Gunn Wållgren (born Gunnel Margaret Haraldsdotter Wållgren; ; 16 November 1913 – 4 June 1983) was a

Swedish Swedish or ' may refer to: Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically: * Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland ** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...

actress. Considered one of Sweden's better actresses, Wållgren was famous for her fragile and sensual way of acting and her inner soulfulness on stage. Her

Chekhov Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (; 29 January 1860 Old Style date 17 January. – 15 July 1904 Old Style date 2 July.) was a Russian playwright and short-story writer who is considered to be one of the greatest writers of all time. His career ...

and

Ibsen Henrik Johan Ibsen (; ; 20 March 1828 – 23 May 1906) was a Norwegian playwright and theatre director. As one of the founders of modernism in theatre, Ibsen is often referred to as "the father of realism" and one of the most influential playw ...

character interpretations, in particular, are considered to be unsurpassed.

Biography

Gunn Wållgren was born in

Gothenburg Gothenburg (; abbreviated Gbg; sv, Göteborg ) is the second-largest city in Sweden, fifth-largest in the Nordic countries, and capital of the Västra Götaland County. It is situated by the Kattegat, on the west coast of Sweden, and has ...

in November 1913. In her teenage years, she preformed in some local children's theaters. Gunn Wållgren wanted to become an actress when she was a child, altho her father Harald Wållgren did not support her. In an attempt to try to dissuade her, Gunn's father sent Gunn overseas on a trip to

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

. This proved unhelpful, as her desire to act only increased. By the time she returned home, she was more determined than ever. Carrying a tremendous shyness and insecurity, which came to personally restrict her all her life. In 1934, age 21, she secretly applied for the

Royal Dramatic Theatre The Royal Dramatic Theatre ( sv, Kungliga Dramatiska Teatern, colloquially ''Dramaten'') is Sweden's national stage for "spoken drama", founded in 1788. Around one thousand shows are put on annually on the theatre's five running stages. The the ...

's acting school in

Stockholm Stockholm () is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, largest city of Sweden as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in Scandinavia. Approximately 980,000 people liv ...

and was admitted first try. Gunn Wållgren's was awarded her first major role in 1936, at the

as ''"premiere actress",'' portraying Mildred in

Eugene O'Neill Eugene Gladstone O'Neill (October 16, 1888 – November 27, 1953) was an American playwright and Nobel laureate in literature. His poetically titled plays were among the first to introduce into the U.S. the drama techniques of realism, earlier ...

's ''Ah, Wilderness!,'' which went on to become a very successful and long-running production. Winning the critics' and the audience's heart in her part she received an immediate contract with the Royal Dramatic Theatre after her graduation from drama school in 1937. Despite working at different theatres throughout her life, Gunn always returned to the national stage. Some masterful stage performances by Wållgren include her portrayal of Sorel Bliss in

Noël Coward Sir Noël Peirce Coward (16 December 189926 March 1973) was an English playwright, composer, director, actor, and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what ''Time'' magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and ...

's ''

Hay Fever Allergic rhinitis, of which the seasonal type is called hay fever, is a type of inflammation in the nose that occurs when the immune system overreacts to allergens in the air. Signs and symptoms include a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, red, i ...

'' in 1937, Celia in

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

's ''

As You Like It ''As You Like It'' is a pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 and first published in the First Folio in 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wilton House in 1603 has b ...

'' 1938 (directed by

Alf Sjöberg Sven Erik Alf Sjöberg (21 June 1903 – 17 April 1980) was a Sweden, Swedish theatre director, theatre and film director. He won the Palme d'Or, Grand Prix du Festival at the Cannes Film Festival twice: in 1946 for ''Torment (1944 film), Torment ...

), the strong portrayal of Curley's wife in the original Swedish staging of

John Steinbeck John Ernst Steinbeck Jr. (; February 27, 1902 – December 20, 1968) was an American writer and the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature winner "for his realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do sympathetic humor and keen social ...

's ''Of Mice and Men'' in 1940, Iphigenia in

Goethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German poet, playwright, novelist, scientist, statesman, theatre director, and critic. His works include plays, poetry, literature, and aesthetic criticism, as well as treat ...

's ''

Iphigenia in Tauris ''Iphigenia in Tauris'' ( grc, Ἰφιγένεια ἐν Ταύροις, ''Iphigeneia en Taurois'') is a drama by the playwright Euripides, written between 414 BC and 412 BC. It has much in common with another of Euripides's plays, ''Helen'', as w ...

'' 1941, her

Ophelia Ophelia () is a character in William Shakespeare's drama ''Hamlet'' (1599–1601). She is a young noblewoman of Denmark, the daughter of Polonius, sister of Laertes and potential wife of Prince Hamlet, who, due to Hamlet's actions, ends up in ...

in the classic 1942 staging of ''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...

'' (opposite

Lars Hanson Lars Mauritz Hanson (26 July 1886 – 8 April 1965) was a Swedish film and stage actor, internationally mostly remembered for his motion picture roles during the silent film era. Biography Born in Göteborg, Sweden, Hanson began his career on t ...

in the title role), Mary Grey/

Joan of Arc Joan of Arc (french: link=yes, Jeanne d'Arc, translit= �an daʁk} ; 1412 – 30 May 1431) is a patron saint of France, honored as a defender of the French nation for her role in the siege of Orléans and her insistence on the coronati ...

in ''Joan of Lorraine'' by

Maxwell Anderson James Maxwell Anderson (December 15, 1888 – February 28, 1959) was an American playwright, author, poet, journalist, and lyricist. Background Anderson was born on December 15, 1888, in Atlantic, Pennsylvania, the second of eight children to ...

in 1948, Catherine Sloper in ''

The Heiress ''The Heiress'' is a 1949 American romantic drama film directed and produced by William Wyler, from a screenplay written by Ruth and Augustus Goetz, adapted from their 1947 stage play of the same title, which was itself adapted from Henry James ...

'' by

Ruth Ruth (or its variants) may refer to: Places France * Château de Ruthie, castle in the commune of Aussurucq in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques département of France Switzerland * Ruth, a hamlet in Cologny United States * Ruth, Alabama * Ruth, Ar ...

and Augustus Goetz in the 1950/51 season, Indra's daughter in the

Olof Molander Olof Johan Harald Molander (8 October 1892 – 26 May 1966) was a Sweden, Swedish theatre director, theatre and film director. He was most notable for his many Strindberg and Shakespeare productions. Biography Molander was born in Helsinki. H ...

-staging of

Strindberg Johan August Strindberg (, ; 22 January 184914 May 1912) was a Swedish playwright, novelist, poet, essayist and painter.Lane (1998), 1040. A prolific writer who often drew directly on his personal experience, Strindberg wrote more than sixty p ...

's ''

A Dream Play ''A Dream Play'' ( sv, Ett drömspel) is a fantasy play in 14 scenes written in 1901 by the Swedish playwright August Strindberg. It was published in Swedish in 1902 and first performed in Stockholm on 17 April 1907. It remains one of Strindberg' ...

'' 1955, Nina in

's ''

The Seagull ''The Seagull'' ( rus, Ча́йка, r=Cháyka, links=no) is a play by Russian dramatist Anton Chekhov, written in 1895 and first produced in 1896. ''The Seagull'' is generally considered to be the first of his four major plays. It dramatises t ...

'' 1955, Masha in

's '' Three Sisters'' 1958, Isabella in

's ''

Measure for Measure ''Measure for Measure'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603 or 1604 and first performed in 1604, according to available records. It was published in the ''First Folio'' of 1623. The play's plot features its ...

'' 1958, Nora in

's ''

A Doll's House ''A Doll's House'' (Danish and nb, Et dukkehjem; also translated as ''A Doll House'') is a three-act play written by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. It premiered at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 21 December 1879, having bee ...

'' 1962, Gerda in

's ''Storm'' 1964, Mrs. Alving in

's ''

Ghosts A ghost is the soul or spirit of a dead person or animal that is believed to be able to appear to the living. In ghostlore, descriptions of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to rea ...

'' 196?, the grand portrayal of Madame Liubov Andreievna Ranevskaya in ''

The Cherry Orchard ''The Cherry Orchard'' (russian: Вишнёвый сад, translit=Vishnyovyi sad) is the last play by Russian playwright Anton Chekhov. Written in 1903, it was first published by ''Znaniye'' (Book Two, 1904), and came out as a separate edition ...

'' by

in 1967, Martha Brewster in '' Arsenic and Old Lace'' in 1970, the title role of ''Agnes'' in Kent Andersson's 1972 play, Lena in Fugard's ''Boesman and Lena'' 1977; and the role of Ethel Thayer in ''Sista sommaren'' (play based on the Oscar-winning film ''On Golden Pond'', starring Katharine Hepburn in the same part) in 1981. Her film debut was in ''Sonja'' in 1943, but her break-through came with ''Kvinnor i fångenskap'' the same year, where Wållgren portrayed a young prisoner on the run. Being "of the theatre", Gunn Wållgren filmed sporadically during her life. But whenever she turned to the big screen she was "The Actress". Ranked absolutely equivalent to

Ingrid Bergman Ingrid Bergman (29 August 191529 August 1982) was a Swedish actress who starred in a variety of European and American films, television movies, and plays.Obituary ''Variety'', 1 September 1982. With a career spanning five decades, she is often ...

back in Sweden at the time, both in beauty and in talent (in Sweden even considered some notches higher than Bergman as an actress) she delivered electrifying performances in films such as ''Flickan och djävulen'' (The Girl And The Devil) (opposite

Stig Järrel Stig Järrel (8February 19101July 1998) was a Swedish actor, film director and revue artist. Järrel was one of the most popular actors in Sweden during his career, and also one of the most productive, participating in a total of 131 films. He a ...

) 1944, ''Var sin väg'' (Each To His Own Way) 1946, ''Medan porten var stängd'' (While The Door Was Locked) 1946 (written & directed by

Hasse Ekman Hasse Ekman (born Hans Gösta Ekman; 10September 191515February 2004) was a Swedish director, actor, writer and Film producer, producer for film director, film, Theatre director, stage and television director, television. Biography Hasse Ekman ...

), '' Kvinna utan ansikte'' (Woman Without A Face) 1947 (with an early script by

Ingmar Bergman Ernst Ingmar Bergman (14 July 1918 – 30 July 2007) was a Swedish film director, screenwriter, Film producer, producer and playwright. Widely considered one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all time, his films are known ...

), ''Glasberget'' (Mountain Of Glass) 1953 (directed by

) and ''Klänningen'' (The Dress) 1964 (directed by

with script by

Vilgot Sjöman David Harald Vilgot Sjöman (2 December 1924 – 9 April 2006) was a Swedish writer and film director. His films deal with controversial issues of social class, morality, and sexual taboos, combining the emotionally tortured characters of Ingm ...

), among others. Her supporting part in

Gunnel Lindblom Gunnel Märtha Ingegärd Lindblom (18 December 1931 – 24 January 2021) was a Swedish film actress and director. Career As an actress, Lindblom was particularly associated with the work of Ingmar Bergman, though in 1965 she performed the l ...

's debating drama '' Sally och friheten'' (1981) (Sally and Freedom), about a woman dealing with the painful memories and reality of an abortion, later in life rendered her Sweden's most prestigious film award, the

Guldbagge Award The Guldbagge Awards ( sv, Guldbaggen, en, Gold scarab) is an official and annual Swedish film awards ceremony honoring achievements in the Swedish film industry. Winners are awarded a statuette depicting a rose chafer, better known by the name ...

(the Golden Beetle), for Best Actress. She was highly praised for her warm and sober portrayal of the grandmother – the immediate centre of the Ekdahl family - in

's colourful film '' Fanny och Alexander'' (1982). The role was to be her very last, as shortly after the shooting finished she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Her condition deteriorated quickly and she died on 4 June 1983; ten months later Bergman's film was awarded with 4

Oscars The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

, one for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards. Gunn Wållgren was married firstly to

Hampe Faustman Erik "Hampe" Faustman (born Erik Stellan Chatham; 3 July 1919 – 26 August 1961) was a Swedish actor and film director. He appeared in more than 20 films between 1940 and 1961. He also directed 20 films between 1943 and 1955. He was married ...

(born Erik Stellan Chatham), an actor and film director, from 1941 until their divorce in 1949. She married secondly to

Per-Axel Branner Per-Axel Helge Branner (né Larsson; 25 January 1899 – 31 July 1975) was a Swedish actor, screenwriter and film director.Qvist & von Bagh p.197 Selected filmography * ''Getting Married'' (1926) * ''His Life's Match'' (1932) * '' Pettersson & ...

, a stage director, from 1954 until his death in 1975. She had two daughters from her marriage with Faustman: Susanne and Elaine.

Filmography

* ''

Imprisoned Women ''Imprisoned Women'' (Swedish: ''Kvinnor i fångenskap'') is a 1943 Swedish drama film directed by Olof Molander and starring Gunnar Sjöberg, Elsie Albiin and Gunn Wållgren.Gustafsson p.151 It was made at the Centrumateljéerna Studios in Stockh ...

'' (1943) as Viola * '' The Sixth Shot'' (1943) as Lulu * '' Sonja'' (1943) as Sonja's Room-mate * ''

Ordet ''Ordet'' (, meaning " The Word" and originally released as ''The Word'' in English), is a 1955 Danish drama film, directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer. It is based on a play by Kaj Munk, a Danish Lutheran priest, first performed in 1932. The film w ...

'' (1943) as Kristina * '' The Girl and the Devil'' (1944) as Karin * ''

The Emperor of Portugallia ''The Emperor of Portugallia'' (Swedish: ''Kejsarn av Portugallien'') is a novel by Nobel-laureate Selma Lagerlöf, published in 1914 with drawings by Albert Engström. Lagerlöf called it a "Swedish King Lear". The novel was a success with crit ...

'' (1944) as Klara Fina Gulleborg * ''

Crime and Punishment ''Crime and Punishment'' ( pre-reform Russian: ; post-reform rus, Преступление и наказание, Prestupléniye i nakazániye, prʲɪstʊˈplʲenʲɪje ɪ nəkɐˈzanʲɪje) is a novel by the Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky. ...

'' (1945) as Sonja * ''

The Journey Away ''The Journey Away'' ( sv, Resan bort) is a 1945 Swedish drama film directed by Alf Sjöberg and starring Gunn Wållgren, Holger Löwenadler and Maj-Britt Nilsson. It was shot at the Råsunda Studios in Stockholm and on location around Lysek ...

'' (1945) as Ellen Andersson * ''

Desire Desires are states of mind that are expressed by terms like "wanting", "wishing", "longing" or "craving". A great variety of features is commonly associated with desires. They are seen as propositional attitudes towards conceivable states of aff ...

'' (1946) as Ingrid * ''

While the Door Was Locked ''While the Door Was Locked'' (Swedish:''Medan porten var stängd'') is a 1946 Swedish drama film directed by Hasse Ekman. Plot summary In an apartment building at an address in Östermalm, Stockholm the residents and their guests each play t ...

'' (1946) as Marianne Sahlen * ''

Harald the Stalwart ''Harald the Stalwart'' (Swedish: ''Harald Handfaste'') is a 1946 Swedish historical adventure film directed by Hampe Faustman and starring George Fant, Georg Rydeberg and Elsie Albiin.Qvist & Von Bagh p.74 It was shot at the Helsinki studios of S ...

'' (1946) as Peasant woman * ''

Woman Without A Face ''Woman Without a Face'' ( sv, Kvinna utan ansikte) is a 1947 Swedish drama film directed by Gustaf Molander and written by Ingmar Bergman. Cast * Alf Kjellin as Martin Grandé * Anita Björk as Frida Grandé * Gunn Wållgren as Rut Köhler * ...

'' (1947) as Rut Köhler * ''

Each to His Own Way ''Each to His Own Way'' ( sv, Var sin väg) is a 1948 Swedish film directed by Hasse Ekman. Cast *Gunn Wållgren - Birgit, actress *Hasse Ekman - Tage Sundell, doctor *Uno Henning - Birger Holmberg, doctor *Marianne Aminoff - Sonja Collin *Sti ...

'' (1948) as Birgit Sundell * '' The Nuthouse'' (1951) as Maggan * '' The Glass Mountain'' (1953) as Otti Moreus * ''

The Dress The dress was a viral phenomenon on the Internet in 2015. Viewers of the image disagreed on whether the dress depicted in a photograph was coloured black and blue, or white and gold. The phenomenon revealed differences in human colour percept ...

'' (1964) as Helen Fürst * ''Asmodeus'' (1966, TV film) as Madame de Berthas * ''Kvinnas man'' (1966, TV film) as Lotta Friman * ''Tartuffe'' (1966, TV Movie) as Elmire * ''Fadren'' (aka

's ''The Father'') (1967, TV film) as Laura * ''Gengångare'' (aka

's ''

'') (1967, TV Movie) as Candida * '' Miss and Mrs Sweden'' (1969) as Rose Persson-Silvergrå * ''Frida och hennes vän'' (1970, TV Mini-Series) as Fridas mor * ''Söderkåkar'' (1970, TV Mini-Series) ) as Hanna Johnsson * ''

The Man Who Quit Smoking ''The Man Who Quit Smoking'' ( sv, Mannen som slutade röka) is a 1972 Swedish comedy film directed by Tage Danielsson, starring Gösta Ekman, Grynet Molvig, Carl-Gustaf Lindstedt and Gunn Wållgren. The film is known as a Hasse & Tage film and is ...

'' (1972) as Aunt Gunhild * ''Kvartetten som sprängdes'' (1973, TV series) as Mrs. Åvik * ''Rulle på Rulseröd'' (1974, TV Series) as Farmor * ''Agnes'' (1974, TV film) as Agnes * ''Förvandlingen'' (1976) as Gregor's Mother * ''Leva livet'' (1976, TV film) as Mrs. Blom * '' The Brothers Lionheart'' (1977) as Sofia * ''Strandvaskeren'' (1978, TV Series) as Grandmother * ''Svartskallen'' (1981, TV film) as Inez Bergman * ''

Sally and Freedom ''Sally and Freedom'' ( sv, Sally och friheten) is a 1981 Swedish drama film directed by Gunnel Lindblom. Gunn Wållgren won the award for Best Actress at the 17th Guldbagge Awards. Cast * Ewa Fröling as Sally * Hans Wigren as Simon * Lei ...

'' (1981) as Sally's Mother * ''

Fanny and Alexander ''Fanny and Alexander'' ( sv, Fanny och Alexander) is a 1982 period drama film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. The plot focuses on two siblings and their large family in Uppsala, Sweden during the first decade of the twentieth century. ...

'' (1982) as Helena Ekdahl - Ekdahlska huse

Awards

*The

Eugene O'Neill Award The Eugene O'Neill Award (Swedish: ''O'Neill-stipendiet'') is one of Sweden's finest awards for stage actors. It is a scholarship for actors at the Swedish theater. It has been awarded annually by the Royal Dramatic Theatre since 1956. Histor ...

(1959) *The

Swedish Theatre Critics Swedish or ' may refer to: Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically: * Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland ** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...

' Award (1962) *The

for

Best Actress Best Actress is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organisations, festivals, and people's awards to leading actresses in a film, television series, television film or play. The first Best Actress awar ...

(1981)

References

External links

*
Complete list of Gunn Wållgren's stage work at the Royal Dramatic Theatre
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wallgren, Gunn 1913 births 1983 deaths Deaths from cancer in Sweden Eugene O'Neill Award winners Litteris et Artibus recipients Best Actress Guldbagge Award winners 20th-century Swedish actresses

Biography

Filmography

Awards

See also

References

Further reading

External links