Pernilla August (real name Mia Pernilla Herzman-Erickson) is a Swedish theater, film and television actress. Screenwriter and director, winner of the Berlin and Cannes Film Festivals, nominee for the Saturn Prize.
The creative biography of the artist began at an early age with performances on the theatrical stage of the Swedish children's theater. In 1975 she first appeared on the screen in the film directed by Roy Andersen "Giliap". Later she played several roles with the famous Ingmar Bergman and became his favorite actress.
Pernilla's cinematic career includes over 80 screen roles. In 2002, she was awarded the Swedish Royal Medal Litteris et Artibus for her significant contribution to the development of art.
Biography facts
The future actress was born in Sweden in the winter of 1958. She always liked performing in front of the public, so her parents sent her daughter to a creative studio. There she studied acting.
During her school years, the girl already performed on the professional stage and played several roles in children's performances at the Vår teater theater in Stockholm. Soon, the girl felt how the professional performance of the actors and the play itself can have a strong influence on the audience. She had no doubt that she would devote her entire future life to art and that this path would become the only correct one for her.
After completing her secondary education, Pernilla entered the National Academy of Mime and Acting (NAMA). This is a famous educational institution that was founded in 1787 at the Royal Theater of Sweden. It is now called the Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts. There they are engaged in the professional training of young talents in the field of dramatic art, cinema and music.
Creative way
After graduating from the Academy, August played on stage and worked in television. In the mid-1980s she worked at the theater in Gavle, and then at Dramaten. On account of the performer roles in classical and modern plays: "Hamlet", "Mary Stuart", "A Doll's House", "Three Sisters", "Play of Dreams".
In 1975, Pernilla first appeared on the screen in a cameo role in the crime drama "Giliap" by R. Andersson. The film tells the story of a young man who got a job in a port restaurant.
The next work was in V. Sheman's drama Linus and the Mysterious Red Brick House. Then the actress again played a cameo role in L. Hallström's comedy melodrama "The Rooster".
In the early 1980s, she met the famous director Ingmar Bergman. He invited the young actress to his new project "Fanny and Alexander". The film tells the story of the Ekdal family, seen through the eyes of the children of Fanny and Alexander. A happy childhood, dreams, a united and inseparable family - all this remains in the past after the loss of relatives. Fanny and Alexander gradually begin to see the world in a completely different way. The girl tries to preserve the inner light and purity of her soul, while her brother completely withdraws into himself and fenced off from the outside world.
In 1984, the film received 4 Oscars and 2 nominations for this award, as well as the Golden Globe and Cesar in the Best Foreign Film category. At the Venice Film Festival, the tape was awarded the prize of the International Film Critics Association.
After working on this project, Pernilla became one of I. Bergman's favorite performers. She collaborated with the director for two decades and won the love of audiences all over the world.
The actress played one of the central roles in 1986 in Boo Wiederberg's drama "The Serpentine Path in the Rocks". The plot of the film is set in Sweden in the 19th century, in a remote settlement where simple and uncomplainingly believers in God live. Faith helps them survive in difficult conditions, cope with injustice around them and obey all the rules and laws that are rooted in their locality and culture.
The film was shown in 1987 at the Moscow International Film Festival and was nominated for the Golden Prize.
The actress performed one of the main roles in 1991 in the biographical drama by I. Bergman “Good intentions”. The script for the film was written by the director himself. It is based on the life story of his family and parents.
The film was shown at the Cannes Film Festival and won the Palme d'Or grand prize. August was also honored with the top award for Best Actress.
In 1992, Pernilla starred in the television series The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones. This was followed by work in projects: "Jeruslim", "Private Conversations", "Figlar, Noisy on the Platform", "Children of the Glassblower", "The Last Contract".
In 1999, the actress got the role of Shmi Skywalker in George Lucas's fantasy film Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace. Also in this image, she appeared on the screen in the second part of the film: "Star Wars: Episode 2 - Attack of the Clones", and voiced a character in the animated film "Star Wars: The Clone Wars".
August starred in many famous and popular films, including: "Jesus", "Anxiety", "I am Dina", "Tomorrow Comes", "Day and Night", "Artificial Respiration". Miss Kiki, Agent Hamilton: For the Nation, Legacy, Failure, Country Law, Kursk, Britt-Marie Was Here, Amusement Park.
In 2005, Pernilla tried herself for the first time as a director, filming a short film. Later, she returned to directing several times. In 2010, the drama On the Other Side was released. August acted as the director and screenwriter of the film. At the Venice Film Festival, the film won the FIPRESCI Prize and the Christopher D. Smithers Special Award.
Personal life
Pernilla has married twice. The first husband was the Swedish writer, translator and screenwriter Klas Estergren. The wedding took place in 1982, but the marriage was short-lived. The couple divorced in 1989. In this union, daughter Agnes was born.
The artist married the second time in 1991 to the director from Denmark Bille August. They had 2 daughters: Asta and Alba. This marriage lasted 6 years, but also ended in divorce.
