Biography
Helene Kvale is a director, actor, writer and educator. She worked as a stage, television and film actor in London before joining the Department of Dramatic Arts at the University of Connecticut where she taught BFA Acting. She also directed at the Connecticut Repertory Theater and for Bated Breath Theatre Company, where she was the founding artistic director. Helene is directing, writing and producing the feature documentary film, The Loom. Executive produced by James Ivory in association with Ma.Ja.De. and produced by Cynthia Kane, Nick Stuart and co-directed and produced by Adam Briscoe, it is slated for release in 2026. She will be joining the faculty at Princeton University after the release of The Loom.
Helene graduated from the London School of Economics and Political Science, with a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology. She then trained at The Drama Studio, London, receiving her post graduate acting diploma. As an actor, Helene performed on the West End stage in Burning Blue (winner of 2 Olivier Awards), Life During Wartime, and To Kill A Mockingbird. She also starred in numerous regional and touring productions including The Secret Rapture, Roman and Marys, Diary of Anne Frank, Getting Out, Brand, Canadian Gothic, Sexual Perversity in Chicago. Helene was part of the National Theatre Company playing Lady Anne opposite Ian McKellen in Richard III and in King Lear (Brian Cox) as well as Napoli Milionaria. At the NT Studio she played opposite Ray Winstone in Shift and in Gitta's Atonement, directed by Brian Cox. Helene has appeared in many television dramas including Prime Suspect 4, Soldier Soldier, Daddy's Girl, London Bridge, This Life, Deceit, Lovejoy and The Bill to name a few. Film work includes Tomorrow La Scala! (BAFTA Nomination), Talk and 5:45.
Helene is also a screenwriter and theater director. She co-wrote the independent films Burning Blue (distributed by Lionsgate 2014) and When You're Not Looking (in development). She translated A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen and co-wrote The Parkville Project for Bated Breath Theatre Company. She was the founding Artistic Director of Bated Breath Theatre Company where she produced, conceived and directed Hunger, The Parkville Project and her translation of A Doll's House. Helene directed Eurydice, Big Love, Pride and Prejudice, Too Much Memory, The Skin of Our Teeth and Gut Girls for The Connecticut Repertory Theatre, in addition to Marat/Sade. Helene is an alumna of The Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab and a proud member of Equity and SDC.
