Hilda Borgström
Encyclopedia
Hilda Teresia Borgström was a Swedish stage and film actress.
Born in Stockholm
, Borgström is considered one of Sweden's most legendary silent film actresses. She made her film debut in 1912. Starred in leading parts in Victor Sjöström
's classic silent films Ingeborg Holm
(aka Margaret Day) (1913) and Körkarlen
(aka The Phantom Carriage/The Stroke of Midnight/Thy Soul Shall Bear Witness) in 1921. Borgström started out to be a dancer and trained at the old Royal Theatre
's ballet school in Stockholm 1880-87. After that she decided to turn to the theatre instead and studied drama to become an actress. The professional debut on stage came in 1890 at one of Albert Ranft
's theatres. She was an actress of Sweden's national stage, the Royal Dramatic Theatre
(Dramaten), between 1900–1912 and 1920-1938. Here, alongside becoming a star on film, she made a number of remarkable and critically acclaimed performances.
She retired officially from stage in 1938 (due to having developed a case of severe stage fright) and turn back to the film instead. She appeared in several notable supporting parts in Swedish films in the 1930s-50s, for example in Ingmar Bergman's early 1948 film Music in Darkness
, in the thriller Ett brott (A Crime) (1940) and in Kejsarn av Portugallien (The Emperor of Portugallia) (1944), based on the novel by Selma Lagerlöf
, and in a pair of films by Hasse Ekman
such as Kungliga patrasket (The Royal Rabble) (1945) and Flickan från tredje raden (The Girl from the Third Row) (1949). Borgström was also a teacher in the performing arts at the Royal Dramatic Theatre's acting school; Dramatens elevskola
, in the 1930s-40s. Altogether she made some 80 parts on film.
She is today perhaps primarily known as the narrator in the short film Tomten - en vintersaga (The Tomte
- A Winter's Tale) (1941), where she reads the poem Tomten by Viktor Rydberg
. The film is shown at Christmas Eve
every year on Swedish television.
She remained unmarried all her life. Had one daughter, Gertrud (she never revealed the name of her father).
Born in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Borgström is considered one of Sweden's most legendary silent film actresses. She made her film debut in 1912. Starred in leading parts in Victor Sjöström
Victor Sjöström
Victor Sjöström was a Swedish actor, screenwriter, and film director.- Biography:Born in Silbodal, in the Värmland region of Sweden, he was only a year old when his father, Olof Adolf Sjöström, moved the family to Brooklyn, New York. His mother died when he was seven years old in 1886...
's classic silent films Ingeborg Holm
Ingeborg Holm
Ingeborg Holm is a 1913 Swedish social drama film directed by Victor Sjöström, based on a 1906 play by Nils Krok. It has been called "the first realistic feature film". It caused great debate in Sweden about social security, which led to changes in the poorhouse laws...
(aka Margaret Day) (1913) and Körkarlen
Körkarlen (1921 film)
The Phantom Carriage is a 1921 Swedish film generally considered to be one of the central works in the history of Swedish cinema. Released on New Year's Day 1921, it was directed by and starred Victor Sjöström, alongside Hilda Borgström, Tore Svennberg and Astrid Holm...
(aka The Phantom Carriage/The Stroke of Midnight/Thy Soul Shall Bear Witness) in 1921. Borgström started out to be a dancer and trained at the old Royal Theatre
Royal Swedish Opera
Kungliga Operan is Sweden's national stage for opera and ballet.-Location and Environment:...
's ballet school in Stockholm 1880-87. After that she decided to turn to the theatre instead and studied drama to become an actress. The professional debut on stage came in 1890 at one of Albert Ranft
Albert Ranft
Albert Adam Ranft was a Swedish theatre director and actor. Ranft debuted in the theatre company of Magda von Dolcke in 1876. He started his own travelling company in 1884 and was employed at Stora Teatern in Gothenburg from 1886...
's theatres. She was an actress of Sweden's national stage, the Royal Dramatic Theatre
Royal Dramatic Theatre
The Royal Dramatic Theatre is Sweden's national stage for "spoken drama", founded in 1788. Around one thousand shows are put on annually on the theatre's eight running stages....
(Dramaten), between 1900–1912 and 1920-1938. Here, alongside becoming a star on film, she made a number of remarkable and critically acclaimed performances.
She retired officially from stage in 1938 (due to having developed a case of severe stage fright) and turn back to the film instead. She appeared in several notable supporting parts in Swedish films in the 1930s-50s, for example in Ingmar Bergman's early 1948 film Music in Darkness
Music in Darkness
Music in Darkness is a 1948 Swedish film directed by Ingmar Bergman.-Synopsis:The screenplay was written by Bergman and Dagmar Edqvist....
, in the thriller Ett brott (A Crime) (1940) and in Kejsarn av Portugallien (The Emperor of Portugallia) (1944), based on the novel by Selma Lagerlöf
Selma Lagerlöf
Selma Ottilia Lovisa Lagerlöf was a Swedish author. She was the first female writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, and most widely known for her children's book Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige ....
, and in a pair of films by Hasse Ekman
Hasse Ekman
Hasse Ekman was a Swedish director, actor, writer and producer for film, stage and television.Hasse Ekman is probably Sweden's most successful and critically acclaimed film director pre Ingmar Bergman and post Sjöström and Stiller, with his peak in mid-1940s to the year 1950...
such as Kungliga patrasket (The Royal Rabble) (1945) and Flickan från tredje raden (The Girl from the Third Row) (1949). Borgström was also a teacher in the performing arts at the Royal Dramatic Theatre's acting school; Dramatens elevskola
Dramatens elevskola
Dramatens elevskola, i.e. Kungliga Dramatiska Teaterns Elevskola, or in Eng: The Royal Dramatic Theatre's acting school, was the acting school of Sweden's national stage, The Royal Dramatic Theatre, and for many years seen as the foremost theatre school and drama education for Swedish stage actors...
, in the 1930s-40s. Altogether she made some 80 parts on film.
She is today perhaps primarily known as the narrator in the short film Tomten - en vintersaga (The Tomte
Tomte
A tomte , nisse or tonttu is a mythical creature of Scandinavian folklore. The tomte or nisse was believed to take care of a farmer's home and children and protect them from misfortune, in particular at night, when the housefolk were asleep...
- A Winter's Tale) (1941), where she reads the poem Tomten by Viktor Rydberg
Viktor Rydberg
Abraham Viktor Rydberg was a Swedish writer and a member of the Swedish Academy, 1877-1895...
. The film is shown at Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
every year on Swedish television.
She remained unmarried all her life. Had one daughter, Gertrud (she never revealed the name of her father).
Selected filmography
- Flickan från tredje radenFlickan från tredje radenFlickan från tredje raden is a 1940 Swedish comedy film directed by Hasse Ekman.-Plot:An extraordinary ring is being handed down amongst many people. They find it and lose it or give it away, but the ring always gives each owner good fortune or hope in some way...
(The Girl from the Third Row) (1949) - Eva (1948)
- Music in DarknessMusic in DarknessMusic in Darkness is a 1948 Swedish film directed by Ingmar Bergman.-Synopsis:The screenplay was written by Bergman and Dagmar Edqvist....
(1948) - Kungliga patrasket (The Royal Rabble) (1945)
- Torment (1944)
- Ett brott (A Crime) (1940)
- KörkarlenKörkarlen (1921 film)The Phantom Carriage is a 1921 Swedish film generally considered to be one of the central works in the history of Swedish cinema. Released on New Year's Day 1921, it was directed by and starred Victor Sjöström, alongside Hilda Borgström, Tore Svennberg and Astrid Holm...
(1921) - Judge NotJudge Not (film)Judge Not is a 1914 Swedish silent drama film directed by Victor Sjöström.-Cast:* Nils Ahrén - Helder* Greta Almroth - Clara* Hilda Borgström - Mary* John Ekman - Albert Smith* Nils Elffors* William Larsson - Ruffian* Richard Lund - Walter Crain...
(1914) - Ingeborg HolmIngeborg HolmIngeborg Holm is a 1913 Swedish social drama film directed by Victor Sjöström, based on a 1906 play by Nils Krok. It has been called "the first realistic feature film". It caused great debate in Sweden about social security, which led to changes in the poorhouse laws...
(Margaret Day) (1913) - Lady Marion's Summer FlirtationLady Marion's Summer FlirtationLady Marion's Summer Flirtation is a 1913 Swedish silent drama film directed by Victor Sjöström.-Cast:* Hilda Borgström as Lady Marion* Victor Lundberg as Viktor* Richard Lund as Lord Handsome* Axel Ringvall as Axel Pärzon...
(1913) - A Ruined LifeA Ruined LifeA Ruined Life is a 1912 Swedish silent film directed by Victor Sjöström. It was Sjöström's debut film as a director.-Cast:* Hilda Borgström* John Ekman* Einar Fröberg* Bergliot Husberg* Richard Lund* Anna Norrie...
(1912)