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Willeke van Ammelrooy

Biography

Willeke van Ammelrooy

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Overview

  • Born
    April 5, 1944 · Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
  • Birth name
    Willy Geertje van Ammelrooij

Biography

    • Willy Geertje van Ammelrooij (known professionally as Willeke van Ammelrooy) is a Dutch actress and director. Raised in Amsterdam, she honed her craft at drama school, laying a strong foundation in theatrical performance that shaped her subsequent work in film and stage. Van Ammelrooy launched her cinematic journey in 1971 with a debut role in Mira, initiating a prolific career that spans over 80 film and television productions. During the 1970s, she became a prominent figure in Dutch cinema, delivering compelling performances in films such as Louisa, A Word of Love (1971), Frank en Eva (1973), and Alicia (1974). Her international breakthrough came with the lead role in Antonia's Line (1995), a feminist drama directed by Marleen Gorris, which portrays a resilient woman fostering a matriarchal community in a Dutch village. The film garnered global acclaim, securing the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, while van Ammelrooy's nuanced portrayal of Antonia earned her the Golden Calf for Best Actress at the Nederlands Film Festival. She later expanded her presence to international cinema, notably appearing in the American romantic drama The Lake House (2006), and ventured into directing, showcasing her multifaceted expertise in filmmaking. Her dedication to portraying complex female characters and engaging with socially resonant themes has defined her career, blending artistry with advocacy for meaningful storytelling. Willeke van Ammelrooy's influential performance in Antonia's Line and her extensive contributions to Dutch and global cinema have solidified her legacy as a pivotal figure in feminist narratives and European film history.
      - IMDb mini biography by: Angel

Family

  • Spouse
      Marco Bakker(November 20, 1989 - present)

Trivia

  • Willeke van Ammelrooy met Christopher Lee when both were jury members at a film festival in Chicago. She introduced him to her husband, opera singer Marco Bakker and the two hit it off since Lee is a renowned opera lover. Because of the similar look of the two men (tall, gray haired), Willeke thought it would be funny if Lee played Bakker's father in a picture. Flemish writer/director 'Frank van Laecke' was approached to write a script called 'Blooper' and Van Ammelrooy did a re-write around 1988. It concerned an opera singer called Billy Blooper (to be played by Bakker) who learns his father (Lee) is a vampire whose teeth had gone rotten after eating too many sweets. Now whenever he bites anyone, instead of turning into a vampire, they became half human, half chicken. Lee tentatively agreed to appear, and Van Ammelrooy wanted to co-star and direct. Unfortunately for her, the project never got off the ground despite interest from producers Alain Keytsman and Wim Verstappen. The script remains unproduced.
  • Mother of Denise Janzee.
  • In 2017, she joined the film jury for ShortCutz Amsterdam, an annual film festival promoting short films in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Fellow jury members include Rutger Hauer, Vincent van Ommen, Roel Reiné, Tygo Gernandt and Pieter Kuijpers.

Quotes

  • I feel like a director at least as much as I feel like an actress. Directors are often more closely committed to their films than actors, who are just hired to do something and then go on to the next project. As a director one has to fight for one's film, it is one's child after all.

Salary

  • Mira (1971) - NLG 7,500

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