Naima Wifstrand
Encyclopedia
Naima Wifstrand (ˈnaːjmá viːfˈstrand; 4 September 1890 – 23 October 1968) was a Swedish film actress, operetta
singer, troubadour
, director and composer
. Internationally, she was most notable for strong supporting parts in her later years in a number of Ingmar Bergman
-films.
in 1890, she was raised by her mother in Fleminggatan. Wifstrand never trained acting but learned the art thoroughly when she in 1905 joined the Anna Lundberg Theatre Company, a well reputed and respected theatre company in Sweden at the time. She travelled with them for a number of years, appearing in small parts and in extra parts. This eventually led her to small parts at theatres in Helsinki
and around Stockholm
. But at this time Wifstrand did not have her mind set on acting, instead she sought to be a singer. And it was as a grand operetta singer she became famous and enjoyed a much successful star career for 30 years in Sweden (her speaking parts as an actress came long after; when she after singing-career gradually turned to acting in the 1940s and then earned acclaim as one of Sweden's finest supporting and character actresses on stage and film).
She studied music and singing in Stockholm at the Swedish Royal Academy of Music and in 1910 she went to London
and further trained for Raymond von zur Mühlen. After her studies she was one of the most acknowledged operetta singers in Scandinavia. She worked at Oscarsteatern
(Sweden's foremost operetta and musical stage) 1913-1918 and for years to come toured Sweden and Scandinavia. Her big break-through came as Countess Stasi in Emmerich Kálmán
's operetta Die Csárdásfürstin
in 1916. She worked in the 1920s mainly at the opera houses in Oslo
and Copenhagen
. For many years she lived in London where she also performed with troubadour
-songs alone along with her guitar. A curiosity here is that when the first attempts at broadcasted television
took place in Britain
Wifstrand actually became one of the first "TV-stars", so to speak, as she appeared on TV already in the 1930s and performed a number of songs.
In 1937 Swedish stage director Per Lindberg cast her as Mother Peachum in Bertolt Brecht
's The Threepenny Opera
(in Swe: Tolvskillingsoperan) which became a hugely successful production and toured with Riksteatern
. When Bertolt Brecht later left Germany
because of the Nazis
he first moved to Sweden where he lived for a time and wrote the part Mother Courage
especially for Wifstrand - but sadly, she herself never got to play the part in what became one of Brecht's most successful plays. During his stay in Sweden, Wifstrand had helped Brecht both financially and also personally with accommodation.
Naima Wifstrand in the 1940s planned to retire from her own stage career by turning to directing, first at the Royal Swedish Opera
1944–1946. However, due to some successful supporting parts in some Swedish 1940s films - where Naima surprised critics and proved herself a surprisingly strong and charismatic character actress - a number of Sweden's young stage and film directors approached her and offered her parts in dramatic productions on stage: one of these young directors was Ingmar Bergman
. Later on Wifstrand became one of the director's most reliable and longtime ensemble actors. She was part of Bergman's ensemble (1954–1961) during all his legendary years at Malmö City Theatre
. Later he would also cast her in some of his most memorable early films, including Wild Strawberries
, Smiles of a Summer Night
and The Magician
. Aside from this she also worked with the new established Stockholm City Theatre
1962–1963 and at Gothenburg City Theatre
from 1964.
Naima Wifstrand was married to captain Erling Nielsen from 1921 to 1928.
Operetta
Operetta is a genre of light opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter. It is also closely related, in English-language works, to forms of musical theatre.-Origins:...
singer, troubadour
Troubadour
A troubadour was a composer and performer of Old Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages . Since the word "troubadour" is etymologically masculine, a female troubadour is usually called a trobairitz....
, director and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. Internationally, she was most notable for strong supporting parts in her later years in a number of Ingmar Bergman
Ingmar Bergman
Ernst Ingmar Bergman was a Swedish director, writer and producer for film, stage and television. Described by Woody Allen as "probably the greatest film artist, all things considered, since the invention of the motion picture camera", he is recognized as one of the most accomplished and...
-films.
Biography
Born Siri Naima Matilda Wifstrand in StockholmStockholm
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...
in 1890, she was raised by her mother in Fleminggatan. Wifstrand never trained acting but learned the art thoroughly when she in 1905 joined the Anna Lundberg Theatre Company, a well reputed and respected theatre company in Sweden at the time. She travelled with them for a number of years, appearing in small parts and in extra parts. This eventually led her to small parts at theatres in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
and around 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...
. But at this time Wifstrand did not have her mind set on acting, instead she sought to be a singer. And it was as a grand operetta singer she became famous and enjoyed a much successful star career for 30 years in Sweden (her speaking parts as an actress came long after; when she after singing-career gradually turned to acting in the 1940s and then earned acclaim as one of Sweden's finest supporting and character actresses on stage and film).
She studied music and singing in Stockholm at the Swedish Royal Academy of Music and in 1910 she went to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and further trained for Raymond von zur Mühlen. After her studies she was one of the most acknowledged operetta singers in Scandinavia. She worked at Oscarsteatern
Oscarsteatern
Oscarsteatern or "Oscars" is one of Stockholm's finest private theatres and the most well-known musical theatre in Sweden. It's located at Kungsgatan 63 in central Stockholm....
(Sweden's foremost operetta and musical stage) 1913-1918 and for years to come toured Sweden and Scandinavia. Her big break-through came as Countess Stasi in Emmerich Kálmán
Emmerich Kalman
Emmerich Kálmán was a Hungarian-born composer of operettas.- Biography :Kálmán was born Imre Koppstein in Siófok, on the southern shore of Lake Balaton, Hungary in a Jewish family.Kálmán initially intended to become a concert pianist, but because of early-onset arthritis, he focused on composition...
's operetta Die Csárdásfürstin
Die Csárdásfürstin
Die Csárdásfürstin or A Csárdáskirálynő is an operetta in 3 acts by Hungarian composer Emmerich Kalman, libretto by Leo Stein and B. Jenbach. It premiered in Vienna at the Johann Strauss Theater, 17 November 1915. Numerous film versions and recordings have been made...
in 1916. She worked in the 1920s mainly at the opera houses in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
and Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. For many years she lived in London where she also performed with troubadour
Troubadour
A troubadour was a composer and performer of Old Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages . Since the word "troubadour" is etymologically masculine, a female troubadour is usually called a trobairitz....
-songs alone along with her guitar. A curiosity here is that when the first attempts at broadcasted television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
took place in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Wifstrand actually became one of the first "TV-stars", so to speak, as she appeared on TV already in the 1930s and performed a number of songs.
In 1937 Swedish stage director Per Lindberg cast her as Mother Peachum in Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht was a German poet, playwright, and theatre director.An influential theatre practitioner of the 20th century, Brecht made equally significant contributions to dramaturgy and theatrical production, the latter particularly through the seismic impact of the tours undertaken by the...
's The Threepenny Opera
The Threepenny Opera
The Threepenny Opera is a musical by German dramatist Bertolt Brecht and composer Kurt Weill, in collaboration with translator Elisabeth Hauptmann and set designer Caspar Neher. It was adapted from an 18th-century English ballad opera, John Gay's The Beggar's Opera, and offers a Marxist critique...
(in Swe: Tolvskillingsoperan) which became a hugely successful production and toured with Riksteatern
Riksteatern
Riksteatern is the name of the popular "National Touring Theatre"/"National Theatre Company" in Sweden. It's the biggest theatre company on tour in Sweden and can, in one way, almost be described as Sweden's national stage on tour....
. When Bertolt Brecht later left Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
because of the Nazis
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
he first moved to Sweden where he lived for a time and wrote the part Mother Courage
Mother Courage and Her Children
Mother Courage and Her Children is a play written in 1939 by the German dramatist and poet Bertolt Brecht with significant contributions from Margarete Steffin...
especially for Wifstrand - but sadly, she herself never got to play the part in what became one of Brecht's most successful plays. During his stay in Sweden, Wifstrand had helped Brecht both financially and also personally with accommodation.
Naima Wifstrand in the 1940s planned to retire from her own stage career by turning to directing, first at the Royal Swedish Opera
Royal Swedish Opera
Kungliga Operan is Sweden's national stage for opera and ballet.-Location and Environment:...
1944–1946. However, due to some successful supporting parts in some Swedish 1940s films - where Naima surprised critics and proved herself a surprisingly strong and charismatic character actress - a number of Sweden's young stage and film directors approached her and offered her parts in dramatic productions on stage: one of these young directors was Ingmar Bergman
Ingmar Bergman
Ernst Ingmar Bergman was a Swedish director, writer and producer for film, stage and television. Described by Woody Allen as "probably the greatest film artist, all things considered, since the invention of the motion picture camera", he is recognized as one of the most accomplished and...
. Later on Wifstrand became one of the director's most reliable and longtime ensemble actors. She was part of Bergman's ensemble (1954–1961) during all his legendary years at Malmö City Theatre
Malmö City Theatre
Malmö City Theatre in Malmö, Sweden, is the main theatre of Malmö.- History :The first theatre in Malmö, Malmö Teater, was built in 1808 but became out of use in 1938. The Malmö City Theatre was built by the architect Sigurd Lewerentz between 1932 and 1944. From its opening in 1944 and until 1992...
. Later he would also cast her in some of his most memorable early films, including Wild Strawberries
Wild Strawberries (film)
Wild Strawberries is a 1957 Swedish film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman, about an old man recalling his past. The original Swedish title is Smultronstället, which literally means "the wild strawberry patch", but idiomatically means an underrated gem of a place...
, Smiles of a Summer Night
Smiles of a Summer Night
Smiles of a Summer Night a.k.a. Smiles on a Summer Night is a 1955 Swedish comedy film directed by Ingmar Bergman. It was the first of Bergman's films to bring the director international success, due to its exposure at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival...
and The Magician
The Magician (1958 film)
The Magician is a 1958 film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. Its original Swedish title is Ansiktet, which means "the face", and it was released theatrically as The Face in the United Kingdom, although video releases have used the U.S. title.The film stars Max von Sydow as a traveling...
. Aside from this she also worked with the new established Stockholm City Theatre
Stockholm City Theatre
Stockholm City Theatre is Sweden's most popular theatre stage. It was created in 1956 but the first performance was delayed until 1960. It had not yet been decided at that point where in the city the theatre would lie so the Folkets hus building at Norra Bantorget, with a temporary stage, became...
1962–1963 and at Gothenburg City Theatre
Gothenburg City Theatre
Gothenburg City Theatre opened in 1934 at Götaplatsen square in Gothenburg, Sweden. The theatre was drawn by Carl Bergsten who gave the exterior a Neo-Classical look with a touch of Streamline Moderne. The critics thought it to be a too old-fashioned building – the International Style had had a big...
from 1964.
Naima Wifstrand was married to captain Erling Nielsen from 1921 to 1928.
Selected filmography
- Two WomenTwo Women (1947 film)Two Women is a 1947 Swedish film directed by Arnold Sjöstrand. It was entered into the 1947 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Eva Dahlbeck - Sonja Bergman* Cécile Ossbahr - Cecilia Alling* Gunnar Björnstrand - Bengt* Georg Rydeberg - Henry Alling...
(1947) - 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) - Thirst (1949)
- For the Sake of My Intemperate YouthFor the Sake of My Intemperate YouthFor the Sake of My Intemperate Youth is a 1952 Swedish drama film directed by Arne Mattsson. It was entered into the 1953 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Aino Taube - Greta Arvidsson* Georg Rydeberg - Karl Arvidsson* Nils Hallberg - Kuno Andersson...
(1952) - Secrets of WomenSecrets of WomenSecrets of Women is a 1952 Swedish film directed by Ingmar Bergman.The film is one of the director's early films and is basically a drama about young relationships told by a group of women...
(1952) - DreamsDreams (1955 film)-Plot:Susanne is the owner of a model agency in Stockholm. Doris, her most popular model, has an argument with her fiancé, Palle, just before she goes with Susanne to Gothenburg to be photographed in a new collection....
(1955) - Smiles of a Summer NightSmiles of a Summer NightSmiles of a Summer Night a.k.a. Smiles on a Summer Night is a 1955 Swedish comedy film directed by Ingmar Bergman. It was the first of Bergman's films to bring the director international success, due to its exposure at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival...
(1955) - Mr. Sleeman Is ComingMr. Sleeman Is ComingMr. Sleeman Is Coming is a 1917 one-act play by the Swedish author Hjalmar Bergman. The main character is an orphaned young woman who is about to be married off to an unappealing but rich old man, Mr. Sleeman, at the instigation of her aunts who have taken charge of her...
(1957) - Wild StrawberriesWild Strawberries (film)Wild Strawberries is a 1957 Swedish film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman, about an old man recalling his past. The original Swedish title is Smultronstället, which literally means "the wild strawberry patch", but idiomatically means an underrated gem of a place...
(1957) - The MagicianThe Magician (1958 film)The Magician is a 1958 film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. Its original Swedish title is Ansiktet, which means "the face", and it was released theatrically as The Face in the United Kingdom, although video releases have used the U.S. title.The film stars Max von Sydow as a traveling...
(1958) - The JudgeThe Judge (film)The Judge is a 1960 Swedish drama film directed by Alf Sjöberg. It was entered into the 1961 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Ingrid Thulin - Brita Randel* Gunnar Hellström - Albert Arnold, lawyer* Per Myrberg - Krister Langton...
(1960) - Hour of the WolfHour of the WolfHour of the Wolf is a 1968 Swedish film directed by Ingmar Bergman and starring Max von Sydow and Liv Ullmann. It combines elements of the film drama, surrealist film and horror film.-Plot:...
(1968)