Maud Hansson

Maud Hansson (born 5 December 1937 in Stockholm, Sweden, died 1 October 2020) was a prolific Swedish film actress whose career spanned more than three decades, from the mid‑1950s to the early 1990s. She first entered the Swedish cinematic world in 1956, quickly becoming a recognizable face in both art‑house productions and family‑oriented films. Hansson’s early breakthrough came when she was cast by legendary director Ingmar Bergman, appearing in two of his most celebrated works, The Seventh Seal (1957) and Wild Strawberries (1957), where she delivered nuanced supporting performances that highlighted her ability to convey deep emotion with subtle gestures. Although her roles in Bergman’s films were brief, they earned her critical notice and opened doors to a steady stream of opportunities in the thriving Swedish film industry. During the 1960s and 1970s, Hansson broadened her repertoire, appearing in a variety of genre pieces ranging from comedies to dramas, and became particularly beloved for her portrayal of the naive yet endearing maid Lina in the beloved Emil of Lönneberga film series (1971‑1973), adaptations of Astrid Lindgren’s classic children’s books. Her performance as Lina captured the whimsical spirit of the source material and endeared her to generations of viewers, cementing her status as a cherished figure in Swedish popular culture. Over the course of her career she appeared in a total of twenty films, consistently delivering reliable and heartfelt performances that contributed to the richness of Sweden’s cinematic heritage. Beyond the screen, Hansson led a private life away from the spotlight; records of her personal relationships and family remain scarce, and she is not known to have married or had children. After retiring from acting in 1991, she remained a respected elder of the Swedish acting community until her passing in 2020, leaving behind a legacy of memorable characters that continue to be celebrated by film historians and audiences alike.