Lilla Bye was born in Kristiania (Oslo) as Edel Nathalie Victoria Bye. Her Parents were Johan Bye and Maren Iversen. On stage from around 1915, and she became a very popular cabaret artist in Oslo. Eventually she went on tours to other Norwegian cities, and even to Sweden and Denmark. Much because of her popularity, she got one of the main roles in the film: Hårda Viljor, 1923. Together with her husband, the pianist Ivar Johnsen, she was on many tours around Norway.Surviving her husband with eight years, she died in Oslo in the summer of 1986, 86 years old.