Julia Maria Vilhelmina Cæsar (28 January 1885 – 18 July 1971) was a Swedish actress. Her acting career spanned from 1905 until 1968, during which time she appeared in a large number of revues, plays, and films.
Early life
Cæsar was born at
Östermalm
Östermalm (; "Eastern city-borough") is a 2.56 km2 large district in central Stockholm, Sweden. With 71,802 inhabitants, it is one of the most populous districts in Stockholm. It is an extremely expensive area, having the highest housing p ...
in Stockholm in 1885. Her father, Gustav Cæsar, was a sergeant belonging to the Royal Svea Life Guards. At the time, Östermalm was a poor part of Stockholm, and Cæsar had a difficult childhood where she periodically had to stay in different foster homes, and sometimes she also lived with her uncle, August Cæsar, who was a prison guard at
Långholmen prison
Långholmen Prison, officially Långholmen Central Prison ( sv, Långholmens centralfängelse), was historically one of the largest prison facilities in Sweden with more than 500 cells, located on the island of Långholmen in Stockholm. It was b ...
. At the age of 12, she had to leave school and start working as a delivery girl in a shop.
Career
Cæsar was interested in the theatre from a very early age, and she would run errands for actors and help out behind the stage in the evenings and on weekends, when she was not at work. She started to get small parts as a background actor when she was 16 years old, and in 1905 she got her first speaking part, as a 100-year-old woman in a revue by
Emil Norlander
Emil Norlander (1865-1935) was a Swedish journalist, author, songwriter and producer of musical revues. She continued to get increasingly important parts, mainly in revues and popular light plays.
Except for the period 1913-1919, when she was at the Apollo Theatre in Helsinki, Cæsar remained in Stockholm where she worked at theatres including the Pallas Theatre, the Odeon Theatre,
Södra Teatern
Södra Teatern is a theatre in Stockholm, Sweden. It is located at Mosebacke torg on Södermalm in Stockholm. The venue is the oldest theatre in Stockholm and is situated in the heart of the city.
History
Södra Teatern is one of Sweden's o ...
, Mosebacke, as well as open-air stages at Tantolunden and Rålambshov.
Cæsar's film career began in 1913 with a small uncredited part in
Victor Sjöström
Victor David Sjöström (; 20 September 1879 – 3 January 1960), also known in the United States as Victor Seastrom, was a pioneering Swedish film director, screenwriter, and actor. He began his career in Sweden, before moving to Hollywood in ...
's ''
Ingeborg Holm
''Ingeborg Holm'' (''Margaret Day'') is a 1913 Swedish social drama film directed by Victor Sjöström, based on a 1906 play by Nils Krok. It caused great debate in Sweden about social security, which led to changes in the poorhouse laws. It is ...
'', and she also had a background part in Sjöström's 1921 film '' Körkarlen''. Her first substantial film role, which became her movie breakthrough, was in the 1922 film '' Anderssonskans Kalle'' directed by Emil Norlander. She became a prolific film actor, with more than 130 roles to her credit.
Throughout her career, Cæsar played a variety of parts, but she became most strongly associated with a particular type: the crusty old woman with a (sometimes well-hidden) heart of gold. She had a very strong voice, which was imperative when working at an open-air theatre, and when she played revues at Tantolunden's theatre she learnt to time her lines so they would not be drowned by the trains passing nearby.
In 1967, at the age of 82, Cæsar's recording of the song ''Annie från Amörka'' charted at
Svensktoppen
''Svensktoppen'' () is a weekly record chart airing at Sveriges Radio. Until January 2003, the songs had to be in the Swedish language. Svensktoppen has aired since 1962, except for the years 1982-1985. The last years before the January 2003 cha ...
, making her the oldest artist to feature on that chart.
Personal life
Cæsar never married. She lived together with the operetta singer Frida Falk until the latter's death in 1948, after which Cæsar kept Falk's ashes in an urn on her mantelpiece.
On 28 June 1968, Cæsar had a stroke, immediately before she was scheduled to perform ''Annie från Amörka'' at
Skansen
Skansen (; "the Sconce") is the oldest open-air museum and zoo in Sweden located on the island Djurgården in Stockholm, Sweden. It was opened on 11 October 1891 by Artur Hazelius (1833–1901) to show the way of life in the different parts of S ...
. She never recovered entirely, and was mostly bound to her bed for the last years of her life. She died in 1971, and is buried at
Bromma Church
Bromma kyrka is a round church in the borough Bromma in Stockholm, Sweden. The oldest parts of the church were built in the later 12th century as a fortress church, and the church is among Stockholm's oldest buildings.
Today it has seven parts: ...
New Pranks of Andersson's Kalle
''New Pranks of Andersson's Kalle'' (Swedish: ''Anderssonskans Kalle på nya upptåg'') is a 1923 silent comedy film directed by Sigurd Wallén and starring Gösta Alexandersson, Dagmar Ebbesen and Edvin Adolphson.Qvist & Von Bagh p.151 It is a ...
'' (1923)
* ''
Kalle Utter
''Kalle Utter'' is a 1925 Swedish silent historical drama film directed by Karin Swanström and starring Anders de Wahl, Georg Blomstedt and John Ekman.Qvist & Von Bagh p.142
Cast
* Anders de Wahl as Kalle Utter
* Georg Blomstedt as Kalle's Fa ...
His Life's Match
''His Life's Match'' (Swedish: ''Hans livs match'') is a 1932 Swedish comedy film directed by Per-Axel Branner and starring Georg Blomstedt, Björn Berglund and Sigurd Wallén.Qvist & von Bagh p.150
The film's sets were designed by the art direc ...
'' (1932)
* ''
Boman's Boy
''Boman's Boy'' (Swedish: ''Bomans pojke'') is a 1933 Swedish comedy film directed by Ivar Johansson and starring Bengt Djurberg, Birgit Tengroth and Sigurd Wallén.Qvist & Von Bagh p.92 It was shot at the Råsunda Studios in Stockholm. The fi ...
Simon of Backabo
''Simon of Backabo'' (Swedish: ''Simon i Backabo'') is a 1934 Swedish comedy film directed by Gustaf Edgren and starring Fridolf Rhudin, Hilda Borgström and Sickan Carlsson.Larsson & Marklund p.125 It was shot at the Råsunda Studios in Stockholm ...
The Boys of Number Fifty Seven
''The Boys of Number Fifty Seven'' (Swedish: ''Grabbarna i 57:an'') is a 1935 Swedish comedy film directed by Ivar Johansson and starring Julia Cæsar, Britta Brunius and Tord Bernheim.Larsson & Marklund p.128 It focuses on the various residents ...
'' (1935)
* ''
The People of Småland
''The People of Småland'' (Swedish: ''Smålänningar'') is a 1935 Swedish comedy film directed by Gösta Rodin and starring Sigurd Wallén, Sture Lagerwall and Sickan Carlsson.Wallengren p.54 It was shot at the Råsunda Studios in Stockholm. T ...
'' (1935)
* ''
Our Boy
''Our Boy'' (Swedish: ''Våran pojke'') is a 1936 Swedish drama film directed by Arne Bornebusch and starring Edvard Persson, Nils Wahlbom and Tollie Zellman.Qvist & von Bagh p.124
The film's art direction was by Bibi Lindström.
Cast
* Edvard P ...
'' (1936)
* ''
He, She and the Money
''He, She and the Money'' (Swedish: ''Han, hon och pengarna'') is a 1936 Swedish comedy film directed by Anders Henrikson and starring Håkan Westergren, Kirsten Heiberg and Erik 'Bullen' Berglund.Guide to the Cinema of Sweden and Finland p.86 It ...
We at Solglantan
''We at Solglantan'' (Swedish: ''Vi på Solgläntan'') is a 1939 Swedish comedy film directed by Gunnar Olsson and starring Dagmar Ebbesen, Rut Holm and Nils Lundell.Holmstrom p.158 It was shot at the Sundbyberg Studios in Stockholm. The film' ...
Hanna in Society
''Hanna in Society'' (Swedish: ''Hanna i societén'') is a 1940 Swedish comedy film directed by Gunnar Olsson and starring Rut Holm, Carl Barcklind and Elsa Carlsson.Krautz p.428
The film's art direction was by Max Linder and Bibi Lindström ...
'' (1940)
* ''
Woman on Board
''Woman on Board'' (Swedish: ''En kvinna ombord'') is a 1941 war drama film directed by Gunnar Skoglund and starring Edvin Adolphson, Karin Ekelund and Hampe Faustman.Qvist & Von Bagh p.110 It was shot at the Centrumateljéerna Studios in Stockho ...
'' (1941)
* ''
Lasse-Maja
Lars Larsson Molin, alias ''Lasse-Maja'' (Djupdalen, Ramsberg, Västmanland, 5 October 1785 – 4 June 1845, Arboga), was a notorious Swedish thief and memoirist. He was famous in history for disguising himself as a woman during his tours as a ...
'' (1941)
*''
Lucky Young Lady
''Lucky Young Lady'' (Swedish: ''Ung dam med tur'') is a 1941 Swedish comedy film directed by Ragnar Arvedson and starring Sonja Wigert, Karl-Arne Holmsten and Dagmar Ebbesen.Wallengren p.53 It was shot at the Sundbyberg Studios in Stockholm a ...
'' (1941)
* ''
The Ghost Reporter
''The Ghost Reporter'' (Swedish: ''Spokreportern'') is a 1941 Swedish comedy film directed by Schamyl Bauman and starring Åke Söderblom, Thor Modéen and Annalisa Ericson.Qvist & Von Bagh p.44 It was shot at the Centrumateljéerna Studios in ...
'' (1941)
* ''
Poor Ferdinand
''Poor Ferdinand'' (Swedish: ''Stackars Ferdinand'') is a 1941 Swedish comedy film directed by Nils Jerring and starring Thor Modéen, Åke Söderblom and Tollie Zellman.Holmstrom p.179 It was shot at the Råsunda Studios in Stockholm. The film ...
'' (1941)
* ''
The Poor Millionaire
''The Poor Millionaire'' is a 1930 American silent drama film directed by George Melford and starring Richard Talmadge, Constance Howard and George Irving. Made after the sound film revolution, it was the last Hollywood film to be released w ...
'' (1941)
* ''
Nothing Is Forgotten
''Nothing Is Forgotten'' (Swedish: ''Man glömmer ingenting'') is a 1942 Swedish drama film directed by Åke Ohberg and starring Edvin Adolphson, Gerd Hagman and Marianne Löfgren.Qvist & Von Bagh p.30 It was shot at the Centrumateljéerna Studios ...
'' (1942)
* ''
We House Slaves
''We House Slaves'' (Swedish: ''Vi hemslavinnor'') is a 1942 Swedish comedy film directed by Schamyl Bauman and starring Dagmar Ebbesen, John Botvid and Ernst Eklund.Qvist & Von Bagh p.44 It was shot at the Centrumateljéerna Studios in Stockholm ...
'' (1942)
* ''
The Case of Ingegerd Bremssen
''The Case of Ingegerd Bremssen'' (Swedish: ''Fallet Ingegerd Bremssen'') is a 1942 Swedish drama film directed by Anders Henrikson and starring Sonja Wigert, Henrikson, Dagmar Ebbesen and Gösta Cederlund. It was based on a 1937 novel of the sam ...
'' (1942)
* ''
In Darkest Smaland
''In Darkest Smaland'' (Swedish: ''I mörkaste Småland'') is a 1943 Swedish comedy film directed by Schamyl Bauman and starring Sigurd Wallén, Emil Fjellström and Gull Natorp.Wallengren p.48 It was shot at the Centrumateljéerna Studios in Sto ...
Katrina
Katrina or Katrine may refer to:
People
* Katrina (given name)
* Katrine (given name)
Meteorology
* List of storms named Katrina, a list of tropical cyclones designated as Katrina
** Hurricane Katrina, an exceptionally powerful Atlantic hurrican ...
Eaglets
''Eaglets'' (Swedish: ''Örnungar'') is a 1944 Swedish drama film directed by Ivar Johansson and starring Alice Babs, Lasse Dahlquist and Sten Lindgren.Qvist & Von Bagh p.93 It was shot at the Centrumateljéerna Studios in Stockholm. The film's ...
Fram för lilla Märta
''Fram för lilla Märta'' or ''På livets ödesvägar '' is a 1945 Swedish comedy film directed by Hasse Ekman and starring Stig Järrel and Hasse Ekman.
Plot
The story takes its beginning in 2006 in Sweden, sixty years in the future from the p ...
'' (1945)
* ''
His Majesty Must Wait
''His Majesty Must Wait'' (Swedish: ''Hans Majestat får vänta'') is a 1945 Swedish comedy film directed by Gustaf Edgren and starring Sture Lagerwall, Åke Söderblom and Aino Taube.Qvist & Von Bagh p.62 It was shot at the Råsunda Studios in ...
'' (1945)
* ''
Crisis
A crisis ( : crises; : critical) is either any event or period that will (or might) lead to an unstable and dangerous situation affecting an individual, group, or all of society. Crises are negative changes in the human or environmental affair ...
'' (1946)
* ''
Peggy on a Spree
''Peggy on a Spree'' or ''Peggy on the Loose'' (Swedish: ''Peggy på vift'') is a 1946 Swedish comedy film directed by Arne Mattsson and starring Marguerite Viby, Gunnar Björnstrand and Stig Järrel.Qvist & Von Bagh p.112 The film's sets were des ...
'' (1946)
* ''
Incorrigible
Incorrigible may refer to:
* Incorrigibility
* Incorrigible (1946 film)
* Incorrigible (1975 film)
''Incorrigible'' (French: ''L'Incorrigible'') is a 1975 French comedy film directed by Philippe de Broca and starring Jean-Paul Belmondo, Geneviève ...
'' (1946)
* ''
It Rains on Our Love
''It Rains on Our Love'' ( sv, Det regnar på vår kärlek) is a 1946 Swedish drama film directed by Ingmar Bergman from the screenplay written by Herbert Grevenius and Bergman, based on the Norwegian play ''Bra Mennesker'' (''Good People'') by ...
'' (1946)
* ''
Between Brothers
''Between Brothers'' is an American television sitcom centered on four middle-class African American men in their late twenties, living in Chicago. It premiered on September 11, 1997 on Fox, with the second season airing on UPN, until March 2, ...
Poor Little Sven
''Poor Little Sven'' (Swedish: ''Stackars lilla Sven'') is a 1947 Swedish comedy film directed by Hugo Bolander and starring Nils Poppe, Annalisa Ericson and Hjördis Petterson.Qvist & Von Bagh p.126 The film's sets were designed by the art dire ...
Wedding Night
In many traditions and statutes of civil or religious law, the consummation of a marriage, often called simply ''consummation'', is the first (or first officially credited) act of sexual intercourse between two people, following their marriage to ...
'' (1947)
* ''
Private Bom
''Private Bom'' (Swedish: ''Soldat Bom'') is a 1948 Swedish comedy film directed by Lars-Eric Kjellgren and starring Nils Poppe, Inga Landgré and Gunnar Björnstrand.Qvist & Von Bagh p.55 The film's sets were designed by the art director Nils ...
'' (1948)
* ''
Loffe the Tramp
''Loffe the Tramp'' (Swedish: ''Loffe på luffen'') is a 1948 Swedish comedy film directed by Gösta Werner and starring Elof Ahrle, Wiktor Andersson and Agneta Prytz.Scandinavian Cinema p.282 It was shot at the Centrumateljéerna Studios in Stoc ...
Each Heart Has Its Own Story
''Each Heart Has Its Own Story'' (Swedish: ''Vart hjärta har sin saga'') is a 1948 Swedish historical drama film directed by Bror Bügler and starring Edvard Persson, Inger Juel and Hilda Borgström.Qvist & von Bagh p.124
The film's sets were d ...
'' (1948)
* ''
Dangerous Spring
''Dangerous Spring'' (Swedish: ''Farlig vår'') is a 1949 Swedish crime drama film directed by Arne Mattsson and starring Karl-Arne Holmsten, Birger Malmsten and Jan Molander.Qvist & Von Bagh p.112 It was shot at the Råsunda Studios in Stockholm ...
'' (1949)
* ''
The Street The Street may refer to:
Geographical
*Wall Street in New York City's Financial District
* The Street, Lawshall, Suffolk, England
* The Street (Heath Charnock), a building and bridleway in Rivington, Lancashire, England
Film and television
* ''The ...
Pippi Longstocking
Pippi Longstocking ( sv, Pippi Långstrump) is the fictional main character in an eponymous series of children's books by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren. Pippi was named by Lindgren's daughter Karin, who asked her mother for a get-well story wh ...
'' (1949)
* ''
Big Lasse of Delsbo
''Big Lasse of Delsbo'' (Swedish: ''Lång-Lasse i Delsbo'') is a 1949 Swedish historical drama film directed by Ivar Johansson and starring Sten Lindgren, Anna Lindahl and Ulla Andreasson. It was shot at the Centrumateljéerna Studios in Sto ...
'' (1949)
* ''
Father Bom
''Father Bom'' (Swedish: ''Pappa Bom'') is a 1949 Swedish comedy film directed by Lars-Eric Kjellgren and starring Nils Poppe, Gunnar Björnstrand and Sif Ruud.Qvist & Von Bagh p.55 The film's sets were designed by the art director Nils Svenwall. ...
'' (1949)
* ''
The Kiss on the Cruise
''The Kiss on the Cruise'' (Swedish: ''Kyssen på kryssen'') is a 1950 Swedish comedy film directed by Arne Mattsson and starring Annalisa Ericson, Gunnar Björnstrand and Karl-Arne Holmsten.Qvist & Von Bagh p.148 The film's sets were designed ...
'' (1950)
* ''
The Saucepan Journey
''The Saucepan Journey'' (Swedish: ''Kastrullresan'') is a 1950 Swedish comedy family film directed by Arne Mattsson and starring Eva Dahlbeck, Sigge Fürst and Edvin Adolphson.Qvist & Von Bagh p.112 The film's sets were designed by the art direc ...
'' (1950)
* ''
Two Stories Up
''Two Stories Up'' or ''Across the Yard and Two Flights Up'' (Swedish: ''Två trappor över gården'') is a 1950 Swedish drama film directed by Gösta Werner and starring Gertrud Fridh, Bengt Eklund and Irma Christenson.Larsson & Marklund p.155 It ...
'' (1950)
* ''
When Love Came to the Village
''When Love Came to the Village'' (Swedish: ''När kärleken kom till byn'') is a 1950 Swedish drama film directed by Arne Mattsson and starring Sven Lindberg, Ruth Kasdan and Edvin Adolphson. It was made at the Centrumateljéerna Studios in St ...
'' (1950)
* ''
Skipper in Stormy Weather
''Skipper in Stormy Weather'' (Swedish: ''Skeppare i blåsväder'') is a 1951 Swedish comedy film directed by Gunnar Olsson and starring Adolf Jahr, Elof Ahrle and Bengt Eklund. It was shot at the Råsunda Studios in Stockholm and on location ...
'' (1951)
* ''
Åsa-Nisse on Holiday
''Åsa-Nisse on Holiday'' (Swedish: ''Åsa-Nisse på semester'') is a 1953 Swedish comedy film directed by Ragnar Frisk and starring John Elfström, Artur Rolén and Helga Brofeldt.Nordic National Cinemas p.149 It was part of a long-running serie ...
'' (1953)
* ''
Speed Fever
''Speed Fever'' (Swedish: ''Fartfeber'') is a 1953 Swedish drama film directed by Egil Holmsen and starring Arne Ragneborn, Sven-Axel Carlsson and Erik Berglund.Qvist & Von Bagh p.15 The film's sets were designed by the art director Bertil Duroj. ...
Lovely Is the Summer Night
''Lovely Is the Summer Night'' (Swedish: ''Ljuvlig är sommarnatten'') is a 1961 Swedish mystery thriller film directed by Arne Mattsson. The film stars Karl-Arne Holmsten, Christina Carlwind, Per Oscarsson and Folke Sundquist.Qvist & Von Bagh p. ...
'' (1961)
* ''
Morianna
''Morianna'' (Swedish: ''Morianerna'') is a 1965 Swedish thriller film directed by Arne Mattsson and starring Anders Henrikson, Eva Dahlbeck and Elsa Prawitz.Qvist & Von Bagh p.61 The film's sets were designed by the art director Per-Olav Sivert ...