Bibi Andersson, ‘The Seventh Seal’ and ‘Persona’ Actress, Dies at 83

Many of her more than 50 films were with writer-director Ingmar Bergman

Bibi Andersson
Nationaal Archief Fotocollectie Anefo

Swedish actress Bibi Andersson, known for her roles in “The Seventh Seal” and “Persona,” died on Sunday, according to Stockholm newspaper Aftonbladet. She was 83.

“She has been sick for many years, but it is sad. I found out that Bibi passed away lunchtime today,” director and friend Christina Olofsson told Aftonbladet.

According to Aftonbladet, Andersson had a stroke in 2009 while living in France with her husband Gabriel Mora Baeza. She returned to Sweden a few days later for hospital care. Shortly thereafter, she moved to a nursing home in Stockholm.

Andersson, who starred in several of writer and director Ingmar Bergman’s classic films, became well-known in the 1950’s, appearing in “The Seventh Seal” and “Wild Strawberries,” among countless other films.

She would go on to work constantly throughout the ’60s, ’70s and subsequent decades and as recently as 2007, with roles in more than 50 films such as “Persona,” “The Touch” and “Scenes From a Marriage.”

In 1968 Anderson was nominated for best foreign actress at the BAFTAs for her roles in two films: “Persona” and “Syskonbädd 1782,” or “My Sister My Love.” At the 13th Berlin International Film Festival in 1963, Andersson won the Silver Bear for best actress for her role in Vilgot Sjöman’s film “The Mistress.”

Comments