On May 10, Christina Schollin lost her life partner Hans Wahlgren – and already the same month, rehearsals began at the Galeasen Theater in Stockholm, where she plays the role of Grandma Helena in the stage version of Ingmar Bergman's film.
Her deep respect for Jens Ohlin and Hannes Meidal, who are staging the play, was a factor. Another reason was the realization that she wouldn't be able to keep her seriously ill partner for much longer.
In a Bubble
When the role offer came, she was in a bubble, she describes, where everything was about giving him quality of life until the end. She knew she would soon have to start over.
It takes time to adapt to the new life and make sure it becomes a good life, despite everything.
The actor's great privilege is to get to enter another person, she thinks.
Those periods when you're on stage and are in another world, are in another person, it's so healing when you're in a grieving process.
And at the same time, I get to be part of creating theater magic.
"Creating Film History"
The role as Lydia in Bergman's film in 1982 also became a kind of turning point, after a period with roles she thought were less significant.
We all knew, who were in this film, which was like a tapestry, that now we're creating film history. And who knows? Maybe we're creating theater history at the Galeasen Theater?
Schollin's grandma becomes a different one than Gunn Wållgren's in the film – with more temperament.
I can't compare myself to Gunn Wållgren and the great, legendary actress she was. Her role in the film was just outstanding.
Grandma is the family's head and the one everyone turns to. She loves her big, boisterous family. Christina Schollin has many times been asked about the parallels to her own role in the super-famous Wahlgren family.
"The Last Role"
Hans and I really protected the family, and that's what I do now too. There are similarities, but I can't say that I draw from my own private life and put it into the role, that's not something I've ever done, actually.
When she did the queen role in "Macbeth" at Dramaten in 2022, she declared that it was the endpoint of her long career. Now she says it again. But should we believe her?
This is my last role. Then I realize that life can offer many surprises, but it's not something I plan – even though I love challenges.
The Galeasen Theater in Stockholm is staging "Fanny and Alexander" in collaboration with Dramaten and Uppsala City Theater.
The adaptation of Ingmar Bergman's film has been made by Jens Ohlin and Hannes Meidal.
Direction: Jens Ohlin
On stage: Christina Schollin, Hannes Meidal, Oskar Thunberg, Lina Englund, Elisabeth Wernesjö, Torkel Petersson, Jacob Ericksson, Ester Claesson, Embla Hane, Agneta Ehrensvärd, Sten-Johan Hedman, Fredric Odenborg, Oliver Hagenfeldt Eek, Joey Sliwinski, Maj Säll Carlén, Lily Kristiansson
Premiere: October 1
