Bibi Andersson: Celebrating the Career and Legacy of Sweden’s Iconic Actress
Discover the remarkable career of Bibi Andersson, the Swedish actress known for her unforgettable roles in classic films and lasting cinematic impact.
Berit Elisabeth Andersson was born in Stockholm on November 11, 1935. Her family had no connection to the arts; her father was a businessman and her mother was a social worker. After finishing her studies, Bibi joined the Royal Dramatic Theatre, a place frequented by Greta Garbo , Ingrid Bergman and Max Von Sydow.
At the age of 18, she was invited by Ingmar Bergman to take part in a soap commercial. Yes, the famous director had made a few commercials before achieving international fame.
And so began a long-lasting partnership. Bibi made her film debut in 1951, but only began to be credited a few years later, in Dum-Bom (1953). The actress starred in 15 Ingmar Bergman productions between 1958 and 1973. Among her most successful films are: The Seventh Seal (1957), Wild Strawberries (1957) and The Passion of Anna (1969).
But her career was not limited to Bergman. Bibi worked alongside directors such as Vilgot Sjöman, John Huston and Robert Atman, receiving nominations for her roles in Syskonbädd 1782 (1966), by Vilgot Sjöman, and was awarded for her performances in The Edge of Life (1958) and The Swedish Mistress (1962). It is worth remembering that in total she participated in more than 90 films, TV movies and series.
But there is no denying that it was because of the influence of her performance in Persona that she became more recognized and began to receive more work invitations. In parallel to the screen, Bibi developed a timid career in theater, acting in some plays and even directing shows in the 90s. With the arrival of new times, the actress also began to act on TV, in series and telefilms.
The actress had a relationship with Gösta Terserus when he was around 48 years old and she was 17. According to IMDB data, the relationship ended after an abortion. There are no further details on the subject, perhaps in the autobiography released by the actress in 1996: Ett ögonblick (free translation: A Moment).
She was married three times: to Kjell Grede (1960–1973), Per Ahlmark (1979–1981) and Gabriel Mora Baeza, to whom she remains married to this day. With Kjell she had her only daughter, Jenny.
Her private life was very discreet. We have little information, except that in 2009 the actress unfortunately suffered a stroke and spent a long time without speaking or walking.
Bibi died at the age of 83 on April 14, 2019. The actress was known for acting in several Ingmar Bergman films, including The Seventh Seal and When Two Women Sin.
The information came from her friend, artist Chistina Olofson. Bibi had suffered a stroke in 2009 and had been hospitalized since the incident.
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