Pernilla Nina Elisabeth Wahlgren is a Swedish singer and actress. She has sung in Melodifestivalen several times; her 1985 entry titled "Piccadilly Circus" became popular and successful. She has acted in several plays and films, playing roles including Esmeralda in the Academy Award-winning Fanny and Alexander. She has twice received the Guldmasken award for her work in theater.
Career
Acting
Wahlgren's first acting job, at the age of four, was alongside her mother in the television play Den längsta dagen. She attended Adolf Fredrik's Music School and was also part of the Saltsjöbaden theater. After playing a small role in Lilla prinsen at Saltsjöbaden's theater, and in the face of stiff competition, Wahlgren got the title role in the musical Annie at Folkan, Stockholm. She then played Esmeralda in Ingmar Bergman's film Fanny and Alexander. In 1982, she joined the cast of the Swedish production of The Sound of Music, in which she played Louise. At Folkan, she also had parts in Karlsson på taket, Mio, min Mio, Snövit and Ringens hemlighet. Wahlgren played Annika in the musical version of Pippi Longstocking at Folket in Stockholm; for the two final performances she replaced Siw Malmkvist in the role of Pippi, for which she received positive reviews. In her youth and as an adult Wahlgren portrayed Pippi Longstocking several times. Wahlgren appeared in an episode of Nygammalt in 1983 and an episode of Razzel in October 1984, where she performed her debut single, "Nu har det tänt". She has also appeared in film and television productions including Bo Widerberg's 1986 production of Ormens väg på hälleberget and Snoken in 1995. Wahlgren has appeared in theatrical comedies in Stockholm, including Parneviks cirkusparty, Spanska flugan and Bubbel trubbel. She has twice been nominated for the Guldmasken theater award; first for her role in Charleys tant at the Intiman Theater, and then for her part in Kärlek & lavemang at Fredriksdalsteatern in Helsingborg. She has also appeared in musical roles in Annie Get Your Gun, Grease, The Wizard of Oz, Cats and Nils Karlsson Pyssling. On 29 September 2007, The Sound of Music premièred at the Göta Lejon theater in Stockholm, where Wahlgren played in a cast that included Tommy Nilsson. In 2013, she had a role in the musical Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at Göta Lejon. Between 2018 and 2019, Wahlgren acted in her own stage show celebrating 40-years as a singer and actress, called Kort, glad och tacksam. In January 2020, her second stage show, a continuation of Kort, glad och tacksam, called Pernilla Wahlgren har Hybris will have its premiere.
Music
In the mid-to-late 1980s, Wahlgren developed a pop music career, touring several times and releasing studio albums. Her songs include: "Svindlande affärer", "I Need Your Love", "Every Time When We're Together" and "Running for Cover". In August 2006, she released the album Beautiful Day; the debut single from the album, "Talking to an Angel", was certified gold and the track "Come Inside My World" became the theme to TV4's entertainment program Förkväll.
Melodifestivalen
Wahlgren's musical breakthrough came when she participated in Melodifestivalen 1985. Her song "Piccadilly Circus" became a public favorite, but she was placed fourth in the competition. Wahlgren participated in Melodifestivalen 1991 with the song "Tvillingsjäl", which did not make it to the second round of voting. In 2003, she again took part in Melodifestivalen, this time with Jan Johansen; they achieved second place with the song "Let Your Spirit Fly". In 2010, Wahlgren again participated in Melodifestivalen, with the song "Jag vill om du vågar". Her 2013 entry was with Jenny Silver and Hanna Hedlund as part of the band Swedish House Wives performing the song "On Top of the World".
Television
Wahlgren has been a television presenter for several shows, including Scenen är din, Söndagsöppet, Småstjärnorna and Baby Boom. She and her brother Niclas also presented the children's showNicke & Nilla on TV4. Wahlgren had a role in the 1995 series Snoken on SVT. She also dubbed several children's films, such as The Lego Movie. From 2016, she has participated in the reality seriesWahlgrens värld which is broadcast on Kanal 5 and documents her life. The series was continued with a third and fourth season in 2018; a fifth and sixth season were broadcast in 2019.
Personal life
Wahlgren was born to actors Christina Schollin and Hans Wahlgren on Christmas Eve. She has three brothers: actor and singer Niclas, actor Linus, and broker and firefighter Peter. She was married to dancer and composer Emilio Ingrosso from 1993 to 2002; they have three children—Oliver Ingrosso, a DJ, music producer and actor; Bianca Ingrosso, a blogger and singer; and Benjamin Ingrosso, a singer, artist and songwriter. Pernilla also has a son, Theo, with Joachim Lennholm. In an episode of Vem tror du att du är? broadcast on SVT in 2011 it was revealed to Wahlgren that she was of Italian descent on her father's side of the family.
