Octavia

*This is a Velkanian name. The last name is a patronymic, not a family name. The subject should be referred to by the given name* Oktavía*.*

**Oktavía Ríkardursdætr** (born 14 May 1961), known outside of the Velkanian Isles as simply **Octavia**, is a Velkanian singer, songwriter, and actress. An iconic pop culture figure of the 1980s in the Velkanian Isles, Octavia received international recognition with the 1985 hit single "Paradise" and her subsequent film roles.

Born in Hersingborg and raised in Naríthjábæk, Octavia decided to pursue a career in music at a young age. After finishing primary school, she enrolled in the Naríthjábæk College of the Performing Arts to study vocal performance and graduated in 1979. After working as a nightclub singer and part-time waitress, Octavia competed in and won *Sönghjútan Sjóppnarin 1981* with the song "Ég nár út", receiving the right to represent the Velkanian Isles in the World Song Competition 1981, where she placed second, the best result the country had ever received. Returning to the Velkanian Isles with great popularity, Octavia was signed to the Velkanian record label Súla Music and began work on a debut studio album. After the release of several successful follow-up singles in 1981 and 1982, her debut album *Oktavía* (1982), was released and became a chart-topping hit. The success of her debut album led her to quickly produce a follow-up, releasing the similarly successful *Nátta* (1983) along with its widely popular lead single "Hjölm."

In 1984, Octavia signed with Spartan Records International in an attempt to launch her music career internationally. She was recruited to perform the duet "Paradise," the theme song to the romantic drama film *Paradis* (1985), with Helvarian musician Jonas Härsch. The song quickly became an international hit, reaching number-one in twelve countries and shooting Octavia into superstardom. Her follow-up solo single "In My Eyes" was released shortly afterwards, and was also internationally successful. Her third studio album and first internationally marketed album *I'm in Paradise* (1986) later became a chart-topping hit in more than ten countries worldwide, winning Octavia Best New Artist at the 1987 Friedman Awards in Munbach. Following the success of *I'm in Paradise*, Octavia became interested in film and acting. She appeared in a supporting role in the Helvarian comedy film *Gärderhus* (1988), in addition to recording the film's theme song "House on Fire." Both the film and the single were international successes, leading to Octavia to seriously contemplate a career in film.

Despite the success of *Gärderhus*, Octavia was contracted to record another studio album, and began work on new music. She later released the single "A Little Heart and Soul" in 1989, which embraced a more rock sound. The single was a modest success, reaching the top forty in six countries but failing to achieve the levels of success that her previous music had. Her fourth studio album *Alone Again* (1989) featured a similar rock inspiration, but failed to garner much traction outside of the Velkanian Isles. After the commercial disappointment of *Alone Again*, Octavia decided to take a brief break from music in order to further pursue film and acting. After supporting roles in the dramas *The Brigade* (1990), *Annalisa's Harp* (1990), and *Creature* (1991), Octavia received her first leading role in the musical-drama *Jemma* (1992). *Jemma* became a massive worldwide success, and its soundtrack became one of the best-selling soundtracks of all-time, producing two worldwide number-one hits: "Glamour" and "Homesick." Octavia was nominated for Best Leading Actress at the 1993 Greimer Awards for her role in the film. Octavia returned to the Velkanian Isles after her divorce in 1994, later releasing her fifth studio album *Kölmitt* (1996), her first release in the Velkanian language in thirteen years. She has since released the albums *Celebration* (1999), *Time and Time Again* (2004), and *Aphrodite* (2012), each being commercial successes in the Velkanian Isles.

Octavia has sold more than 60 million records worldwide in her career and has amassed twenty number-one singles in the Velkanian Isles, making her the most-successful Velkanian musician of all-time. Additionally, she is the only Velkanian person to win Best New Artist at the Friedman Awards, and the only Velkanian person to be nominated for a Greimer Award in an acting category. She has been nicknamed the "Queen of Pop" and "Godmother of Velkania" by the Velkanian media, and has also been named one of the most-influential Velkanians in the history of pop culture.

## Early life and education

Octavia was born on 14 May 1961 as Oktavía Ríkardursdætr in Hersingborg to parents Ríkardur Samúelsson (born 1930) and Árbjörg Siglaugursdætr (born 1931). Her Velkanian parents are originally from Naríthjábæk, and came to Hersingborg in the early-1950s to study at Hersingborg University. Her father worked as a sales executive, while her mother was an interior decorator who owned her own interior decorating business. Octavia is the younger of two children; her elder brother is Gudmundur, born  (1959-04-22) 22 April 1959 (age 64). Gudmundur works as a marketing executive in Naríthjábæk.

In 1965, the family left Hersingborg and returned to Naríthjábæk just prior to the independence referendum, which they were supporters of; they settled in the Akuhólmur district. Octavia began her education in 1967, attending a local public primary school in Naríthjábæk. While in primary school, Octavia has described herself as being a "social butterfly" and "unable to sit still." While she performed well academically, she struggled with being confined to a classroom setting and realized early that she did not desire to pursue an academic path. When she was seven, Octavia began asking her parents to sign her up for dance classes, which soon also invited singing and acting lessons. Octavia graduated from primary school in 1977, and afterwards enrolled in the Naríthjábæk College of the Performing Arts to study vocal performance. Octavia was a popular student in high school, and was crowned her school's *tími* queen in her final year.

Octavia graduated from high school in 1979, and afterwards decided to pursue a professional career in music and entertainment. She initially struggled to find work, having to find part-time employment as a babysitter and lifeguard until beginning to work as a waitress at a local fish restaurant. Shortly afterwards, Octavia began dancing professionally as a burlesque dancer at a local burlesque club, but grew to be uncomfortable with the job and instead began to work as the club's vocal talent instead.

## Career

### 1980–1983: Breakthrough and World Song Competition

After performing as a nightclub singer for a year, Octavia wrote and submitted the song "Ég nár út" for the televised song competition *Sönghjútan Sjóppnarin 1981*. Octavia competed in the first semi-final on 17 January 1981, where she began to be considered a favorite to win the competition. She advanced from the semi-final to the final on 31 January, where she won the competition. With her win, Octavia received the right to represent the Velkanian Isles at the World Song Competition 1981 in Limurberg City. Prior to the competition, "Ég nár út" became a number-one single in the Velkanian Isles, later becoming the best-selling single of 1981 in the country.

Octavia competed in the finals on 16 May 1981, where she ultimately placed second; this was the best result the Velkanian Isles had ever received in the competition. Upon returning home shortly after the competition, Octavia was launched into national stardom and became a household name. She was soon signed to Velkanian record label Súla Music to begin work on a debut studio album. Her follow-up single "Hreitakki" was released in September 1981, becoming her second number-one single. From 1981 to 1982, Octavia had amassed three other number-one singles, holding the record for the shortest amount of time to accumulate five number-one hits in Velkanian music history. Her debut studio album *Oktavía* was later released in February 1982, containing her five previously released singles on one side and five new songs on the other. The album became her first chart-topping album in the Velkanian Isles. After its success, Octavia promoted the album on the *Oktavía! Live Tour!*, performing shows in the Velkanian Isles, Forsland, and Hartland during the summer of 1982.

After the success of her debut album, Octavia's record label urged her to begin work on a follow-up. Her sophomore release's lead single "Hjölm" was later released in November 1982, and became her sixth number-one single in the Velkanian Isles. *Nátta* was later released in March 1983, becoming her second chart-topping album and producing two other number-one hits "Náttinátta" and "Hjallta." She promoted the album frequently on Velkanian television, and also embarked on the *Náttinátta Tour*, which performed two legs of shows in the Velkanian Isles and Forsland: one in the summer of 1983 and one from December 1983 to January 1984. After the completion of the tour, Octavia returned to the Velkanian Isles to begin work on a third studio album, although the tracks have never been released.

### 1984–1988: International breakthrough and *I'm in Paradise*

In April 1984, Octavia's track "Náttinátta" was noticed by record executives at Spartan Records International. They flew her out to Munbach to begin contract negotiations, and she was signed to the label. In order to introduce her to the international market, they arranged for her to perform the female vocal part in the duet "Paradise," along with Helvarian musician Jonas Härsch; the song was intended to be released as a single as the theme song to the upcoming romantic drama film *Paradis* (1985). The single was later released in January 1985, and quickly became an international hit single. Amidst the song's rise to success, Octavia became a frequent tabloid subject due to her romantic relationship with duet partner Härsch, who at the time was an established and successful international musician. "Paradise" went on to reach number-one in twelve countries, and catapulted Octavia into international superstardom.

Following the success of "Paradise," executives at Spartan Records wished to expedite Octavia's solo music in an attempt to capitalize on the success of the duet. Her debut international solo single "In Your Eyes" was later released in August 1985, becoming another international number-one hit. Octavia began to toy with pursuing a film career after being asked to audition for a role in *Superstar* (1986), but her record label did not allow her due to the success of her music career. Her debut internationally marketed album *I'm in Paradise* was later released in January 1986, which became her first album to chart internationally and her third number-one album in the Velkanian Isles. She promoted the album with two international tours; she first embarked on the *Paradiso Tour*, which performed shows from January to March 1986 in six countries. Afterwards, Octavia went on tour with her boyfriend Härsch, performing in the massive *We're in Paradise World Tour*, performing in arenas in seventeen countries from May 1986 to January 1987. Due to the success of *I'm in Paradise*, Octavia won Best New Artist at the 1987 Friedman Awards, becoming the first Velkanian musician to win the award. Octavia later appeared in a supporting role in the Helvarian comedy film *Gärdahus* (1988) and recorded the film's theme song "House on Fire;" both of which going on to become commercial successes.

### 1989–1994: *Alone Again* and film career

After the success of *Gärdahus* and "House on Fire," Octavia began to more closely consider pursuing a career in film, and this time received permission from her label to do so after she released a second studio album with the label. The album's lead single "A Little Heart and Soul" was released in March 1989, which embraced a more rock sound. The single did not perform as well commercially as some of her previous releases had, reaching the top forty in a number of countries but only breaking the top ten in the Velkanian Isles. Her fourth studio album *Alone Again* was later released in June 1989; like its lead single, the album embraced a more rock-influenced sound, but failed to achieve the commercial success that its predecessors did, peaking at number-one in the Velkanian Isles and number-three in Helvaria, but failing to reach the top five in any other country. Nevertheless, she promoted the album with the successsful concert tour *A Little Alone Time: The Tour*, which performed shows in a more intimate setting from July to September 1989 in eight countries.

She then appeared in a supporting role in the war drama *The Brigade* (1990), for which she received praise from film critics for her performance. The positive reception led Octavia to begin prioritizing film over music, and she went on to appear in the successful dramas *Annalisa's Harp* (1990) and *Creature* (1991) in supporting roles. Octavia received her first leading role in the musical-drama *Jemma* (1992), appearing as the eponymous character. The movie followed the life of a young pop star from her rise to fame in the 1980s to her decline in the present-day. The film was widely successful and Octavia's performance was critically lauded. The film's soundtrack became one of the best-selling film soundtracks of all-time, and produced two international number-one hits for Octavia: "Glamour" and "Homesick." Octavia was nominated for Best Leading Actress at the 1993 Greimer Awards for her role in the film, becoming the first Velkanian nominated for a Greimer Award in an acting category. Despite her international success, Octavia returned to the Velkanian Isles in 1994, following her highly publicized divorce with Härsch, whom she had married in 1988.

### 1995–1999: Return to Velkanian Isles

After returning to the Velkanian Isles in 1994, Octavia sought to retreat from the spotlight and prioritize her role as a mother for a period of time. She stepped out from her recording contract with Spartan Records, instead resigning with Súla Music in 1995, and negotiating a contract which allowed her to record music on her own schedule.

Octavia returned to the spotlight in 1996, releasing the single "Kölmitt" in April 1996. The song was her first release in four years, and her first song in the Velkanian language since 1983. Despite her long break from the spotlight, the single still became widely successful in the Velkanian Isles, becoming her fifteenth number-one hit in her home country. Three months afterwards, she released an album of the same name. The album went on to produce a number of other chart-topping singles, including "Frámla," "Óla," and "Beloved." Despite initially not wanting to embark on a concert tour to promote the album, she ultimately did due to fan demand and performed on the *Kölmitt Tour* from August to September 1996, performing in small venues in the Velkanian Isles.

After the success of *Kölmitt*, Octavia retreated from the spotlight once again. In a 1998 interview, she stated that she had considered retiring from music and no longer releasing new albums, but ultimately decided against it due to her fans. She later released the single "Celebration" in June 1999, which became her nineteenth number-one hit. The single was followed by the release of the album of the same name, which served as a dual new release and greatest hits collection.

### 2000–present: Further Velkanian career and retirement

After the release of *Celebration*, Octavia once again toyed with the idea of never releasing new music again. In a 2002 interview, she officially referred to herself as "retired." Octavia later clarified her stance in a second 2002 interview, stating that she believed no one wanted to hear music from an "old woman like [herself]." However, reports later emerged that Octavia was planning on releasing another album in 2004. *Time and Time Again* was later released in October 2004; while the album peaked at number-one in the Velkanian Isles, it did not produce any commercially successful singles.

In 2005, Octavia confirmed that she had no plans to release new music anytime soon, and instead was enjoying time with her family and new husband. She reiterated this belief in 2008, confirming that she was "truly retired" from the music industry. However, in 2012, Octavia revealed that she planned to release a "final" album. *Aphrodite* was later released in August 2012, and topped the charts in the Velkanian Isles. It additionally produced the chart-topping single "A Woman like Myself," which became her twentieth number-one hit. She supported the album with the *I'm a Woman Tour*, which performed small shows in the Velkanian Isles throughout October 2012.

## Personal life

### Public image

Early in her career, Octavia was well-known for her spiky short blonde hairdo, typically sporting dark makeup and wearing clothing from thrift shops. She received both praise and criticism for this look, with critics citing her appropriation of the punk subculture considering that she was a pop musician. After signing to Spartan Records International, Octavia began growing her hair out long and dyed her natural blonde hair an auburn-red color, which began to define her for the rest of her career. Her clothing style began to change immensely as well, instead beginning to sport looks deemed to be trendy of the time period.

A polyglot who holds multiple citizenships, Octavia was raised speaking Velkanian, later learning Forsish and English in schooling. After moving to Munbach in 1984, Octavia began speaking Helvarian fluently. She was born a citizen of Forsland, but later lost her Forsish citizenship for Velkanian citizenship after the restoration of Velkanian independence in 1966. She naturalized as a Helvarian citizen in 1993, due to her marriage, and later filed for the reacquisition of Forsish citizenship in 2000, making her a tri-citizen.

### Relationships and family

After beginning her career in 1981, Octavia was rumored by the Velkanian media to be a lesbian due to her short hair and image. Octavia never confirmed nor denied the reports, leading many to be convinced that she was a lesbian. However, in February 1985, it was confirmed that Octavia had begun a relationship with Helvarian musician Jonas Härsch, after they had met while recording their hit single "Paradise" in 1984. This relationship greatly contributed to Octavia's rise in international fame.

Octavia and Härsch became engaged in 1987, and later married in a small private ceremony in Naríthjábæk the following year. They had one child together: Agnes, born  (1993-10-10) 10 October 1993 (age 30). The family resided in Munbach for several years, until Octavia filed for divorce from Härsch in January 1994; the divorce was finalized that November, and Octavia subsequently moved from Munbach to Naríthjábæk with Agnes. It was reported in the media that Härsch had had several affairs while on tour, and that Octavia was not aware of them until the day before filing for divorce. Agnes was raised by Octavia in Naríthjábæk, and now works as a lawyer.

In 2002, Octavia began a relationship with Velkanian business executive Eyrík Patriksson after being set up on a blind date by her elder brother. They soon began a relationship, later marrying in 2004. Eyrík adopted Agnes as a stepdaughter, and they moved into a large house in the Fjallassandur district of Naríthjábæk. Octavia and Eyrík have one child together born through a surrogate: Daníel, born  (2006-06-19) 19 June 2006 (age 17).

## Discography

*Main article: Octavia discography.*

* *Oktavía* (1982)
* *Nátta* (1983)
* *I'm in Paradise* (1986)
* *Alone Again* (1989)
* *Kölmitt* (1996)
* *Celebration* (1999)
* *Time and Time Again* (2004)
* *Aphrodite* (2012)

## Awards and nominations

*Main article: Awards and nominations received by Octavia.*