Karin Ekelund (26 May 1913 – 21 December 1976) 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. She appeared in 29 films between 1933 and

1976 Events January * January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 11 – The 1976 Phila ...

. She was the first female radio producer in Sweden, producing, and later directing, for Sveriges Radio's Radio Theatre. She performed in mainly comedic films, although she did have a few serious roles to her name. She was one of the most famous actresses of her time and often drew large crowds of fans.

Biography

Karin Ekelund was born in

Ystad Ystad (; older da, Ysted) is a town and the seat of Ystad Municipality, in Scania County, Sweden. Ystad had 18,350 inhabitants in 2010. The settlement dates from the 11th century and has become a busy ferryport, local administrative centre, a ...

Scania Scania, also known by its native name of Skåne (, ), is the southernmost of the historical provinces of Sweden, provinces (''landskap'') of Sweden. Located in the south tip of the geographical region of Götaland, the province is roughly conte ...

, Sweden, in 1913, the daughter of professor Sam Ekelund and Anna Lindström. She graduated from

Palmgrenska samskolan ('Palmgren Coeducational School'), originally ('Practical Work School for Children and Youth'), in Stockholm, Sweden, was the first school in Scandinavia to offer Mixed-sex education, coeducation up to the ''studentexamen''. It was also the fir ...

at 17. Ekelund studied at the

Royal Dramatic Training Academy The Royal Dramatic Training Academy ( sv, Kungliga Dramatiska Teaterns Elevskola, also known as ''Dramatens elevskola''), was the acting school of Sweden's national stage, the Royal Dramatic Theatre, and for many years (1787–1964) seen as the ...

from 1930 to 1933, after which she acted in both theatre and film. She worked at

Vasateatern Vasateatern or ''"Vasan"'' (English: ''Vasa Theatre'') is a private theatre in Stockholm, Sweden. It is located at Vasagatan 19–21 in central Stockholm. History The theater was designed by Fredrik Ekberg (1837- 1898) and inaugurated in 1886. ...

from 1934 to 1936,

Oscarsteatern Oscarsteatern (English: Oscar Theatre), also known simply as Oscars, is one of Stockholm's private theatres and is the best-known musical theatre in Sweden. It is located at Kungsgatan 63 in central Stockholm. History The theater was designed ...

from 1938 to 1939 and the

Malmö City Theatre Malmö City Theatre ( sv, Malmö stadsteater) in Malmö, Sweden, is the main theatre of Malmö. History The first theatre in Malmö, Malmö Teater, was built in 1808 but became out of use in 1938. The Malmö City Theatre was built by the archi ...

from 1944. Her big film breakthrough came as a comic actor in Hasse Ekman's ''

Med dej i mina armar ''Med dej i mina armar'' ( eng, With You in My Arms) is a 1940 Swedish comedy film directed by Hasse Ekman. Plot summary Krister Dahl loses his memory when he is hit in the head by a golf ball one day. He later goes to a party and meets his ex ...

'' in 1940 and as a character actor in Anders Henrikson's ''

A Crime ''A Crime'' (French title: ''Un crime'') is a 2006 thriller film directed by Manuel Pradal, written by Pradal and Tonino Benacquista, and starring Emmanuelle Béart. The film unfolds the story of Vincent (Norman Reedus) who looks for his wife's ...

'' in 1940. In 1961 she was hired as the first female producer and director at the and remained there for the rest of her life. She was married twice, the first time in 1937 to dentist Rudolf Levin and the second time in 1951 to the director of

Nordiska Kompaniet Nordiska Kompaniet (colloquially NK, and literally ''The Nordic Company'') is the name of two department stores located in Stockholm and Gothenburg, in Sweden. The store in Stockholm receives some twelve million visitors annually, with the figur ...

. Ekelund is buried at

Norra begravningsplatsen Norra begravningsplatsen, literally "The Northern Cemetery" in Swedish, is a major cemetery of the Stockholm urban area, located in Solna Municipality. Inaugurated on 9 June 1827, it is the burial site for a number of Swedish notables. Nota ...

in Stockholm.

Selected filmography

* ''

Marriageable Daughters ''Marriageable Daughters'' (Swedish: ''Giftasvuxna döttrar'') is a 1933 Swedish comedy film directed by Sigurd Wallén and starring Karin Swanström, Birgit Tengroth, Maritta Marke and Karin Ekelund.Qvist & Von Bagh p.151 It was shot at the Rå ...

'' (1933) * ''

People of Hälsingland ''People of Hälsingland'' (Swedish: ''Hälsingar'') is a 1933 Swedish drama film directed by Ivar Johansson (director), Ivar Johansson and starring Hilda Castegren, Sven Bergvall and Sten Lindgren.Sundholm p.377 It was shot at the Råsunda Studio ...

'' (1933) * '' Synnöve Solbakken'' (1934) * ''

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) * ''

The People of Bergslagen ''The People of Bergslagen'' (Swedish: ''Bergslagsfolk'') is a 1937 Swedish drama film directed by Gunnar Olsson and starring Karin Ekelund, Sten Lindgren and Arnold Sjöstrand.Qvist & Von Bagh p.55 It was shot at the Sundbyberg Studios of Euro ...

'' (1937) * ''

Storm Over the Skerries ''Storm Over the Skerries'' (Swedish: ''Storm över skären'') is a 1938 Swedish drama film directed by Ivar Johansson and starring Sten Lindgren, Karin Ekelund and Björn Berglund.Qvist & Von Bagh p.93 It was shot at the Sundbyberg Studios of ...

'' (1938) * ''

'' (1940) * ''

Lärarinna på vift ''Lärarinna på vift'' () is a 1941 Swedish romantic comedy film directed by Börje Larsson. Plot summary Karin Berggren is a strict teacher at Sunninge flickpension, a distinguished boarding school for girls in a venerable old castle in S ...

'' (1941) * '' Only a Woman'' (1941) * ''

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) * ''

Dangerous Ways ''Dangerous Ways'' (Swedish: ''Farliga vägar'') is a 1942 Swedish drama film directed by Anders Henrikson and starring Henrikson, Karin Ekelund, Georg Rydeberg and Ernst Eklund.Weight p.70 The film's sets were designed by the art director Ber ...

'' (1942) * ''

Som du vill ha mej Som du vill ha mej (As You Want Me) is a Swedish romantic comedy film from 1943 directed by Gösta Cederlund. The script was written by Kid Bruncrona based on Tancred Ibsen's film script for '' The Dangerous Game'', in turn based on Alex Brinchman ...

'' (1943) * '' The Sixth Shot'' (1943) * ''

Blizzard A blizzard is a severe snowstorm characterized by strong sustained winds and low visibility, lasting for a prolonged period of time—typically at least three or four hours. A ground blizzard is a weather condition where snow is not falling b ...

'' (1944) * ''

Oss tjuvar emellan eller En burk ananas ''Oss tjuvar emellan eller En burk ananas'' () is a Swedish comedy film from 1945 directed by Olof Molander. The film script was written by the Norwegian writer Helge Krog and the music was composed by Dag Wirén. The film was shot at Filmstad ...

'' (1945) * '' Dinner for Two'' (1947) * '' Så tuktas kärleken'' (1955)

References

External links

1913 births 1976 deaths Swedish film actresses 20th-century Swedish actresses {{Sweden-actor-stub Burials at Norra begravningsplatsen

Biography

Selected filmography

References

Further reading

External links