Mai Zetterling was born in Sweden in 1925 and spent a brief period of her childhood in Australia. She is a renowned director and actor, having trained on the Stockholm repertory stage. Zetterling's acting career began in her teens, with her debut in the 1941 film Lasse Maja. She then gained international recognition for her role in Ingmar Bergman's 1944 film Torment, which was also known as Frenzy in the UK.
The success of her work with Bergman led to her move to England, where she made her debut in the title role of Frieda in 1947. This war drama co-starred David Farrar, Glynis Johns, and Flora Robson. Zetterling's performance as a sex symbol led her to co-star with several handsome leading men in primarily dramatic works throughout the post-war years.
Some of her notable roles include The Bad Lord Byron with Dennis Price in 1949, Blackmailed with Dirk Bogarde in 1951, The Ringer with Herbert Lom in 1952, A Prize of Gold with Richard Widmark in 1955, Seven Days from Now with Tyrone Power in 1957, Faces in the Dark with John Gregson in 1960, The Devil Inside with William Sylvester in 1961, and The Man Who Finally Died with Stanley Baker in 1963.
Mai Zetterling was also known for her comedic roles, including Only Two Can Play with Peter Sellers and Virginia Maskell in 1962. She abandoned acting in the mid-1960s and went on to become a director, courting controversy with her bold and daring films.
Zetterling's directing career was marked by her exploration of dark and sexy themes, including homosexual relationships and sexual repression. Her films, such as Loving Couples, Night Games, and The Girls, were ahead of their time and featured nudity. She was influenced by Ingmar Bergman's style and incorporated his dark and introspective themes into her own work.
Mai Zetterling was married twice, first to Norwegian actor Tutte Lemkow and then to writer David Hughes. She had two children, Louis and Etienne, from her first marriage. She divorced her second husband in 1979.
Toward the end of her life, Mai Zetterling returned to acting and is best remembered for her role as a nurturing and resilient grandmother in the 1990 film The Witches. She died of cancer in 1994.
