The model and photographer, 49, on her fear of death, why she’d choose to photograph Marilyn Monroe and being in love with her dog

I have never felt reserved about showing skin. One thing we have throughout our whole lives is our body. We should make our kids feel comfortable and confident in themselves, in their naked skin, from an early age, without putting rules and limitations on them. My attitude is down to my upbringing – Danes don’t have so much reservation over their bodies.

I started out as a photographer, then modelling came into the picture. I’ve had both careers alongside each other all my life. Many of the photographers I looked up to were photographing me and teaching me about the technicalities of a camera at the same time – a bizarre and brilliant education.

Studying arithmetic, physics and chemistry gave me a certain curiosity in life and it comes in very handy when I work with old-fashioned cameras. Numbers are everywhere and I think a lot about the composition of things.

I rarely feel intimidated in front of the lens. When I model I go into my head, shutting out everything. It’s just me interacting with the camera. The photographer almost disappears. Sometimes I concentrate so deeply when taking a picture myself, I forget to breathe.

A blend of realism, sarcasm and dark humour gets me through life. I always say that we have one foot in the grave at all times. My friends will say: “My God, here she goes again.” But I think I’m so afraid of death that I have to have the concept around me all the time as some sort of coping mechanism.

When I need a sense of affirmation, or am searching for an explanation, I read the short poems – he called them grooks – of the Danish scientist and philosopher Piet Hein. They help things fall into place.

Getting our dog was absolutely the best thing I have done in my life besides having my son. He and I are so in love with her. Mentally, she makes me feel so much better. She sleeps in the bed with me. When I’m on trips I listen to recordings of her snoring. If I am feeling anxious, like at an airport, I listen to it over and over. It’s like meditation.

I wish I could have shot Marilyn Monroe. Every picture of her shows so much rawness. Vulnerability. She’d been a male subject her entire life and is one of those people you want to go back and hold close to you, shield them.

Like most Danes, I was built up on dairy. Our country is full of fields of grazing cows and we have the best yoghurt, cheeses, milk and butter. I adore butter.

I really value a strong handshake. There is nothing worse than a limp one.

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