she says that it was not a legal marriage.Nielsen married for the fifth time in March 2005 to
bartender Mattia Dessi, who appeared briefly on "Strange Love ". The marriage was not official, because her divorce from her previous husband was not finalized. On 8 July 2006 they married legally, following her divorce from her previous husband. Hermaid of honor wasIvanka Trump .On 9 July 2007, Nielsen checked herself into the Cri-Help rehabilitation facility in
North Hollywood following what some reports claim was a family intervention. [ [http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/nielsen%20in%20rehab_1037977 Sylvester Stallone - Nielsen In Rehab ] ] Her manager, Steven Tempone, confirmed on 19 July 2007 that she had checked into rehab and told theAssociated Press "All I know is it's something she did of her own free will and we're proud of her and wish her very well... When she gets out we'll have a big birthday party, andCoca-Cola only". [ [http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-07-20-voa40.cfm Brigitte Nielsen Checks Into Rehab ] ]As of 22 July 2007, Nielsen was out of rehab to attend the Comedy Central roast of Flavor Flav. She told "
People " that she felt "like a new-born person... I made a choice about a new life. It's not been easy but it was definitely time." While "People" does not report the date that Nielsen checked into rehab, they state that she "had been in treatment for a few weeks". [ [http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20047723,00.html Brigitte Nielsen: I Feel Reborn After Rehab - Brigitte Nielsen : People.com ] ] On 10 January 2008,VH1 began airing the reality TV series, Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. Nielsen appeared on the show for addiction to alcohol. [ [http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/celebrity_rehab_with_dr_drew/series.jhtml "Celebrity Rehab" Official site at VH1.com] ] In mid-2008, Nielsen starred in thereality show "Aus alt mach neu", broadcasted by the German tv-station RTL. Theme of the show was Nielsen's attempt to look "as young as her husband" by undergoingplastic surgery .Filmography
*"Red Sonja" (1985)
*"Rocky IV " (1985)
*"Cobra" (1986)
*"Beverly Hills Cop II " (1987)
*"Bye Bye Baby" (1988)
*"Domino" (1988)
*"" (1991)
*"The Double 0 Kid " (1992)
*"Mission of Justice " (1992)
*"Counterstrike" (1990 TV series) episode "Bastille Day Terror" (October 17, 1992)
*"Fantaghirò 2 " (1992) (TV)
*"Chained Heat II " (1993)
*"Fantaghirò 3 " (1993) (TV)
*"Fantaghirò 4 " (1994) (TV)
*"Galaxis " (1995)
*"Compelling Evidence " (1995)
*"" (1995)
*"Snowboard Academy " (1996)
*"Fantaghirò 5 " (1996) (TV)
*"Hostile Environment " (1998)
*"She's Too Tall " (1998) (also associate producer and writer)
*"Paparazzi" (1998)
*"Doomsdayer " (2000)
*"Un Posto al sole " (2000) (TV) episodes "Famous shipwrecked" (September 13-14, 2000)
*" (2007) (TV)
*"The Hustle (2008)
*"The Fish (2009)Discography
Albums
*1987 "
Every body tells a story "
*1991 "I'm the one nobody else "
*2008 "Brigitte Nielsen " (re-release of "I am the one nobody else and Every body tells a story")Singles
* "Body next to Body" (feat. Falco; 1987; (#6
Austria , #22Germany )
* "Every body tells a story"; 1987; (#38Italy ; #15Germany )
* "Maybe"; 1988
* "Siento"; 1988 (South America only)
* "It's a strange love"; 1988
* "Rockin' like a radio"; 1990
* "My girl (My guy)"; 1991
* "How could you let me go?"; 1992
* "No more turning back" (as Gitta); 2000; released by Jive; (#1Spain , #1Eurodance chart ; #64Netherlands )
* "Tic Toc" (as Gitta); 2001; released byBlanco y Negro
* "You're no lady" (as Gitta feat.Ru Paul ); 2002; released byDo it Yourself ; (#1Spain )References
External links
*imdb name|id=0000557|name=Brigitte Nielsen
* [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=133165154 Brigitte Nielsen Official MySpace Page]
* [http://vip.rtl.de/de/pub/exclusiv/brigitte-nielsen-beauty-op.php?media=galerie1 Brigitte Nielsens 'Renew'-Page on German television RTL]
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