She was born in Kristiania as a daughter of Prime Minister Sigurd Ibsen. She was a sister of Tancred Ibsen, paternal granddaughter of world-famous writer Henrik Ibsen and Suzannah Ibsen (née Thoresen), daughter of Bergliot Ibsen (née Bjørnson) and maternal granddaughter of Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson and Karoline Bjørnson (née Reimers).
Her first dramatic work, Uten ansikt ("Faceless"), was published here. Kysset ("The Kiss") followed in 1965. In the same year she issued the novel Det leende vindu ("The Laughing Window").
She died in February 1985.
Irene Ibsen and Josias Bille had the following descendants, who also make up roughly a third of Henrik Ibsen"s living descendants
Anders Steensen Bille (1940–2011), married Mona Skov Hansen (since 1941)
Steen Andersen Oluf Bille (since 1964), married Geraldine Dumas (since 1975)
Anders Steensen Victorien Bille (since 2009)
Arsène Constant Eske Bille (since 2011)
Bernt Ivar Bille (since 1968), married Betina Laulund Henriksen
Josias Christian Bille (since 2000)
Emerentze Caroline Bille (since 2003)
Joen Steensen Bille (since 1944), married Bente Scavenius (since 1944)
Beate Bille (since 1976), married Magnus Jønck
Peder Bille (since 1983)
Irene Ibsen Bille"s first marriage with Mario Rocco:
Suzannah Ibsen (1922-1979), married Ib Bering Jensen (1921-2012)
Thorkel Josias Bering-Jensen (since 1959) first marriage Jeanette Uhrenholt (since 1968)
Chanel Uhrenholt (since 1986)
Francisca Uhrenholt (since 1990)
Vitus Mario Bering-Jensen (since 1959)
Bering Vincent (since 1983)
Bering Vincent (since 1986)
Jonas Vitus Bering (since 2002).
Irene Ibsen married Danish writer Steen Andersen Josias Christopher Bille (called Josias), a member of the ancient noble Bille family, in 1930, and moved to Denmark.
