Anita Björk (25 April 1923 – 24 October 2012) was a Sweden, Swedish actress. She was born in Tällberg, Dalarna and attended the Royal Dramatic Training Academy from 1942 to 1945. She was a leading lady of Swedish theatre for many years and worked on the national stage Dramaten from 1945 onwards and played more than 100 roles over the years (which makes her one of the greatest actors of Dramaten). Anita Björk played leading roles in film in a number of genres, including thrillers and crime mystery dramas such as ''Det kom en gäst'' (1947), ''Moln över Hellesta'' (1956), ''Damen i svart'' (1958), ''Mannekäng i rött'' (1958) and ''Tärningen är kastad'' (1960). Her most famous role was probably her title role in Alf Sjöberg's film adaption of Strindberg's ''Miss Julie (1951 film), Miss Julie'' (1951) that was awarded the grand prize at Cannes Film Festival. In the book-length interview ''Hitchcock/Truffaut'' (Simon and Schuster, 1967), Hitchcock said he had hired Björk as the female lead for ''I Confess (film), I Confess'' in 1952 after seeing her in ''Miss Julie''. However, when Björk arrived in Hollywood with her lover Stig Dagerman and their baby, Jack L. Warner, the head of Warner Brothers insisted that Hitchcock should find another actress. She was married to Olof Bergström (1945–1951) and to Stig Dagerman (from 1953). After Dagerman's death in 1954, she had a relationship with author Graham Greene. In 2009 she performed in A. R. Gurney's play ''Love Letters (play), Kärleksbrev (Love Letters)'' at Dramaten opposite Jan-Olof Strandberg (Lilla scenen; March–April, 2009). Björk died on 24 October 2012 at the age of 89.

Partial filmography

*1942: ''The Heavenly Play, Himlaspelet'' (a.k.a. ''The Heavenly Play'' / ''The Road to Heaven'') – Anna Jesper *1944: ''Count Only the Happy Moments'' – Lilian Lind *1946: ''100 dragspel och en flicka'' – Elsa Borell *1947: ''No Way Back (1947 film), No Way Back'' – Evelyn *1947: ''Woman Without a Face, Kvinna utan ansikte'' (a.k.a. Woman Without a Face) – Frida Grande *1947: ''Det kom en gäst'' – Siv *1948: ''On These Shoulders'' – Birgit Larsson *1949: ''Realm of Man'' – Birgit Maria Larsson *1950: ''The Quartet That Split Up (1950 film), The Quartet That Split Up'' – Maj Andersson *1951: ''Miss Julie (1951 film), Fröken Julie (a.k.a. Miss Julie)'' – Miss Julie *1952: ''Secrets of Women (film), Kvinnors väntan (a.k.a. Secrets of Women)'' – Rakel *1952: ''Han glömde henne aldrig'' – Karin Engström *1954: ''Night People (1954 film), Night People'' – 'Hoffy' Hoffmeier *1954: ''The Witch (1954 film), The Witch'' *1955: ''Getting Married (1955 film), Getting Married'' (a.k.a. ''Of Love and Lust'') – Helene *1955: ''Hamlet'' (TV Movie) – Ofelia, hans dotter *1955: ''The Cornet (film), The Cornet'' – Gräfin von Zathmar *1956: ''Moln över Hellesta'' (a.k.a. ''Moon Over Hellesta'') – Margareta Snellman *1956: ''The Song of the Scarlet Flower (1956 film), The Song of the Scarlet Flower'' – Kyllikki Malm *1957: ''A Guest in His Own House'' – Eva Dahl *1958: ''Damen i svart'' (a.k.a. ''The Lady in Black'') – Inger von Schilden *1958: ''The Phantom Carriage (1958 film), Körkarlen'' (a.k.a. ''The Phantom Carriage'') – Mrs. Holm *1958: ''Mannekäng i rött'' (a.k.a. ''Mannequin in Red'') – Birgitta Lindell *1960: ''The Die Is Cast (film), The Die Is Cast'' – Rebecca Striid *1960: ''Good Friends and Faithful Neighbours (1960 film), Good Friends and Faithful Neighbours'' – Mrs. Yvonne Frejer *1961: ''Square of Violence'' – Sophia *1962: ''The Lady in White (film), The Lady in White'' – Helen G:son Lundberg *1963: ''Misantropen'' (TV Movie) – Célimène *1964: ''Älskande par'' (a.k.a. ''Loving Couples'') – Petra von Pahlen *1966: ''Utro'' *1967: ''Tofflan'' – Erna Alm *1968: ''Komedi i Hägerskog'' – Narcissa *1969: ''Ådalen 31'' (a.k.a. ''Adalen 31'' / ''Adalen Riots'') – Hedvig, Annas mor *1978: ''Tribadernas natt'' (TV Movie) – Siri von Essen *1979: ''Arven (1979 film), Arven'' – Märta Skaug *1981: ''The Witch Hunt'' – Ingeborg Eriksdotter Jaatun *1986: ''Amorosa'' – Arvida *1989: ''Flickan vid stenbänken'' (TV Series) – Amalia *1992: ''Markisinnan de Sade'' (TV Movie, Ingmar Bergman) – Madame de Montreuil *1992: ''The Best Intentions, Den goda viljan'' (a.k.a. ''Best Intentions'') (script: Ingmar Bergman) – Drottning Victoria *1993: ''Snoken'' (TV Series) – Harriet Lindholm *1996: ''Private Confessions, Enskilda samtal'' (a.k.a. ''Private Confessions'' / ''Conversations'') (TV Movie; Ingmar Bergman) – Karin Åkerblom *1997: ''Larmar och gör sig till'' (a.k.a. ''In the Presence of a Clown'') (TV Movie, Ingmar Bergman) – Anna Åkerblom *1998: ''Sanna ögonblick'' – Karin *2000: ''The Image Makers, Bildmakarna'' (a.k.a. ''The Image Makers'') (TV Movie, Ingmar Bergman) – Selma Lagerlöf (final film role)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bjork, Anita 1923 births 2012 deaths People from Leksand Municipality Swedish stage actresses Swedish film actresses Eugene O'Neill Award winners

Partial filmography

References

Further reading

External links