Who is she? Norwegian politician and physician.
Why's she in the news? Stepping down as Norway's Prime Minister.
Born: April 20th, 1939, in Oslo.
Career: Educated at Harvard, she became Norway's first female and, at 42, youngest prime minister (1981).
Resigned as Labour party chairwoman in 1992, saying she needed to spend more time with her family. Her, son Jorgen (24) committed suicide later that year.
Gave her blessing to the secret meetings in Norway which led to a peace agreement between Israel and the PLO (1993).
Campaigned in support of Norwegian membership of the EU, but the country voted against (1994).
An outspoken advocate of women's rights, she rounded on opponents of abortion at the World Population Conference in Cairo (1994). Said their hypocrisy meant "mothers suffering or dying in connection with unwanted pregnancies and illegal abortions, and unwanted children living in misery."
The speech got her into trouble with the Vatican and also Pakistan's Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who condemned abortion as un-Islamic.
What's she like? Tireless. Known in Norway simply as Gro, friends say she laughs easily, but tells few jokes. Struggles with a fiery temper.
Demanding and compassionate, she has few interests outside politics.
A champion of the environment, sh9 horrified whale-lovers by declaring Norway's resumption of the pursuit and death by harpoon of minke whales as "environmentally sound", despite a world ban.
Protecting the environment does not mean not touching anything," she said (1992).
Whither Gro? Although she denies any interest, many feel she may seek the post of UN secretary-general.
Last word: "She's been a mother to the country." said a leader-writer on Norway's major daily, Aftenposten.