Pernilla Nina Elisabet Wahlgren (Swedish pronunciation: [pæˈɳɪ̂lːa ˈvɑ̂ːlɡreːn]; born 24 December 1967)[1][2] is a Swedish singer and actress. She has sung in Melodifestivalen several times; her 1985 entry titled "Piccadilly Circus" became popular and successful. She has acted in several plays and films, playing roles including Esmeralda in the Academy Award-winning Fanny and Alexander. She has twice received the Guldmasken award for her work in theater.

Pernilla Wahlgren
Wahlgren in 2016
Born
Pernilla Nina Elisabet Wahlgren

(1967-12-24) 24 December 1967 (age 56)
Värmdö, Sweden
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actress
Years active1985–present
Spouse
(m. 1993; div. 2002)
Christian Bauer
(m. 2023)
PartnerJoachim Lennholm (2002–2008)
Children4, including Oliver, Bianca and Benjamin
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentsVocals
Websitepernillawahlgren.se

Career

edit

Acting

edit

Wahlgren's first acting job, at the age of four, was alongside her mother in the television play Den längsta dagen (The Longest Day).[3] She attended Adolf Fredrik's Music School and was also part of the Saltsjöbaden theater.[4] After playing a small role in Lilla prinsen (The Little Prince) at Saltsjöbaden's theater, and in the face of stiff competition, Wahlgren got the title role in the musical Annie at Folkan, Stockholm.[5] She then played Esmeralda in Ingmar Bergman's film Fanny and Alexander.[6][7][8]

In 1982, she joined the cast of the Swedish production of The Sound of Music, in which she played Louise.[9] At Folkan, she also had parts in Karlsson på taket (Karlsson-on-the-Roof), Mio, min Mio (Mio in the Land of Faraway), Snövit (Snow White) and Ringens hemlighet (The Secret of the Ring).[10] Wahlgren played Annika in the musical version of Pippi Longstocking at Folket in Stockholm; for the two final performances she replaced Siw Malmkvist in the role of Pippi, for which she received positive reviews. In her youth and as an adult Wahlgren portrayed Pippi Longstocking several times.[11] Wahlgren appeared in an episode of Nygammalt in 1983 and an episode of Razzel in October 1984, where she performed her debut single, "Nu har det tänt".[12] She has also appeared in film and television productions including Bo Widerberg's 1986 production of Ormens väg på hälleberget (The Serpent's Way) and Snoken in 1995.[13]

Wahlgren has appeared in theatrical comedies in Stockholm, including Parneviks cirkusparty (Parnevik's Circus Party), Spanska flugan (Spanish Fly) and Bubbel trubbel (Bubble Trouble).[14] She has twice been nominated for the Guldmasken theater award; first for her role in Charleys tant (Charley's Aunt) at the Intiman Theater, and then for her part in Kärlek & lavemang (Love and Enemy) at Fredriksdalsteatern in Helsingborg.[15] She has also appeared in musical roles in Annie Get Your Gun, Grease, The Wizard of Oz, Cats and Nils Karlsson Pyssling.[16] On 29 September 2007, The Sound of Music premièred at the Göta Lejon theater in Stockholm, where Wahlgren played in a cast that included Tommy Nilsson.[17] In 2013, she had a role in the musical Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at Göta Lejon.[18]

Between 2018 and 2019, Wahlgren acted in her own stage show celebrating 40-years as a singer and actress, called Kort, glad och tacksam (Short, Happy and Grateful).[19] Her second stage show, a continuation of Kort, glad och tacksam, called Pernilla Wahlgren har Hybris (Pernilla Wahlgren Got Hubris), wrote and directed by Edward af Sillén, premiered in 2020.[20]

Music

edit
 
Wahlgren performing at Stockholm Pride in 2014

In the mid-to-late 1980s, Wahlgren developed a pop music career, touring several times and releasing studio albums.[21] Her songs include: "Svindlande affärer", "I Need Your Love", "Every Time When We're Together" and "Running for Cover".[22] In August 2006, she released the album Beautiful Day; the debut single from the album, "Talking to an Angel", was certified gold and the track "Come Inside My World" became the theme to TV4's entertainment program Förkväll.[23][24]

Melodifestivalen

edit

Wahlgren's musical breakthrough came when she participated in Melodifestivalen 1985.[25] Her song "Piccadilly Circus" became a public favorite, but she was placed fourth in the competition.[25] Wahlgren participated in Melodifestivalen 1991 with the song "Tvillingsjäl", which did not make it to the second round of voting.[26] In 2003, she again took part in Melodifestivalen, this time with Jan Johansen;[27][28] they achieved second place with the song "Let Your Spirit Fly".[28] In 2010, Wahlgren again participated in Melodifestivalen, with the song "Jag vill om du vågar".[29][30] Her 2013 entry was with Jenny Silver and Hanna Hedlund as part of the band Swedish House Wives performing the song "On Top of the World".[31]

Television

edit

Wahlgren has been a television presenter for several shows, including Scenen är din, Söndagsöppet (both on SVT), Småstjärnorna and Baby Boom (both on TV4).[32][33] She and her brother Niclas also presented the children's show Nicke & Nilla on TV4.[34] Wahlgren had a role in the 1995 series Snoken on SVT.[35] She also dubbed several children's films, such as The Lego Movie (as the voice for Princess Unikitty), and voiced Misty, Melody and Delia Ketchum in several Pokémon films).[36] From 2016, she has participated in the reality series Wahlgrens värld (Wahlgren's World) which is broadcast on Kanal 5 and the streaming service MAX which documents her life and her extended family's lives.[37] The series was continued with a third and fourth season in 2018;[38] a fifth and sixth season were broadcast in 2019.[39][40] In 2019, Wahlgren had a leading role as Santa's wife in Sveriges Television's Christmas calendar, Panik i tomteverkstan, opposite Per Andersson.[41] Since 2021, she has been participating in Masked Singer Sverige.[42] In 2023, Pernilla Wahlgren started presenting the SVT show Allsång på Skansen, replacing Sanna Nielsen. [43]

Personal life

edit

Wahlgren was born to actors Christina Schollin and Hans Wahlgren on Christmas Eve, and grew up in Norra Lagnö. She has three brothers: actor and singer Niclas, actor Linus, and broker and firefighter Peter.[44] She was married to dancer and composer Emilio Ingrosso from 1993 to 2002;[45] they have three children—Oliver Ingrosso (born 1989), a DJ, music producer and actor; Bianca Ingrosso (born 1994), a blogger and singer; and Benjamin Ingrosso (born 1997), a singer, artist and songwriter.[46][47] Pernilla also has a son, Theo (born 2007), with Joachim Lennholm.[48] In an episode of Vem tror du att du är? (Who do you think You Are?) broadcast on SVT in 2011 it was revealed to Wahlgren that she was of Italian descent on her father's side of the family.[49] Since 2021, Wahlgren has been in a relationship with Christian Bauer.[50] Wahlgren and Bauer married on 7 December 2023 in Lidingö.[51]

Discography

edit

Studio albums

edit

Source: Pernilla Wahlgren discography at Discogs  

Singles

edit
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
SWE
"Piccadilly Circus" 1985 5 Pernilla Wahlgren
"Svindlande affärer" 1985 20
"Love on You" 1986 8 Attractive
"Paradise (feat. Emilio Ingrosso)" 1986 6
"I Need Your Love" 1987 4 Pure Dynamite
"Running for Cover" 1988 11
"Mardröm" 1989 16 Flashback
"C'est Démon!" 1992 7 I Myself and Me

References

edit
  1. ^ "Pernilla Wahlgren tar jubileumsshow på turne". Sydsvenskan. 23 December 2017. Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  2. ^ Ohlsson, Matilda (18 December 2017). "Wahlgren firar två jubileum i Karlskrona – Sydöstran". Sydöstran. Archived from the original on 24 December 2017. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  3. ^ "Pernilla Wahlgren – Sävsjö Celebration". savsjocelebration.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 21 April 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  4. ^ "Pernilla Wahlgren" (in Swedish). Proartist (Artist agent). Archived from the original on 7 December 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  5. ^ "Pernillas 80-tal var succé". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 16 July 2005. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  6. ^ Gado, Frank (1986). The Passion of Ingmar Bergman. Duke University Press. pp. 531–532. ISBN 9780822305866. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  7. ^ "Pernilla Wahlgren i ny reality på Kanal 5" (in Swedish). 26 May 2016. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  8. ^ "Matlagningsprogram för Pernilla Wahlgren? – P4 Extra". Sveriges Radio (in Swedish). 20 November 2011. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  9. ^ "Pernilla tar ton i 'Sound of music'". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 28 September 2007. Archived from the original on 13 October 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  10. ^ "Pernilla Wahlgren". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  11. ^ "Aftonbladet nöje: Pernilla Wahlgren får Pippi – igen". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  12. ^ "Pernilla Wahlgren och Siw Malmkvists Pippi-återförening" (in Swedish). Sveriges Television. Archived from the original on 31 October 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  13. ^ "Pernilla Wahlgren om sexscenen med Stellan Skarsgård". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  14. ^ "Babsan Goes World Wide / Teater – Spanska Flugan". babsan.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  15. ^ "Aftonbladet nöje: Här är de som fick en Guldmask". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  16. ^ "Rennie Mirro spelar mot Pernilla i nya "Grease"". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 21 February 2004. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  17. ^ Spektra (20 November 2006). "Pernilla Wahlgren i 'Sound of music'". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  18. ^ "Priscilla queen of the desert" (in Swedish). Göta Lejon. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  19. ^ "Pernilla Wahlgren slogs blodig på scen". Aftonbladet. February 2018. Archived from the original on 13 October 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  20. ^ Glover, Cherie (24 April 2019). "Pernilla Wahlgren har Hybris – Ny show våren 2020!". Archived from the original on 13 October 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  21. ^ "Pop på schemat för Pernilla Wahlgren". Sundsvalls Tidning (in Swedish). 23 August 2006. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  22. ^ "Pernilla Wahlgren – Svindlande Affärer". discogs.com. 1985. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  23. ^ "Wahlgren pernilla – beautiful day 2006 – (cd) – musik" (in Swedish). Ginza.se. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  24. ^ "Pontus Assarsson från Helsingborg svarar för musiken till nya realityserien om familjen Wahlgren". Helsingborgs Dagblad (in Swedish). 4 October 2016. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  25. ^ a b "Pernilla Wahlgrens liv blir show" (in Swedish). ekuriren.se. 19 December 2017. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  26. ^ "Så här såh Pernilla Wahlgren för 26 år sedan" (in Swedish). Nyheter24. 17 April 2017. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  27. ^ "Sweden: Melodifestivalen rehearsals kick off". Eurovision. 11 March 2010. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  28. ^ a b "Jan Johansen: "Lådvinet var den farligaste drogen av alla" – Hälsoliv". Expressen (in Swedish). 13 December 2010. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  29. ^ "Pernilla Wahlgren: "Det vore härligt att få vara kär"". Expressen (in Swedish). 31 December 2016. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  30. ^ "Sweden decides to give Pernilla Wahlgren and Jessica Andersson a second chance in Globen". EuroVisionary. 6 March 2010. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  31. ^ "Pernilla Wahlgren firar 40 år på scen med show". Corren (in Swedish). 13 December 2017. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  32. ^ "Aftonbladet nöje: Ulf Larsson stannar i 'Söndagsöppet'". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  33. ^ "Om Pernilla – Pernilla Wahlgren" (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  34. ^ "Wahlgrens gör barn-tv ihop". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 3 June 2001. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  35. ^ "Pernilla Wahlgren". Öppet arkiv (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  36. ^ "Recensioner – Pernilla Wahlgren" (in Swedish). Dubbningshemsidan. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  37. ^ "Klart för tredje säsong av 'Wahlgrens värld'". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 15 December 2017. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  38. ^ "Beskedet: Det blir en tredje säsong av 'Wahlgrens värld'". Expressen (in Swedish). 15 December 2017. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  39. ^ "Wahlgrens avgörande händelse – på julafton". www.expressen.se. 24 December 2018. Archived from the original on 31 December 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  40. ^ "Glädjebeskedet till Wahlgrens-fansen: "Det blir en säsong 6"". Aftonbladet. 11 April 2019. Archived from the original on 13 October 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  41. ^ Jansson, Björn (19 November 2019). "Per Andersson och Pernilla Wahlgren i årets julkalender – Kulturnytt i P4". Sveriges Radio. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  42. ^ "El Refai och Wahlgren panel i TV4-satsningen". vk.se. 7 October 2020. Archived from the original on 8 August 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  43. ^ Pernilla Wahlgren blir ny programledare för Allsång på Skansen. 25 October 2022. Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023 – via Sveriges Radio.
  44. ^ "Så firar Wahlgren sina 40 år – ett år för sent". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 27 August 2017. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  45. ^ "Emilio Ingrosso talar ut om dödshoten mot Pernilla Wahlgren". Expressen (in Swedish). 20 October 2010. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  46. ^ "Meet the 'Swedish Justin Bieber'". BBC News. Archived from the original on 19 December 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  47. ^ "Pernilla Wahlgren fyrabarnsmamma". Mama (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  48. ^ "Pernilla Wahlgren: 'Jag har tappat glädjen till livet'". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 18 June 2013. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  49. ^ "Avslöjar familjens hemlighet". Aftonbladet. 22 September 2014. Archived from the original on 8 March 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  50. ^ "Pernilla Wahlgrens bröllopsdröm med nya kärleken". Aftonbladet. 31 January 2022. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  51. ^ "Nya intima bilderna från kyrkan och festen – avslöjanden om Pernillas och Christians stora dag". Svensk Dam. 8 December 2023. Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
edit
Preceded by OGAE Second Chance Contest winner
1991
Succeeded by