Zelma Carolina Esolinda Hedin née Bergnéhr (Stockholm, 31 May 1827
â€" Stockholm, 11 February 1874) was a Swedish stage actress. She was
an elite actress of the Royal Dramatic Theatre, where she belonged to
the star actors in the mid 19th-century. She was also known as Zelma
Bergnéhr, Zelma Kinmansson and Zelma Bergmansson.Zelma Hedin was born
in Stockholm to the lieutenant customs inspector Carl Vilhelm
Bergnéhr (1803-47) and Charlotta Vilhelmina Christina Philp
(1799-1871). She was the sister of the opera singer Leocadi
Bergnéhr-Fossmo, the half sister of the star actress Gurli Åberg,
and the cousin of the actress Laura Bergnéhr (d. 1852), known as the
mistress of Charles XV of Sweden.Zelma Hedin was enrolled in the
Dramatens elevskola in 1840, made her debut at the Royal Dramatic
Theatre 8 December 1842, and was contracted as an actress there
between 1845 and 1868 (from 1852 as a premier actress).Zelma Hedin
made a success in the French salon comedies, a very popular and
fashionable genre of the time, in which she was seen as the successor
of Emilie Högquist, and she gradually replaced Charlotta Almlöf in
coquette roles. According to a critic, while Charlotta Almlöf had
always been shallow and superficial in seduction scenes, for Hedin
"...flirtatiousness seemed to me to be a profession". She was famed
for the elegance of her costume which was called "truly Parisian", was
said to have "a grande and beautiful figure", and critics claimed that
she attracted attention more for her appearance than for her ability
and characterized her popular romantic roles as a "hallow
declamation". She was however recognized as "an excellent utility, en
rare representative of the socialite ladies of the finer French
comedy, a terrific grisette and soubrette..." and as a singer well
suited for vaudeville.
â€" Stockholm, 11 February 1874) was a Swedish stage actress. She was
an elite actress of the Royal Dramatic Theatre, where she belonged to
the star actors in the mid 19th-century. She was also known as Zelma
Bergnéhr, Zelma Kinmansson and Zelma Bergmansson.Zelma Hedin was born
in Stockholm to the lieutenant customs inspector Carl Vilhelm
Bergnéhr (1803-47) and Charlotta Vilhelmina Christina Philp
(1799-1871). She was the sister of the opera singer Leocadi
Bergnéhr-Fossmo, the half sister of the star actress Gurli Åberg,
and the cousin of the actress Laura Bergnéhr (d. 1852), known as the
mistress of Charles XV of Sweden.Zelma Hedin was enrolled in the
Dramatens elevskola in 1840, made her debut at the Royal Dramatic
Theatre 8 December 1842, and was contracted as an actress there
between 1845 and 1868 (from 1852 as a premier actress).Zelma Hedin
made a success in the French salon comedies, a very popular and
fashionable genre of the time, in which she was seen as the successor
of Emilie Högquist, and she gradually replaced Charlotta Almlöf in
coquette roles. According to a critic, while Charlotta Almlöf had
always been shallow and superficial in seduction scenes, for Hedin
"...flirtatiousness seemed to me to be a profession". She was famed
for the elegance of her costume which was called "truly Parisian", was
said to have "a grande and beautiful figure", and critics claimed that
she attracted attention more for her appearance than for her ability
and characterized her popular romantic roles as a "hallow
declamation". She was however recognized as "an excellent utility, en
rare representative of the socialite ladies of the finer French
comedy, a terrific grisette and soubrette..." and as a singer well
suited for vaudeville.
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