Talked about, as one of the forgotten stars of the past, in an episode of "Burke's law", episode: "Who Killed Mr. X". aired September 27, 1963.
Studied ballet with the famed Mikhail Fokin and had her debut on Broadway in
the musical "Beggar On Horseback". She appeared with Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. in the
1926 production of "No Foolin'". She was brought to the screen by
Jesse Lasky. Was replaced by Jean Harlow on Hell's Angels (1930) when producer Howard Hughes
decided to make it a sound film, and Nissen's heavy Norwegian accent
made much of her dialogue unintelligible.
Made $2500 a week when filming Hell's Angels (1969) in 1927/28. Was replaced when
the film was made into sound and her replacement, Jean Harlow, worked for
$250.
Celebrity spokesperson for Lux Toilet Soap (1931).
She was a protégé of the Queen of Norway, who was in charge of her education and had her placed in the Royal Opera House in Copenhagen. Before her fifth birthday she had danced at royal command in three European courts.
Although her first American feature was "Lady of Lyons," Jesse L. Lasky shelved it for his second release. Her American debut film was made opposite Adolph Menjou in William de Mille's "Lost - A wife" based on the French play "Banco" by Alfred Savoir.