Gisli Gardarsson, a multifaceted individual, was born in Iceland but spent his formative years in Norway, where he kickstarted his acting career, which has since flourished. He is now predominantly based in the UK.
Gisli's academic background is marked by a four-year acting degree at the Icelandic Academy of the Arts, which he completed in 2001.
As a visionary entrepreneur, Gisli co-founded the internationally renowned theatre and film company Vesturport in 2001. Since its inception, Vesturport has graced the stages of most major theatre venues worldwide and has produced five feature films: Children, Parents, Brim, Country Wedding (co-producer),and Kings Road (co-producer).
Gisli's breakthrough as a director came with his debut production of Romeo and Juliet, where he also took on the iconic role of Romeo. The show premiered at the Reykjavik City Theatre before transferring to the Young Vic Theatre in London, where it received widespread critical and audience acclaim. The production was later transferred to the West End in London in 2004, earning widespread praise from the press as one of the most electrifying theatrical events in years.
Throughout his career, Gisli has created numerous theatre productions that have toured the globe.
Gisli has had the privilege of collaborating with renowned musicians Nick Cave and Warren Ellis on Woyzeck, Metamorphosis, and Faust.
In 2007, Gisli was awarded the prestigious European Film Award Shooting Star for his role in Children at the Berlin Film Festival.
As an actor in England, Gisli has had the pleasure of working with Knee High Theatre company under the direction of Emma Rice in A Matter of Life and Death, as Jack Walser in Angela Carter's Nights at the Circus, and as Don John in an adaptation of Don Juan.
