Steen was born in
Kristiania (now Oslo), Norway. Her parents,
Harald Steen (1886–1941) and
Signe Heide Steen (1881–1959), were both actors and singers who performed on stage and in opera. Her sister
Kari Diesen (1914–1987) was a singer and revue actress. Her brother
Harald Heide Steen (1911–1980) was a film actor. His son,
Harald Heide-Steen Jr. (1939–2008), was a radio performer, actor, and comedian. Steen was a student of opera singer
Borghild Langaard (1883–1939). She was also trained by vocalist Haldis Isene (1891–1978), wife of opera singer
Ola Isene (1898–1973). She made her operetta debut at the Casino Theatre in Oslo during 1927 and her concert debut in 1931. She performed at both the
National Theatre and at
Chat Noir in Oslo. She was a member of the Norwegian Association of Artists (
kunstnerforeningen). She also chaired the Norwegian Opera Society (
Norsk Operasangerforbund) from 1958 to 1963 and later became an honorary member of the society. In 1959, she received the
King's Medal of Merit (
Kongens fortjenstmedalje) in gold. She was married to Thorbjørn Sigurd Jacobsen (1912–1967). Their daughter is the stage and film actress
Anne Marit Jacobsen. ==References==