Gunn Wållgren, a renowned actress in modern Swedish theater history, is recognized for her iconic roles in plays by Ibsen, Strindberg, and Chekhov, as well as her unforgettable part as the grandmother in Ingmar Bergman's Fanny and Alexander.
Born in Sweden, Wållgren began her acting career at the Royal Dramatic Theatre's acting school in Stockholm, where she trained from 1934 to 1937. Her teachers included the esteemed Miss Hilda Borgström. Upon graduation, Wållgren was contracted at the national stage, where she became one of the top actresses and worked until 1981.
Wållgren was often described as an unbeatable character actress with naturalness, wit, warmth, and playful sensuality. Her performances were marked by a "serious beauty," "poetic and fragile" qualities, and a "rare and true inner strength." She collaborated with her husband-to-be, director Per-Axel Branner, at private theaters in Stockholm, where she made some of her greatest performances, including her leading role as Masja in Anton Chekhov's "Three Sisters."
Wållgren's work on stage included roles in plays by various authors, including Steinbeck, Moliere, Dostojevsky, O'Neill, Goethe, and Shakespeare. She effortlessly transitioned between classic drama, farce, and comedy.
On film, Wållgren made her debut as a young teenage criminal in Kvinnor i fångenskap (1943). She went on to appear in various films throughout her career, earning recognition as one of Sweden's most acclaimed and appreciated actresses. Memorable roles include her leading parts in Kejsarn av Portugallien (1944),The Girl and the Devil (1944),Woman Without a Face (1947),and Glasberget (1953).
Wållgren's performances in Miss and Mrs Sweden (1969),Mannen som slutade röka (1972),The Brothers Lionheart (1977),Sally and Freedom (1981),and Fanny and Alexander (1982) are also notable.
Sadly, Wållgren was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 1982 and passed away at her home in Stockholm on June 4, 1983, at the age of 69, surrounded by her family.
