Mimi Pollak | |
|---|---|
 Mimi Pollak andTorsten Bergström atHelsingborg City Theatre in 1924 | |
| Born | Maria Helena Pollak (1903-04-09)9 April 1903 Karlstad, Sweden |
| Died | 11 August 1999(1999-08-11) (aged 96) Stockholm, Sweden |
| Other names | Mimmi Pollak, Mimi Pollack, Mimmi Pollack |
| Occupations | Actress, director |
| Years active | 1922–1991 |
| Spouse | Nils Lundell (1927–1938) |
Maria Helena "Mimi"Pollak (9 April 1903 – 11 August 1999) was a Swedish actress and theatre director.
Pollak was born inKarlstad,Värmland, to Austrian-Jewish parents and was trained in the performing arts at the prestigiousRoyal Dramatic Training Academy inStockholm from 1922 to 1924.[1]
Pollak worked in the 1920s and 1930s as a film actress, and as a stage actress, mainly at theBlanche Theatre inStockholm and at theHelsingborg City Theatre. She returned as an actress to theRoyal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm in 1942.[1]
In 1948, Pollak became the first contracted female director at the Royal Dramatic Theatre with the production ofJean Genet'sJungfruleken (Les Bonnes/The Maids), starringAnita Björk andMaj-Britt Nilsson in the leads. Pollak became a successful director at the Royal Dramatic Theatre and staged altogether 60 plays at the national stage over the years.
After her 1922 debut in the filmAmatörfilmen (The Amateur Film), she appeared in about 30 film and TV productions. Notable film roles are her supporting parts inSchamyl Bauman's film comedySkolka skolan (Skip School, 1949), inVilgot Sjöman'sKlänningen (The Dress, 1964), as the piano teacher inIngmar Bergman'sHöstsonaten (Autumn Sonata, 1978) starringIngrid Bergman, inIngenjör Andrées luftfärd (Flight of the Eagle, 1982) starringMax von Sydow and directed byJan Troell, and in the popular Swedish TV mysteryAgnes Cecilia – en sällsam historia (Agnes Cecilia — A Strange Story, 1991) adapted from the successful books byMaria Gripe.
She retired in 1975, but made a stage comeback in 1991, aged 87, inAnton Chekhov'sUncle Vanya.[1]
She was sometimes credited as Mimmi Pollak, Mimi Pollack or Mimmi Pollack.
Pollak attended the Royal Dramatic Training Academy in Stockholm with fellow actressGreta Garbo from 1922 to 1924. Garbo moved to the US in 1925, but they maintained contact for over 60 years. Their relationship and letters are portrayed (published in parts) in the Swedish bookDjävla älskade unge! (Bloody Beloved Kid), written by Tin Andersén Axell (2005), and in Garbo's personal writings, released in Sweden the same year.[2]
Pollak was married to Swedish actor Nils Lundell (1889–1943) from 1927 to 1938, and together they had a son.
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