Norwegian director Anne Sewitsky, whose 2010 feature debut Happy, Happy won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, is currently casting her next feature, a $10 million biopic of skating princess Sonja Henie who became a Hollywood star.

Norwegian producer Synnøve Hørsdal, of Maipo Film, confirmed that preparations have started for the film which will have a Norwegian actress leading a partly international cast.

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At the same time Norwegian pubcaster NRK is planning a TV series about Henie to be produced by Filmkameratene (Max Manus, The Troll Hunter), yet to be financed.

“We are making a film with one of Norway’s most talented directors, it can easily stand on its own feet, and any focus on Henie is good for us,” said Hørsdal.

A ten-time World Champion, six-time European Champion, and a three-time Olympic Champion, Henie took more titles than any other ladies figure skater, before becoming a top actress in Hollywood.

She was the first skater to wear a short skirt costume, white boots and use dance choreography. In 1936 US producer Darryl Zanuck signed her for Twentieth Century Fox – the contract made her one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood, beginning with Sidney Lanfield’s musical comedy One in a Million.

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