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Hjördis Genberg Niven

Sweden's first supermodel and the actor David Niven's second wife

  • Hjördis Genberg 1919-45
    • Long winter evenings in the north, 1919-1929
    • Life was never the same again, 1930-1940
    • Hjördis Genberg, model student, 1941-1942
    • Hjördis in the city, 1942-1943
    • Stockholm’s star mannequin, 1943-1944
    • Hjördis Genberg, fashion model, 1943-1944
    • Hats on to Hjördis Genberg, 1943-1945
    • Something big and demanding, 1945
    • Hjördis Genberg, fashion model, 1945
  • Hjördis Tersmeden 1946-47
    • Mrs Hjördis Tersmeden 1946
    • Stockholm to El Morocco, 1946-1947
    • Cholly Knickerbocker observes: Hjördis Tersmeden, 1947
    • A rootless and insecure marriage, 1947
    • The Cassini connection, 1947
    • The sawmill worker’s daughter, 1947
    • David Niven’s chair, 1947
    • Darts and black velvet, 1947
    • A marriage proposal, 1947-1948
  • Hjördis Niven 1948-50
    • Niven weddings, 1917 to 1948
    • South Kensington Registry Office, 1948
    • A storybook stepmother, 1948
    • Niven in Hollywood, 1948
    • May I introduce… Mrs David Niven
    • Life cover, 1948
    • On the cover of a magazine
    • A whirlwind romance, 1948
    • Back to earth, 1948-1949
    • The perfect wife…1949-1950
    • Hi society, 1949-1950
  • Hjördis Niven, 1950-55
    • Rocket to the stars, 1950
    • Lady of the manor, 1950
    • There was always a chap with white gloves, 1951
    • Broadway and break-up stories, 1951-1952
    • Hjördis gets shot, 1952
    • The moon is blue, 1953-54
    • I’ve learned to be happy ever after, 1954
    • Around the world.., 1955
    • The first Rat Pack, 1955
  • Hjördis Niven, 1956-58
    • Safe Keeping, 1956
    • Recuperating with Grace, 1956
    • Bonjour Tristesse, 1957
    • Understatement of the century, 1957
    • Every day you are getting 24 hours older, 1958
    • Stars’ wives, 1958
  • Hjördis Niven, 1959-60
    • Separate tables, 1959
    • Deep red carnations, 1959
    • Brazil, darling? 1959
    • Niven in Europe, 1960
    • The beautiful ice lady, 1960
    • Come up and see my etchings, 1960
  • Hjördis Niven, 1961-64
    • Cap Ferrat and Kristina, 1961
    • Lo Scoglietto – The little rock
    • The pitfalls of skiing, 1962
    • Narrow escapes and JFK, 1962-1963
    • Breakfast in bed, 1963
    • A well kept secret, 1964
  • Pia and Mia Genberg
    • Pia and Mia Genberg
    • Pia and Mia photo gallery 1
    • Pia and Mia photo gallery 2
  • Hjördis Niven, 1965-1967
    • Living in the lap, 1965
    • The Nivens in Château-d’Oex 1965
    • Mr Niven’s brand of peerless charm, 1965
    • New friends and old roles, 1966
    • The Nivens at Lo Scoglietto, 1967
    • The impossible years, 1967-1968
    • David and Hjördis Niven’s Christmas recipes, 1967
  • Hjördis Niven, 1968-1975
    • All so distinctive and ‘notice me’, 1968
    • If things had turned out differently, 1969
    • The moon’s a balloon, 1970-1971
    • The deeper understanding, 1972
    • Drifting along on an uneven keel, 1973
    • A non-participating background presence, 1974
    • When the snows come, 1975
  • Hjördis Niven, 1976-1982
    • The moon can be something of a burst balloon, 1976-1977
    • Escape to Monte Carlo, 1977-1978
    • Two words: Mon-ey, 1979
    • Struck on the leg with a plank, 1980
    • Relationships quite close to home, 1981
    • From Dawn Until Dusk, 1982
  • Hjördis Niven, 1983-1997
    • David Niven and Lou Gehrig, 1983
    • Surrounded by trees and flowers, 1983
    • David Niven’s last days, July 1983
    • A bright summer’s day in Chateau D’Oex, 1983
    • The other side of the moon, 1984-1985
    • At home with Hjördis, 1991-1992
    • I want to be free, 1985-1997
  • Hjördis tangents
    • Wartime Sweden, 1939-1945
    • Career guide: Modelling in Sweden
    • Swedish fashion in the 1940s
  • Primmie Niven
    • Primmie Niven, 1918-1946
    • Niven weddings, 1917 to 1948
  • The Hjördis Niven bookshelf
  • Hjördis Niven links
  • About this site
  • Latest posts
  • Site-map & updates
  • Contact

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Copyright © 2019 David Browne

Primmie Niven

Primula Rollo
Primula Rollo. Studio photo,1930s.

Pia & Mia Genberg

Hjördis' twin nieces - Karl Lagerfeld modelsin Paris, 1961

Hjördis, 1919-1997

  • Long winter evenings in the north, 1919-1929
  • Life was never the same again, 1930-1940
  • Hjördis Genberg, model student, 1941-1942
  • Hjördis in the city, 1942-1943
  • Stockholm’s star mannequin, 1943-1944
  • Hjördis Genberg, fashion model, 1943-1944
  • Hats on to Hjördis Genberg, 1943-1945
  • Something big and demanding, 1945
  • Wartime Sweden, 1939-1945
  • Career guide: Modelling in Sweden
  • Hjördis Genberg, fashion model. 1945
  • Swedish fashion in the 1940s
  • Mrs Hjördis Tersmeden 1946
  • Stockholm to El Morocco, 1946-1947
  • Cholly Knickerbocker observes: Hjördis Tersmeden, 1947
  • A rootless and insecure marriage, 1947
  • The Cassini connection, 1947
  • The sawmill worker’s daughter, 1947
  • Sitting in David Niven’s chair, 1947
  • Primmie Niven, 1918-1946
  • Darts and black velvet, 1947
  • A marriage proposal, 1947-1948
  • Niven weddings, 1917 to 1948
  • South Kensington Registry Office, 1948
  • A storybook stepmother, 1948
  • Niven in Hollywood, 1948
  • May I introduce… Mrs David Niven
  • Life cover, 1948
  • On the cover of a magazine
  • A whirlwind romance, 1948
  • Back to earth, 1948-1949
  • The perfect wife and mother, 1949-1950
  • Hi society, 1949-1950
  • Rocket to the stars, 1950
  • Lady of the manor, 1950
  • There was always a chap with white gloves, 1951
  • Broadway and break-up stories, 1951-1952
  • Hjördis gets shot, 1952
  • The moon is blue, 1953-54
  • I’ve learned to be happy ever after, 1954
  • Around the world, 1955
  • The first Rat Pack, 1955
  • Safe Keeping, 1956
  • Recuperating with Grace, 1956
  • Bonjour Tristesse, 1957
  • Understatement of the century, 1957
  • 24 hours older every day, 1958
  • Stars’ wives, 1958
  • Separate tables, 1959
  • Deep red carnations, 1959
  • Brazil, darling? 1959
  • Niven in Europe, 1960
  • The beautiful ice lady, 1960
  • Come up and see my etchings, 1960
  • Cap Ferrat and Kristina, 1961
  • Pia and Mia Genberg
  • Pia and Mia photo gallery 1
  • Pia and Mia photo gallery 2
  • Lo Scoglietto – The little rock
  • The pitfalls of skiing, 1962
  • Narrow escapes and JFK, 1962-1963
  • Breakfast in bed, 1963
  • A well kept secret, 1964
  • Living in the lap, 1965
  • The Nivens in Château-d’Oex 1965
  • Mr Niven’s brand of peerless charm, 1965
  • New friends and old roles, 1966
  • The impossible years, 1967-1968
  • The Nivens’ Christmas recipes, 1967
  • The Nivens at Lo Scoglietto, 1967
  • All so distinctive and ‘notice me’, 1968
  • If things had turned out differently, 1969
  • The moon’s a balloon, 1970-1971
  • The deeper understanding, 1972
  • Drifting along on an uneven keel, 1973
  • A non-participating background presence, 1974
  • When the snows come, 1975
  • The moon can be a burst balloon, 1976-1977
  • Escape to Monte Carlo, 1977-1978
  • Two words: Mon-ey, 1979
  • Struck on the leg with a plank, 1980
  • Relationships quite close to home, 1981
  • From Dawn Until Dusk, 1982
  • David Niven and Lou Gehrig, 1983
  • Surrounded by trees and flowers, 1983
  • David Niven’s last days, July 1983
  • A bright summer’s day in Chateau D’Oex, 1983
  • The other side of the moon, 1984-1985
  • At home with Hjördis, 1991-1992
  • I want to be free, 1985-1997
  • Links
  • The Hjördis Niven bookshelf
  • About this site
  • Latest posts
  • Site-map & updates
  • Contact

Hjördis Genberg, model student, 1941-42

Hjordis Genberg, 1941
Hjordis Genberg in 1941. "She was taught cosmetics. Her whole face was transformed, it was as if she had become a totally different woman." (Allas, 1952)

Was it difficult to have a happy marriage in Hollywood?

Actress Lilli Palmer (Rex Harrison's wife between 1943-1956:

"It was almost impossible. One evening a big star gave a party honoring couples who had been married more than 10 years. We showed up with about 50 other couples, and everyone that I knew had either been or was being unfaithful to the other. But these were the survivors."

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  • Hjördis Genberg 1919-45
    • Long winter evenings in the north, 1919-1929
    • Life was never the same again, 1930-1940
    • Hjördis Genberg, model student, 1941-1942
    • Hjördis in the city, 1942-1943
    • Stockholm’s star mannequin, 1943-1944
    • Hjördis Genberg, fashion model, 1943-1944
    • Hats on to Hjördis Genberg, 1943-1945
    • Something big and demanding, 1945
    • Hjördis Genberg, fashion model, 1945
  • Hjördis Tersmeden 1946-47
    • Mrs Hjördis Tersmeden 1946
    • Stockholm to El Morocco, 1946-1947
    • Cholly Knickerbocker observes: Hjördis Tersmeden, 1947
    • A rootless and insecure marriage, 1947
    • The Cassini connection, 1947
    • The sawmill worker’s daughter, 1947
    • David Niven’s chair, 1947
    • Darts and black velvet, 1947
    • A marriage proposal, 1947-1948
  • Hjördis Niven 1948-50
    • Niven weddings, 1917 to 1948
    • South Kensington Registry Office, 1948
    • A storybook stepmother, 1948
    • Niven in Hollywood, 1948
    • May I introduce… Mrs David Niven
    • Life cover, 1948
    • On the cover of a magazine
    • A whirlwind romance, 1948
    • Back to earth, 1948-1949
    • The perfect wife…1949-1950
    • Hi society, 1949-1950
  • Hjördis Niven, 1950-55
    • Rocket to the stars, 1950
    • Lady of the manor, 1950
    • There was always a chap with white gloves, 1951
    • Broadway and break-up stories, 1951-1952
    • Hjördis gets shot, 1952
    • The moon is blue, 1953-54
    • I’ve learned to be happy ever after, 1954
    • Around the world.., 1955
    • The first Rat Pack, 1955
  • Hjördis Niven, 1956-58
    • Safe Keeping, 1956
    • Recuperating with Grace, 1956
    • Bonjour Tristesse, 1957
    • Understatement of the century, 1957
    • Every day you are getting 24 hours older, 1958
    • Stars’ wives, 1958
  • Hjördis Niven, 1959-60
    • Separate tables, 1959
    • Deep red carnations, 1959
    • Brazil, darling? 1959
    • Niven in Europe, 1960
    • The beautiful ice lady, 1960
    • Come up and see my etchings, 1960
  • Hjördis Niven, 1961-64
    • Cap Ferrat and Kristina, 1961
    • Lo Scoglietto – The little rock
    • The pitfalls of skiing, 1962
    • Narrow escapes and JFK, 1962-1963
    • Breakfast in bed, 1963
    • A well kept secret, 1964
  • Pia and Mia Genberg
    • Pia and Mia Genberg
    • Pia and Mia photo gallery 1
    • Pia and Mia photo gallery 2
  • Hjördis Niven, 1965-1967
    • Living in the lap, 1965
    • The Nivens in Château-d’Oex 1965
    • Mr Niven’s brand of peerless charm, 1965
    • New friends and old roles, 1966
    • The Nivens at Lo Scoglietto, 1967
    • The impossible years, 1967-1968
    • David and Hjördis Niven’s Christmas recipes, 1967
  • Hjördis Niven, 1968-1975
    • All so distinctive and ‘notice me’, 1968
    • If things had turned out differently, 1969
    • The moon’s a balloon, 1970-1971
    • The deeper understanding, 1972
    • Drifting along on an uneven keel, 1973
    • A non-participating background presence, 1974
    • When the snows come, 1975
  • Hjördis Niven, 1976-1982
    • The moon can be something of a burst balloon, 1976-1977
    • Escape to Monte Carlo, 1977-1978
    • Two words: Mon-ey, 1979
    • Struck on the leg with a plank, 1980
    • Relationships quite close to home, 1981
    • From Dawn Until Dusk, 1982
  • Hjördis Niven, 1983-1997
    • David Niven and Lou Gehrig, 1983
    • Surrounded by trees and flowers, 1983
    • David Niven’s last days, July 1983
    • A bright summer’s day in Chateau D’Oex, 1983
    • The other side of the moon, 1984-1985
    • At home with Hjördis, 1991-1992
    • I want to be free, 1985-1997
  • Hjördis tangents
    • Wartime Sweden, 1939-1945
    • Career guide: Modelling in Sweden
    • Swedish fashion in the 1940s
  • Primmie Niven
    • Primmie Niven, 1918-1946
    • Niven weddings, 1917 to 1948
  • The Hjördis Niven bookshelf
  • Hjördis Niven links
  • About this site
  • Latest posts
  • Site-map & updates
  • Contact
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