Maj-Britt Nilsson

Actor 1924-2006

Part of the ensemble at the Royal Dramatic Theatre and a popular star of Swedish cinema in the 1950s, Nilsson played the leading lady in three of Bergman's early films — To Joy, Summer Interlude and Waiting Women.

Maj-Britt Nilsson

Actor 1924-2006

Part of the ensemble at the Royal Dramatic Theatre and a popular star of Swedish cinema in the 1950s, Nilsson played the leading lady in three of Bergman's early films — To Joy, Summer Interlude and Waiting Women.

'The camera catches her with an affection that is easy to comprehend. She embraces the story and lifts it higher with her brilliant mixture of playfulness and seriousness.'

Ingmar Bergman

About Nilsson

Maj-Britt Nilsson was born in Stockholm, Sweden, on 11 December 1924, the daughter of Edmund and Augusta Nilsson.

In 1944 she began her studies at the Royal Dramatic Theatre drama school, where she attracted considerable attention even as a student. Her stage breakthrough came in 1948, when she appeared in Jean Genet's The Maids at The Royal Dramatic Theatre.

Three years prior to this she had made her film debut in Alf Sjöberg's Resan bort. Nilsson went on to become a popular film star of the 1950s. Highlights of her screen career include three starring roles for Ingmar Bergman and her perfomance in Hasse Ekman's Jazz Boy.

In 1951 she married theatre director Per Gerhard. She left the Royal Dramatic Theatre company in the same year and would appear in a number of major roles at her husband's Vasa theatre up until 1985.

Nilsson passed away in Cannes, France, on 19 December 2006, aged 82. 

Sources

  • Myggans nöjeslexikon: ett uppslagsverk om underhållning, red. Uno Myggan Ericson, (Höganäs: Bra böcker, 1989-1993).