Legendary Swedish dramatic stage actress and tragedienne: The brilliant Gerda Lundequist is considered as one of Scandinavian theatre's most important modern female pioneers of the early 1900s stage. With new modern portrayals of the Ibsen, Strindberg and the classic Shakespeare leading women, her importance to modern female stage characterization in Swedish and Scandinavian theatre is not to be underestimated. Born in Stockholm 1871, she was brought up by foster mother Amalia Charlotta Ekecrantz, a manufacturer's widow, and later tutored by the great Swedish drama teacher Signe Hebbe at the Royal Academy of Music's old Theatre School in Stockholm 1886-89. Lundequist made her professional debute at Svenska teatern in Stockholm 1889, and her breakthrough came already the following year with her astounding portrayal of Kristina in play "Mäster Olof" by 'August Strindberg' . But diva or no diva; there is a reason why Gerda Lundequist is still spoken of in the Swedish theatre world of today - almost 50 years after her death and nearly 100 years after her first legendary female characterizations. Many of her character portrayals of the most classic female parts became so popular with the audience and critics at the time that she was called to reprise them at other theatres later on.
Managing director of Helsingborgs stadsteater (Helsingborg City Theatre) 1923-1925.
Regular guest lecturer in drama and oral presentation (1925-1954) at Kvinnliga Medborgarskolan (i.E "The Womens Citizen School") in Fogelstad, Sweden (a school that was run by the Swedish feminist pioneer group for womens emancipation, the so-called "Fogelstad group", including writer Elin Wgner , Elisabeth Tamm, artist Siri Derkert, a.o). Was also a member of the schools elected council of 22 women.
Tutor in the performing arts at the Opera School, the Royal Dramatic Theatre School and the Royal Academy of Music (1931-1946).
One of Lundequists trade marks on stage was her eloquent organ voice and Lundequist originally intended to become an opera singer; she applied for the opera class at The Academy of Music (the old Music Conservatory) but there was no room for her in the class that year so the manager of the school kindly offered her a place in the drama class instead!
Was a huge fan of opera. Had her own box at the Swedish Royal Opera, which she frequently visited throughout her life.
When she retired from stage with her last performance in 1949 (at age 78) she ended a 60 year long professional stage career (with debut 1889). However, she actually did her very last role the same year she died, in 1959 (at age 88), as the grandmother in the provocative but socially important TV theatre play "Maria Angelica" (a new-written play about a young teenage girlss right to her own sexuality; and a play that also raises the dark subjects of rape and incest) that aired in Swedish Television in 1961, two years after Lundequists passing.
"The only thing of value is that what comes from the inside - all,outside creations are death to dramatic art. " (on acting).
