Trivia

Prime minister of Norway, 1981, 1986-1989, 1990-1996 (first woman to hold that post).

Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), 1998-2003.

Brundtland chose not to stand again as WHO's director-general, to be replaced by Dr Jong-Wook Lee on 21 July 2003.

In Norway she is often called 'Landsmoderen'. This is a play on the word 'Landsfaderen' which was given to legendary Norwegian politician Einar Gerhardsen. 'Landsfaderen' means "Father of the Nation", 'Landsmoderen' - "Mother of the nation."

Between Norwegians she is commonly just referred to as 'Gro' (her first name).

In 2004 the British newspaper Financial Times listed her the 4th most influental European for the last 25 years, behind Pope John Paul II, Mikhail Gorbachev and Margaret Thatcher.