Maria Helena"Mimi"Pollak(9 April 1903 – 11 August 1999) was a Swedish actress and theatre director.
Mimi Pollak | |
|---|---|
 Mimi Pollak[who?],1920s | |
| Born | Maria Helena Pollak 9 April 1903 Karlstad,Sweden |
| Died | 11 August 1999(aged 96) Stockholm,Sweden |
| Other names | Mimmi Pollak, Mimi Pollack, Mimmi Pollack |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, director |
| Years active | 1922–1991 |
| Spouse | Nils Lundell (1927–1938) |
Biography
editPollak was born inKarlstad,Värmlandto Austrian-Jewish parents and was trained in the performing arts at the prestigiousRoyal Dramatic Training AcademyinStockholm1922–24.[1]
Pollak worked in the 1920s and 1930s as a film actress and as stage actress mainly onHelsingborg City Theatreand The Blanche Theatre,Stockholm,but she returned as an actress to theRoyal Dramatic Theatrein 1942.[1]
Pollak became in 1948 the first contracted female director at the Royal Dramatic Theatre with the production ofJean Genet'sJungfruleken(Les Bonnes/The Maids), starringAnita BjörkandMaj-Britt Nilssonin the leads. Pollak became a very successful director at the Royal Dramatic Theatre and staged altogether 60 plays at the national stage over the years.
She appeared since her 1922 debut in the filmAmatörfilmenin about 30 film and TV productions. Notable film roles are her supporting parts inSchamyl Bauman's film comedySkolka skolan(1949), inVilgot Sjöman'sKlänningen(a.k.a.The Dress,1964), inIngmar Bergman'sAutumn Sonata(starringIngrid Bergman) as the piano teacher, inFlight of the Eagle(1982), starringMax von Sydowand directed byJan Troelland in the very popular Swedish TV mysteryAgnes Cecilia – en sällsam historia(1991), adapted from the successful books byMaria Gripe.
She retired in 1975, but made a stage comeback in 1991, age 87, inAnton Chekhov'sUncle Vanya.[1]
Sometimes credited as Mimmi Pollak, Mimi Pollack or Mimmi Pollack.
Personal life
editPollak attended theRoyal Dramatic Theatreschool inStockholmwith fellow actressGreta Garbofrom 1922 to 1924. Garbo moved to the US in 1925 and Pollak married in 1927 and later had children, although they did maintain contact for over 60 years. Their relationship and letters are portrayed (published in parts) in the Swedish bookDjävla älskade unge!(Bloody Beloved Kid), written by Po Tin Andersén Axell (2005), and in Garbo's personal writings, released in Sweden the same year.[2]
Pollak was married to Swedish actor Nils Lundell (1889–1943) from 1927 to 1938. Her son, Lars Lundell, saved and provided to author Tin Andersen Axell the letters Greta wrote to his mother.
Selected filmography
edit- 1991 –Agnes Cecilia – en sällsam historia
- 1986 –Amorosa
- 1985 –August Strindberg ett liv(TV)
- 1982 –The Flight of the Eagle(Ingenjör Andrées luftfärd)
- 1978 –Autumn Sonata(Höstsonaten)
- 1979 –I frid och värdighet
- 1979 –Christopher's House
- 1971 –Emil i Lönneberga
- 1965 –Nightmare
- 1964 –The Dress
- 1956 –Rätten att älska
- 1955 –Mord, lilla vän
- 1951 –Sommarlek
- 1949 –Playing Truant
- 1949 –Bara en mor(a.k.a. Only A Mother)
- 1949 –The Street
- 1947 –Den långa vägen
- 1947 –Dinner for Two
- 1942 –Lågor i dunklet
- 1942 –We House Slaves
- 1941 –The Ghost Reporter
- 1940 –Med dej i mina armar
- 1940One, But a Lion!
- 1938 –The Great Love
- 1926 –Sven Klingas levnadsöde
- 1923 –Andersson, Pettersson och Lundström
- 1922 –Amatörfilmen
Footnotes
edit- ^abc"Mimi Pollak – Arkivsidor FIV"(in Swedish).Retrieved17 July2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^"Lonely Garbo's love secret is exposed".The Guardian.London. 11 September 2005.Archivedfrom the original on 12 September 2007.Retrieved15 February2006.
Further reading
edit- Pollak, Mimi (1977).Teaterlek: memoarer(in Swedish). Stockholm: Askild & Kärnekull.ISBN91-7008-632-X.
- Maria (Mimi) Helena PollakatSvenskt kvinnobiografiskt lexikon