Lundequist, Gerda (1871–1959)

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Lundequist, Gerda (1871–1959)

Swedish actress . Born in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1871; died in 1959; graduate of the Stockholm Academy of Music.

Called the "Swedish Bernhardt," actress Gerda Lundequist studied drama at the Stockholm Academy of Music and made her debut in 1889, in Strindberg's Mäster Olof. Spending most of the 1890s in Göteborg, she returned to Stockholm in 1896, and thereafter distinguished herself in such works as Leo Tolstoy's Resurrection and Maurice Maeterlinck's Monna Vanna. By 1906, she was considered one of the country's leading tragic actresses, with a range that included Antigone and Lady Macbeth (Gruoch ), as well as more modern characters such as Mrs. Alving in Henrik Ibsen's Ghosts. Known for her sensuality and expressive voice, Lundequist appeared on stage until 1940. She also made several films, including the Mauritz Stiller classic The Gösta Berling Saga, which also marked the second screen appearance of Greta Garbo . Lindequist's last film was Giflas (1955).

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