Sickan Carlsson

Sickan Anna-Greta Carlsson (12 August 1915 – 2 November 2011) was a Swedish film and theatre actress and singer.

Biography

From the 1930s to 1950s, Carlsson was Sweden's most popular film actress and its highest paid, topping the salary of even the most popular male performer. She was also an accomplished singer and recording artist and performed on stage and in musical revues. She was noted for her comedic films, which peaked during World War II. Several of her films from this period include upbeat musical numbers intended to raise the morale of her war-weary audiences. The characters she portrayed in the post-war years were often more complex than those she had played previously and featured less of her singing talents. Her screen persona was that of a carefree, energetic young woman who faced everyday problems with optimism. Her films were immensely popular and often had long runs in theaters.

Carlsson is most closely associated with two directors: Schamyl Bauman (in films from 1945 to 1955) and Hasse Ekman (1956–65). Although remembered mostly for her light-hearted roles, she was also able to portray darker characters when called upon. One of her best known dramatic outings was in 1961's Lustgården (aka The Pleasure Garden), with a script written specifically for her by Ingmar Bergman.

Carlsson stated publicly that she did not mind being typecast in comedic roles, however, and is proud to have been given parts which allowed her the opportunity to make her audiences laugh. Some of her best films are Det glada kalaset (1946), Skolka skolan (1948), Klasskamrater (1952), Sjunde himlen (1956) and Lustgården (1961).

Marriages

Born into a working-class family, she fought to be accepted in an upper-class environment and endured two broken marriages before wedding businessman Sölve Adamsson which ended with his death in 1987. Her first marriage, to Gösta Reuter, produced a daughter, Ingegärd.

Later years

In 2005 she was awarded an Honorary Guldbagge Award at the Guldbagge Awards in Sweden.

Selected filmography

Source and references

• Carlsson, Sickan; Sickan (autobiography), Bonniers, Stockholm, Sweden, 1977.
• Holm, Crick; På tu man hand med filmidoler (chapter Sickan Carlsson), Medéns, Stockholm, Sweden, 1947.

Further reading

• Sickan Carlsson at Svenskt kvinnobiografiskt lexikon

External links

• Sickan Carlsson at IMDb
• Obituary – Dagens Nyheter (Swedish)