Óli Gunnar Gunnarsson
- Writer
- Actor
- Director
Óli Gunnar Gunnarsson is an Icelandic actor, writer and director best known for Meikar Ekki Sens and The Falcons.
He started studying at the Rose Bruford College in London in 2019.
Óli wrote his first full length play, Unglingurinn, at the age of 13 along side 14 year old Arnór Björnsson. The show traveled around the world, showing in Norway, Poland and China plus being nominated for two Icelandic Theatre Awards. It would later be twice televised on RÚV.
Óli and his cousin Arnór are life-long friends and have worked together for many years. They wrote their first novel in 2015, Leitin að Tilgangi Unglingsins, along side Bryndís Björgvinsdóttir, published by Forlagið. Later the book was adapted to stage for the show Stefán Rís, produced by Gaflaraleikhúsið. Their third play, Fyrsta Skiptið, which they wrote in collaboration with other young actors, was also a commercial hit. It toured the country and was televised on Sjónvarp Símans in 2020.
They then turned to film and television, premiering their first sketch-comedy show, Meikar Ekki Sens, on Sjónvarp Símans' streaming service. It was later moved to open access on national television. Óli Gunnar Gunnarsson also played the role of Finnur in the 2018 film The Falcons.
He grew up in Hafnarfjörður in Iceland. His father, Gunnar Helgason, is a famous actor and writer of children's novels and his mother, Björk Jakobsdóttir, is a successful actress and director best known for her hit show Sellofon. At the age of nine he was acting in the National Theatre of Iceland and voicing the Icelandic translation of Russel for Up. Later he also voiced Hiro Hamada for Big Hero Six.
He started studying at the Rose Bruford College in London in 2019.
Óli wrote his first full length play, Unglingurinn, at the age of 13 along side 14 year old Arnór Björnsson. The show traveled around the world, showing in Norway, Poland and China plus being nominated for two Icelandic Theatre Awards. It would later be twice televised on RÚV.
Óli and his cousin Arnór are life-long friends and have worked together for many years. They wrote their first novel in 2015, Leitin að Tilgangi Unglingsins, along side Bryndís Björgvinsdóttir, published by Forlagið. Later the book was adapted to stage for the show Stefán Rís, produced by Gaflaraleikhúsið. Their third play, Fyrsta Skiptið, which they wrote in collaboration with other young actors, was also a commercial hit. It toured the country and was televised on Sjónvarp Símans in 2020.
They then turned to film and television, premiering their first sketch-comedy show, Meikar Ekki Sens, on Sjónvarp Símans' streaming service. It was later moved to open access on national television. Óli Gunnar Gunnarsson also played the role of Finnur in the 2018 film The Falcons.
He grew up in Hafnarfjörður in Iceland. His father, Gunnar Helgason, is a famous actor and writer of children's novels and his mother, Björk Jakobsdóttir, is a successful actress and director best known for her hit show Sellofon. At the age of nine he was acting in the National Theatre of Iceland and voicing the Icelandic translation of Russel for Up. Later he also voiced Hiro Hamada for Big Hero Six.
