For the first time, Camilla Malmquist (42) talks openly about her life with Morten Harket (46), and why their 9-year-long marriage ended in 1998.

- BY CAMILLA BJØRN

It's on tonight's episode of the celebrity documentary, «Hele historien» (The Whole Story), on Morten Harket on TV2 Zebra, that Malmquist breaks her silence on what has been one of Norway's most discussed celebrity marriages.

"He was, of course, always on tour, and had this 'worship' thing going on out there.  And then he'd come home to me - and I, of course, wanted him to be my lover and a father to our children - but he brought a little of that thing home with him - that 'worship' thing, you know.  And that made for a rather uneven relationship, and it was difficult for me.  Because being a lover means getting back as much as you give.  Eventually, because of that, the relationship simply fell apart," Camilla says in «Hele historien».

Wanted to Keep Their Marriage a Secret

Harket and Camilla met each other at an airport in 1986, when the popstar sent his bodyguard over to her after admiring the Swedish actress at a distance.

In «Hele historien,» Malmquist tells about the beginning of the relationship, and about their small and quite private wedding in 1989, because Harket wanted to keep it secret.  And about how Camilla has been a full-time mother for their children, Jakob (16), Jonathan (15) and Tomine (12), while Morten has traveled all over the world as a superstar.

"Yes, I have kept a low profile regarding our private life, and have always meant that a public airing of our grievances was never on the books.  A breakup can be unsettling enough, without giving everyone in the world the possibility to put in their two cents' worth.  But it would have been too strange if I didn't take part in this documentary, since I have been a large part of an important period of his life," Camilla explained to VG.

According to «Hele historien,» the supposedly rock-solid marriage fell apart at the same time as a-ha disbanded in the '90s.

Doesn't Blame Morten

"But I don't blame Morten for anything.  It was understandably an adjustment for him to come home to us after having been so high on tour with so much attention, and then be expected to simply sit around and talk about diapers.  He actually came home and slept, and that made me feel frustrated," Malmquist explained to VG.

To VG, Malmquist said that it felt right for her to participate in the documentary, especially to highlight what she describes as a women's issue, as regards her being willing to reprioritize much of her life according to Morten's needs.

"Because - yes - Morten's galloping career came first, and my - yes - not quite so galloping career was put on the back burner.  And that is all well and good.  But the fact is of course that I give him the freedom to travel and do exactly what he wants or has to do.  Because I am willing to be there for the children," explains Camilla, and continues:

"I do the jobs that otherwise a cook, chauffeur, and nanny would have to be employed to do if I prioritized my career as an actress in the same way Morten does his," she says.

She points out that the role of a full-time mother can easily be taken for granted, and that it simply becomes to be something that is expected.  There is neither any traditional sort of sharing of parental responsibilities between Camilla and Morten:

"Unequal Schedule"

"There never has been.  When Morten has the possibility, between engagements, then he might say he can take one or two of the children.  He of course wants to spend time with his children, because he loves them more than anything on earth, but he has a schedule that is uneven and not very regular," explains Camilla.

"Camilla is a good mother.  I hope I am a good father.  It is difficult to say more than that publicly," Morten Harket tells VG through his personal manager, Sverre Flatby.

Camilla Harket is today living with Tommy La Verdi (37), and this summer gave birth to their daughter, Savannah Fiore Blu (4-1/2 months).
(Thanks to Ingerid for the English Translation)