Pernilla Wahlgren

Pernilla Wahlgren, "Pernilla Nina Elisabeth Wahlgren", born 24 december 1967 in Gustavsberg, Värmdö kommun, is a Swedish singer, actress and presenter.

Family

She is the daughter of actors Christina Schollin and Hans Wahlgren, and the sister of artists/actors Niclas Wahlgren and Linus Wahlgren. A third brother, Peter Wahlgren, works in a bank. She was married to Emilio Ingrosso 1993–1996. They have three children together; Oliver Salvatore Gustavo (born 1989), Bianca Melina Elisabeth (born 1994) and Benjamin Daniele (born 1997).

In spring of 2006, she reported her ex-husband to the police for death-threats and assaults after a long period of terrorisation. He was later convicted for making unlawful threats.

Both Benjamin and Bianca have already chosen to be involved in music at such a young age, whereas Oliver has expressed a desire to become an actor. Pernilla now lives with Joachim Lennholm (born 1973) and they have a son together, Theodor (born 2007).

Acting career

Pernilla's first big break was at the age of four, when she acted alongside her mother in the TV-play "Den längsta dagen" ("The Longest Day"). She attended the famous Adolf Fredrik's music school and was also part of the Saltsjöbaden theatre. She also took dancing lessons with Lasse Kühler. In the face of stiff competition she got the title role in the musical Annie at Folkan in Stockholm. After a small role in "Lilla prinsen" ("The Little Prince") at Saltsjöbaden's theatre and an equally small part in Ingmar Bergman's film "Fanny and Alexander", in 1982 she joined the cast of the Swedish production of "The Sound of Music", in which she played the daughter Louise. At Folklan she also had parts in "Karlsson på taket", "Mio, min Mio", "Snövit" ("Snow White") and "Ringens hemlighet".

After having played Annika in the musical version of "Pippi Longstocking" at Folket in Stockholm, in 1983 she received very good reviews when she replaced "Siw Malmkvist" in the role of Pippi for the two final performances, and got to take part 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".

She has also acted in film and TV productions such as Bo Widerberg's 1986 production of "Ormens väg på hälleberget" in 1986, and "Snoken" in 1995.

Pernilla has also performed in a number of comedies at various private theatres in Stockholm, such as "Parneviks cirkusparty", "Spanska flugan" and "Bubbel trubbel". She has twice been nominated for the theatre-award "Guldmasken"—first for her role in "Charleys tant" at the Intiman theatre, and secondly for her part in "Kärlek & lavemang" at Fredriksdalsteatern in Helsingborg. She has had even more musical roles in "Annie Get Your Gun", "Grease", "The Wizard of Oz", "Cats" and "Nils Karlsson Pyssling". She has portrayed Pippi Longstocking several times, also as an adult.

On 29 September 2007, "The Sound of Music" premièred at the Göta Lejon theatre in Stockholm, where Pernilla plays alongside a cast including Tommy Nilsson.

Music career

Her musical breakthrough came when she partook in the 1985 edition of Melodifestivalen. Her song, "Piccadilly Circus", became a public favourite, even though she only achieved fourth place in the competition. In the performance, she wore a piece of jewellery which was likened to the Prussian bravery medal, the Iron Cross, which lead to accusations of Nazism in the tabloid press, and the TV-programme "Svar direkt"—an accusation which was naturally false. In the middle of the 1980s she performed at several successful summer tours. The shows, which she did together with the brothers Emilio and Vito Ingrosso, were showered with praise from the press.

In the second half of the 1980s came a pop career with several summer tours and studio albums. Pernilla was one of Sweden's hottest talents, with hits including "Svindlande affärer", "I Need Your Love", "Every Time When We're Together" and "Running for Cover". She even discussed recording a single with Stock, Aitken & Waterman, but the project never took place as Pernilla became pregnant.

After having devoted her time to musicals, theatre and TV for many years, Pernilla once again took part in Melodifestivalen in 2003, this time with Jan Johansen. They achieved a respectable second places with the song "Let Your Spirit Fly". In August 2006, she released the album "Beautiful Day", the first single from which, "Talking to an Angel" achieved gold sales status, and the track "Come Inside My World" became the theme tune to TV4's entertainment programme "Förkväll".

Pernilla has performed in several Christmas shows over the years. In the summer of 2006, she performed on the "Diggiloo" tour along with many other famous artists.

Pernilla has even taken part in shows at Swedish tourist destinations, for example, the Canary Islands.

Miscellaneous

* Pernilla was the presenter of a Christmas TV-programme called "Morgonstjärnan" ("The Morning Star") in 1985, and worked on the popular children's programme "Solstollarna" in 1987. She has also presented "Scenen är din", "Söndagsöppet", "Småstjärnorna" and "Babyboom". She achieved much success with the series "Nicke & Nille", together with her brother Niclas. This collaboration resulted in several seasons of the programme on TV4, two gold-selling albums, concerts and theatre dates.
* Pernilla Wahlgren has done adverts for, among others, the hair-colourant Garnier Nutrisse, Placker's Dental Floss and the clothing store "Sisters"
* To date, she has appeared twice in the Magazine "Café". The second time, in 2002, it was to commemorate that she had been voted Sweden's Sexiest Woman.
* In 2004, she received the Ulla Billquist award.
* Pernilla voted for Moderaterna in the 2006 Swedish elections, in protest against the high taxes, which she claimed "limited her integrity as a public personality"
* In June 2007, Pernilla took part for the first time in the popular TV-programme "Allsång på skansen", where she performed a much-applauded showtune with her son Benjamin.
* On the 11 August, Pernilla débuted as a presenter on Sveriges Radio.
* Pernilla's voice can be heard in the Swedish versions of several animated films and TV-series.

Discography

* "Pernilla Wahlgren" (1985)
* "Attractive" (1986)
* "Pure Dynamite" (1987)
* "Flashback" (1989)
* "I Myself and Me" (1992)
* "Flashback Number Four" (1995) (Best of)
* "Pernilla Wahlgren" (1995) (Re-issue)
* "Beautiful Day" (2006)

Musicals

* Maria von Trapp in The Sound of Music in Stockholm (2007)

External links

* [http://pernillawahlgren.se Pernillawahlgren.se]
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* [http://danceromance.se/pernilla Dance Romance: Pernilla Wahlgren]