She studied piano with Nils Larsen (1920-25) and singing with Mimi Hvild (1930-35); in 1932 she started a successful career with concerts in Scandinavia, England, and the U.S. and worked as a singing teacher. During the years of the German occupation she participated in numerous clandestine and other concerts that were dedicated to the resistance movement, amongst others with Arnljot Kjeldaas.