Mona Mårtenson
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Monica Ingeborg Elisabeth "Mona" Mårtenson (4 May 1902 – 8 July 1956) was a Swedish film actress. She appeared in 28 films between 1923 and 1949. She was born and died 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 ...
, Sweden.


Early career

Mona grew up in
Helsingborg Helsingborg (, , , ) is a city and the seat of Helsingborg Municipality, Scania (Skåne), Sweden. It is the second-largest city in Scania (after Malmö) and ninth-largest in Sweden, with a population of 113,816 (2020). Helsingborg is the cent ...
and studied at the
Dramatens elevskola 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 f ...
(Royal Dramatic Theater Academy). She made her first film appearance in ''Anderssonskans Kalle på nya upptåg'' (''Kalle Anderssonskan's New Pranks'', 1923) directed by
Sigurd Wallén Sigurd Richard Engelbrekt Wallén (1 September 188420 March 1947) was a Swedish actor, film director, and singer.Greta Gustafson (who would change her name to Greta Garbo that same year) were selected by the school to audition for noted Swedish film director
Mauritz Stiller Mauritz Stiller (born Moshe Stiller, 17 July 1883 – 18 November 1928) was a Swedish film director of Finnish Jewish origin, best known for discovering Greta Garbo and bringing her to America. Stiller had been a pioneer of the Swedish film ...
. Both actresses were cast in his upcoming film, the epic romance ''
Gösta Berlings saga Gösta is a male given name, a variant of Gustav. Gösta may refer to: People * Gösta Åsbrink (1881–1966), Swedish gymnast and modern pentathlete * Gösta Andersson (skier) (1918–1979), Swedish cross-country skier * Gösta Andersson (wrestle ...
'' (''The Saga of Gosta Berling'') in 1924. The film was based on the 1892 debut novel by
Selma Lagerlöf Selma Ottilia Lovisa Lagerlöf (, , ; 20 November 1858 – 16 March 1940) was a Swedish author. She published her first novel, ''Gösta Berling's Saga'', at the age of 33. She was the first woman to win the 1909 Nobel Prize in Literature, Nobel Pr ...
and featured
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 ...
as the handsome young priest, Gösta Berling, who is fired over his drinking and improper lifestyle. Shamed, he is later hired by an unscrupulous and wealthy woman to be a tutor to her beautiful step-daughter played by Mona Mårtenson. After the success of the film, Garbo, Hanson and director Stiller were invited to Hollywood, but Mårtenson reportedly turned down a contract offer from
Louis B. Mayer Louis Burt Mayer (; born Lazar Meir; July 12, 1882 or 1884 or 1885 – October 29, 1957) was a Canadian-American film producer and co-founder of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios (MGM) in 1924. Under Mayer's management, MGM became the film industr ...
. She remained in Stockholm, where she worked in 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 ...
. She also appeared in several films: ''Skeppargatan 40'' (1925) directed by Gustaf Edgren with
Einar Hanson Einar Hanson (; Stockholm, Sweden – ; Santa Monica, California), also known as Einar Hansen, was a Swedish silent film actor. Career Discovered at Stockholm's Royal Dramatic Theatre by director Mauritz Stiller, handsome and sophisticated, he w ...
; the two-part ''
Karl XII Charles XII, sometimes Carl XII ( sv, Karl XII) or Carolus Rex (17 June 1682 – 30 November 1718 O.S.), was King of Sweden (including current Finland) from 1697 to 1718. He belonged to the House of Palatinate-Zweibrücken, a branch line of t ...
'' (1925) directed by John W. Brunius) and featuring
Gösta Ekman (senior) Frans Gösta Viktor Ekman (28 December 1890 – 12 January 1938) was a Swedish actor, director and singer. Generally spoken of as Swedish theatre's most legendary stage actor, Gösta Ekman enjoyed a prolific stage career during his short life, b ...
; and ''Ingmarsarvet'' (''The Ingmar Inheritance'', 1925) directed by
Gustaf Molander Gustaf Harald August Molander (18 November 1888 – 19 June 1973) was a Sweden, Swedish actor and film director. His parents were director Harald Molander, Sr. (1858–1900) and singer and actress Lydia Molander, ''née'' Wessler, and his brother ...
) with
Conrad Veidt Hans Walter Conrad Veidt (; 22 January 1893 – 3 April 1943) was a German film actor who attracted early attention for his roles in the films ''Different from the Others'' (1919), '' The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari'' (1920), and ''The Man Who Laugh ...
. Molander directed Mona and Lars Hanson in another Selma Lagerlöf adaptation, ''Till österland'' (''To the Orient'', 1926), filmed in Jaffa, Israel. She again starred for Molander in ''Förseglade läppar ''(''Sealed Lips'', 1927), co-starring
Fred Louis Lerch Fred Louis Lerch (28 March 1902 – 26 August 1985) was an Austrian actor who was a star of German films. From 1951 till 1961 he worked again for German cinema as a production manager. Selected filmography * '' The Portrait'' (1923) * '' A Waltz ...
and Sandra Milovanoff, and based on a story by
Guy de Maupassant Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant (, ; ; 5 August 1850 – 6 July 1893) was a 19th-century French author, remembered as a master of the short story form, as well as a representative of the Naturalist school, who depicted human lives, destin ...
. A huge success in Sweden, the lead role was to have been played by French actress Geneviève Cargese, who fell ill in Stockholm and was replaced by Mårtenson.


''Laila''

In Germany, Mårtenson starred in '' Die Frau im Talar'' (''The Woman in the Advocate's Robe'', 1929) directed by
Adolf Trotz Adolf (also spelt Adolph or Adolphe, Adolfo and when Latinisation (literature), Latinised Adolphus) is a given name used in German language, German-speaking countries, Scandinavia, the Netherlands and Flanders, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, L ...
and featuring
Aud Egede-Nissen Aud Egede-Nissen (30 May 1893 – 15 November 1974) was a Norwegian actress, director and producer. She appeared in many early 20th-century German silent films. Early life Born in Bergen, Norway in 1893, Egede-Nissen was a daughter of Norwegi ...
and
Paul Richter Paul Richter (1 April 1895 – 30 December 1961) was an Austrian film actor. He owed his great popularity in German films of the silent era largely to the directors Joe May and Fritz Lang. Biography Richter made his film debut right before W ...
. In Norway, she appeared in the romantic melodrama '' Laila'' (1929), directed by Danish-German filmmaker and noted cinematographer
George Schnéevoigt George Schnéevoigt (born Fritz Ernst Georg Fischer; 23 December 1893 – 6 February 1961) was a Danish film director, cinematographer, and actor of the 1910s to early 1940s. Schnéevoigt was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 23 December 1893 t ...
. In the title role, Mårtenson played a young girl separated from her Norwegian parents as a baby and raised by a wealthy Sami (Lapp) reindeer owner Aslag (
Peter Malberg Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a su ...
) in the frozen tundra of Scandinavia. Laila grows into a young woman of two worlds, at home with both her settled and nomadic upbringings, but soon finds herself in a love triangle with her foster brother Mellet (
Henry Gleditsch Henry Cochrane Williamsen Gleditsch (9 November 1902 – 6 October 1942) was a Norwegian actor and theatre director. He was born in Kristiania. In his young days he participated in skiing for SFK Lyn. He married Synnøve Tanvik in 1932. He ...
) and her cousin Anders (
Harald Schwenzen Harald Schwenzen (18 May 1895 – 16 April 1954) was a Norwegian actor and director. Born in Glücksberg, Germany, he relocated to Norway where he made his stage debut at Nationaltheatret in 1918, and played for this theatre for many years. S ...
), played out against the dramatic backdrop of the Norwegian mountain country. Schnéevoigt also directed her in ''Eskimo'' (1930) with Paul Richter, re-released in German as '' Der weiße Gott'' (1932).


Late career

In 1930, she left the Royal Dramatic Theater and moved to Gösta Ekman's Lorensbergsteatern in
Göteborg 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 a p ...
. In the silent comedy ''
I kantonnement ''I kantonnement'' is a 1932 Danish silent comedy film directed by Lau Lauritzen Sr. It features the acting debut of Poul Reichhardt. Cast * Carl Schenstrøm as Fyrtaarnet * Harald Madsen as Bivognen *Mona Mårtenson *Erling Schroeder * Olga ...
'' (''In the Cantonment'', 1932) directed by Lau Lauritzen, Sr., she starred opposite the comic duo ''Fi og By'' ( Carl Schenstrøm and
Harald Madsen Harald Martin Bergmann Madsen (20 November 1890 – 13 July 1949) was a Danish film actor. He appeared in 51 films between 1917 and 1948. Harald Madsen was a part of the Danish comedian couple '' Fyrtårnet og Bivognen'' (''Fy og Bi''), kno ...
). Mårtenson continued her film career into the sound era with ''I nöd och lust'' (''In Sickness and Health'', 1938) directed by Ivar Johansson and in the drama ''
Västkustens hjältar ''Västkustens hjältar'' is a 1940 Swedish drama film directed by Lau Lauritzen Jr. and Alice O'Fredericks. It is a remake of the 1938 Danish film '' Blaavand melder storm'', also directed by Lauritzen and O'Fredericks. Cast * Greta Almroth - K ...
'' (''West Coast Heroes'', 1940) directed by Lau Lauritzen and
Alice O'Fredericks Alice O'Fredericks (born Mitzi Otha Alice Frederiksen; 8 September 1899 – 18 February 1968) was a Danish actress, screenwriter, and film director. She is best known for directing the series of ''Far til Fire'' (''Father of Four'') comedies ...
as the mother of the hero played by
Fritiof Billquist Erik Fritiof Billquist (5 May 1901 – 21 April 1972) was a Swedish film actor. He appeared in more than 60 films between 1931 and 1969. Selected filmography * '' Tired Theodore'' (1931) * ''International Match'' (1932) * ''South of the Hig ...
. In later years, she played bit parts in Scandinavian films. Her last film was '' Pippi Långstrump'' (''Pippi Longstocking'', 1949) directed by Per Gunvall, the first film adaptation of
Astrid Lindgren Astrid Anna Emilia Lindgren (; ; 14 November 1907 – 28 January 2002) was a Swedish writer of fiction and screenplays. She is best known for several children's book series, featuring Pippi Longstocking, Emil of Lönneberga, Karlsson-on- ...
's classic children’s novel, four years after its publication in Sweden. Pippi was played by the 26-year old
Viveca Serlachius Viveca Elisabeth Marianne Serlachius Olsson (2 March 1923 – 9 January 1993) was a Finnish-born Swedish actress, best known as the first actress to play Pippi Longstocking on film, ''Pippi Longstocking'' in 1949, when she was aged 26 portraying ...
, and Mårtenson played a supporting role as Pia. Mona Mårtenson died in 1956 in Stockholm, aged 54.


Selected filmography

* ''
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) * '' The Saga of Gosta Berling'' (1924) * '' Life in the Country'' (1924) * ''
Ingmar's Inheritance ''Ingmar's Inheritance'' (Swedish: ''Ingmarsarvet'') is a 1925 Swedish silent drama film directed by Gustaf Molander and starring Lars Hanson, Conrad Veidt and John Ekman.Hjort & Lindqvist p.253 It was shot at the Råsunda Studios in Stockholm ...
'' (1925) * '' 40 Skipper Street'' (1925) * ''
Charles XII Charles XII, sometimes Carl XII ( sv, Karl XII) or Carolus Rex (17 June 1682 – 30 November 1718 O.S.), was King of Sweden (including current Finland) from 1697 to 1718. He belonged to the House of Palatinate-Zweibrücken, a branch line of t ...
'' (1925) * ''
To the Orient ''To the Orient'' (Swedish: ''Till österland'') is a 1926 Swedish silent drama film directed by Gustaf Molander and starring Lars Hanson, Jenny Hasselqvist and Mona Mårtenson.Qvist & Von Bagh p.29 It was shot at the Råsunda Studios in Stockh ...
'' (1926) * '' Sealed Lips'' (1927) * '' Viddenes folk'' (1928) * ''
The Woman in the Advocate's Gown ''The Woman in the Advocate's Gown'' (german: Die Frau im Talar; no, Frøken Statsadvokat) is a 1929 Norwegian-German silent drama film directed by Adolf Trotz and starring Aud Egede-Nissen, Paul Richter, and Fritz Kortner. The screenplay was ...
'' (1929) * ''
Eskimo Eskimo () is an exonym used to refer to two closely related Indigenous peoples: the Inuit (including the Alaska Native Iñupiat, the Greenlandic Inuit, and the Canadian Inuit) and the Yupik peoples, Yupik (or Siberian Yupik, Yuit) of eastern Si ...
'' (1930) * ''
I kantonnement ''I kantonnement'' is a 1932 Danish silent comedy film directed by Lau Lauritzen Sr. It features the acting debut of Poul Reichhardt. Cast * Carl Schenstrøm as Fyrtaarnet * Harald Madsen as Bivognen *Mona Mårtenson *Erling Schroeder * Olga ...
'' (1932) * ''
The White God ''The White God'' (German: ''Der weiße Gott'') is a 1932 Danish-German adventure film directed by George Schnéevoigt and starring Paul Richter, Mona Mårtenson, and Rudolf Klein-Rogge. It premiered on 14 May 1932.Grange p.387 It is the German ...
'' (1932) * ''
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 ...
'' (1934) * ''
Career The career is an individual's metaphorical "journey" through learning, work and other aspects of life. There are a number of ways to define career and the term is used in a variety of ways. Definitions The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' defin ...
'' (1938) * '' For Better, for Worse'' (1938) * ''
Västkustens hjältar ''Västkustens hjältar'' is a 1940 Swedish drama film directed by Lau Lauritzen Jr. and Alice O'Fredericks. It is a remake of the 1938 Danish film '' Blaavand melder storm'', also directed by Lauritzen and O'Fredericks. Cast * Greta Almroth - K ...
'' (1940) * '' Only a Woman'' (1941) * '' The Talk of the Town'' (1941) * ''
The Yellow Clinic ''The Yellow Clinic'' (Swedish: ''Gula kliniken'') is a 1942 Swedish drama film directed by Ivar Johansson and starring Arnold Sjöstrand, Viveca Lindfors and Nils Lundell.Qvist & Von Bagh p.105 It was made at the Centrumateljéerna Studios in ...
'' (1942) * ''
My People Are Not Yours ''My People Are Not Yours'' (Swedish: ''Mitt folk är icke ditt'') is a 1944 Swedish drama film directed by Weyler Hildebrand and starring Sonja Wigert, Gunnar Björnstrand and Hampe Faustman. It was shot at the Centrumateljéerna Studios in Stock ...
'' (1944) * ''
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)


External links

*
Mona Mårtenson biography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Martenson, Mona 1902 births 1956 deaths Actresses from Stockholm 20th-century Swedish actresses Swedish film actresses Swedish silent film actresses