Pernilla August

**Pernilla August** (born *Mia Pernilla Hertzman‑Ericson* on 1958‑02‑13 in Stockholm, Sweden) began her artistic journey on school stages before entering professional film work in 1975, when director Roy Andersson cast her in a small part of *Giliap*. She honed her craft at the Swedish National Academy of Mime and Acting (1979‑1982), where her talent caught the eye of legendary filmmaker Ingmar Bergman. Bergman gave her a breakthrough role as the nanny in *Fanny and Alexander* (1982), initiating a two‑decade collaboration that yielded acclaimed performances in *The Best Intentions* (1991)—which earned her the Cannes Best Actress award—and *In the Presence of a Clown* (1997). International audiences later recognized her as Shmi Skywalker, the mother of Anakin, in *Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace* (1999) and *Episode II – Attack of the Clones* (2002), cementing her status as a versatile actress bridging European art cinema and Hollywood blockbusters.

Beyond screen acting, August has distinguished herself on the stage of the Royal Dramatic Theatre, portraying iconic characters such as Ophelia (*Hamlet*), Nora (*A Doll’s House*), and Mary Stuart. Her directorial debut arrived with the short *Time Bomb* (2005), followed by the feature *Beyond* (2010), which not only represented Sweden for the Academy Awards but also garnered Guldbagge Awards for Best Director and Best Script. She further expanded her repertoire by directing the acclaimed Danish series *Arvingerne* (2014). August’s personal life intertwines with her art; she was married to writer Klas Östergren (1982‑1989) and later to director Bille August (1991‑1997), and she is the mother of three daughters—Agnes, Asta, and Alba—who have occasionally appeared alongside her on screen. Her contributions have been recognized with honors such as the Royal Swedish medal *Litteris et Artibus* (2002), reflecting a career marked by depth, diversity, and enduring impact.