Dahlbeck, Eva

▪ 2009

      Swedish actress and writer

born March 8, 1920, Saltsjö-Duvnäs, Swed.

died Feb. 8, 2008, Stockholm, Swed.

played strong, wise women in several early films by Swedish director Ingmar Bergman, notably Sommarnattens leedne (1955; Smiles of a Summer Night) and Nära livet (1958; U.S. title, Brink of Life), for which she, together with the film's other actresses, won the ensemble award for best actress at the Cannes Festival in 1958. Dahlbeck appeared in more than 50 movies from her debut in 1941 until her last role in 1970. She was also an accomplished stage actress during the same period, and she won the Eugene O'Neill Award in 1961. From the 1960s Dahlbeck devoted herself to writing, producing 10 novels as well as poetry, plays, and screenplays.

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