Famous Swedish Women

Think Swedish women are all beauty and no brains? If yes, then after reading this, you are likely to change your mind for good. While there is no denying that Swedish women are the hottest in the world, there is more to their beauty than just meets the eye. Be it on runway, silver screen, sports arena or political dais, Swedish women have stamped their excellence in myriad fields and how! From trouncing opponents in tennis courts to representing their country in Olympics and from stunning their audience with top-notch performances in the screens to cinching the crown in beauty pageants, the Swedish women have conquered them all. To top that, Swedish women are all well-educated and can knock out anyone when it comes to discoursing anything under the sun — from literature to philosophy. Needless to say, they are one helluva intimating bunch of beauties with a lethal combo of beauty and brain. Read on to delve deep into the lives of many such famous Swedish women who have won great laurels for their country. Their achievements, captured in their timeline, trivia, and facts below will intrigue you to the core.

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 1 

Ingrid Bergman

(One of the Most Influential Screen Figures in Cinematic History)

Birthdate: August 29, 1915

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Died: August 29, 1982

One of the greatest Swedish actresses ever, Ingrid Bergman is the only Triple Crown winner with three Academy Awards under her belt. Such is her impact that her character Ilsa Lund, which she portrayed in Casablanca, inspired the character of Ilsa Faust in the Mission Impossible franchise. An actress with a deep sense of freedom, Bergman voiced her views against racial segregation.

 2 

Greta Garbo

(One of the Greatest Female Stars of Classic Hollywood Cinema)

Birthdate: September 18, 1905

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Died: April 15, 1990

Iconic Swedish-American movie star Greta Garbo is remembered for her melancholic characters. She soared to fame with silent movies such as A Woman of Affairs and talkies such as Mata Hari and Anna Karenina. The three-time Academy Award nominee quit films at 35 and lived a private life.

 3 

Alicia Vikander

(Swedish Actress Best Known for Her Role as ‘Gerda Wegener’ in the Film ‘The Danish Girl’)

Birthdate: October 3, 1988

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Gothenburg, Sweden

Alicia Vikander is one of the most successful and popular actresses from Sweden. A trained ballet dancer, she has won prestigious awards, such as the Academy Award. Vikander, who identifies as a feminist, fights against sexual harassment, rape, and assault suffered by women in the Swedish film and theatre industries.

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Birthdate: October 19, 1983

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Rebecca Ferguson achieved international recognition after playing Elizabeth Woodville in the TV miniseries, The White Queen. Her performance in the miniseries was so impressive that Tom Cruise handpicked her to star in Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation after watching her portray Elizabeth Woodville. Thanks to her impressive stunts, she was chosen to reprise her role in Mission: Impossible – Fallout.

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Birthdate: January 1, 1980

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Elin Nordegren, former wife of golfer Tiger Woods, initially worked as a model, appearing on the cover of Cafe Sport. She met Tiger while working as a nanny for golfer Jesper Parnevik. In 2010, following a massive cheating scandal and her divorce from Tiger, Elin received $100 million as settlement.

Birthdate: April 28, 1941

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Valsjöbyn, Sweden

Swedish-American actress and singer Ann-Margret was initially described as a female version of Elvis Presley due to her vibrant contralto voice. The winner of five Golden Globe Awards, Ann-Margret had a major impact as an actress throughout the 1960s. Her affair with Elvis Presley was depicted in the 2005 miniseries Elvis in which she is portrayed by Rose McGowan.

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Birthdate: April 5, 1950

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Jönköping, Sweden

Swedish singer Agnetha Fältskog was part of the iconic pop group ABBA, along with her husband, Bjorn Ulvaeus. After the group disbanded, Fältskog launched a solo career and also appeared in a film. She released an album in 2004, after a 16-year hiatus, and then again in 2013.

Birthdate: May 12, 1978

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Malin Akerman is a Swedish-American model, actress, singer, and producer. She is known for playing important roles in such films like The Heartbreak Kid and Watchmen in which her nude scenes garnered much attention. She also works closely with a nonprofit organization called Opportunity International.

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Birthdate: April 9, 1965

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Prostějov

Model, actress, and author, Paulina Porizkova, became the first woman from Central Europe to be featured on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue in 1984. She began modeling as a teenager and became a top model in Paris during the early 1980s. She eventually began acting as well. Also a writer, she has written a few books.

Birthdate: December 28, 1979

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Hudiksvall, Sweden

Noomi Rapace is one of the Swedish actresses to have achieved international recognition, thanks to her performance in the film adaptations of the novel series Millennium. Her popularity increased when she played Simza Heron, her first English-speaking role, in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. In 2014, she became the subject of a film titled A Portrait of Noomi Rapace.

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 11 

Zara Larsson

(Swedish Pop Singer Known for Her Singles: ‘Lush Life’, ‘Never Forget You’ and ‘Girls Like’)

Birthdate: December 16, 1997

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Solna, Sweden

Zara Larsson is a Swedish singer-songwriter who achieved national fame at the age of 10 when she won the 2008 season of the popular reality TV series, Talang. She then released her debut studio album and is currently one of the most decorated Swedish singer-songwriters of her generation.

 12 

Anni-Frid Lyngstad

(One of the Founding Members and Lead Singers of the Swedish Pop Band ABBA)

Birthdate: November 15, 1945

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Bjørkåsen, Ballangen, Norway

Anni-Frid Lyngstad is a Norwegian-Swedish environmentalist, singer, and songwriter. She is credited with co-founding the popular Swedish pop band ABBA and popularizing the band by serving as its lead singer. In 2010, Anni-Frid Lyngstad was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2014, she received the Eskilstuna Music Prize for her contribution as an "icon."

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 13 

Jenny Lind

(One of the Most Highly Regarded Singers of the 19th Century)

Birthdate: October 6, 1820

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Died: November 2, 1887

Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind, also known as the "Swedish Nightingale,” was a prominent 19th-century soprano and performed all over Europe. She also donated generously to various charities, especially to the cause of free schools in Sweden. She also taught at the Royal College of Music in London. 

 14 

Tove Lo

(Singer-Songwriter Known for Her Raw, Grunge-Influenced Take on Pop Music)

Birthdate: October 29, 1987

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Viken, Sweden

Grammy-nominated Swedish singer Tove Lo is known for her autobiographical lyrics and her grunge-influenced pop tracks. She soared to fame with her Billboard-charting debut album, Queen of the Clouds. She has also released hits such as Glad He's Gone and co-written tracks such as Love Me like You Do. 

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 15 

Britt Ekland

(Swedish Actress, Model and Singer)

Birthdate: October 6, 1942

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Britt Ekland is a Swedish actress, singer, and model. One of the leading actresses in Sweden during the 1960s and 1970s, Ekland also established herself as a sex symbol and achieved international prominence when she appeared as a Bond girl in The Man with the Golden Gun. Britt Ekland was also one of the most photographed actresses during the 1970s.

Birthdate: July 14, 1977

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Solna, Sweden

Victoria, the Crown Princess of Sweden and the Duchess of Västergötland, is the eldest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf. She is the heir to the Swedish throne by Sweden’s Act of Succession that brought about royal absolute primogeniture into practice. She also works to raise money for disabled children.

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 17 

Inger Stevens

(Swedish-American Actress Best Known for Her TV Series ‘The Farmer's Daughter’)

Birthdate: October 18, 1934

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Died: April 30, 1970

Inger Stevens was a Swedish-American actress whose promising career was cut short when she committed suicide at age 35. Stevens is remembered for her performance in TV series like The Farmer's Daughter, for which she received the Golden Globe for Best TV Star – Female in 1963. Her performance in the series also earned her an Emmy nomination in 1964.

Birthdate: July 7, 1981

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Stockholm

Hanna Alström is a Swedish actress who achieved international prominence after playing Crown Princess Tilde of Sweden in the 2014 action spy comedy film Kingsman: The Secret Service. Hanna Alström went on to reprise her role in the film's 2017 sequel, Kingsman: The Golden Circle.

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 19 

Marie Fredriksson

(Lead Vocalist of Pop Rock 'Duo Roxette')

Birthdate: May 30, 1958

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Össjö, Sweden

Died: December 9, 2019

As one half of the Swedish pop rock duo Roxette (with Per Gessle), singer and songwriter Marie Fredriksson enjoyed international fame in the 1980s-1990s with albums like Look Sharp! and Joyride. Their single It Must Have Been Love was featured in the movie Pretty Woman. Earlier, in Sweden ,she had also enjoyed success as a solo artist releasing numerous albums.

 20 

Anita Ekberg

(Swedish Actress Best Known for Her Role as ‘Sylvia’ in the Film ‘La Dolce Vita’)

Birthdate: September 29, 1931

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Malmö Municipality, Sweden

Died: January 11, 2015

Swedish actress Anita Ekberg is best known for her role in the comedy-drama film La Dolce Vita. She worked primarily in Italy and later became a citizen of the country. She began modeling as a teenager and eventually entered films as well. Beautiful and voluptuous, she became a popular name within a few years.

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 21 

Robyn

(Swedish Singer-songwriter Known for Her Album 'Robyn' and Single 'With Every Heartbeat')

Birthdate: June 12, 1979

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Robyn is a Swedish singer, record producer, songwriter, and DJ. Her debut album Robyn Is Here helped launch Karl Martin Sandberg's career in pop music. She has also been recognized as an influence by artistes like Taylor Swift, Lorde, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Christine and the Queens. Robyn has won many awards like AMFT Awards, GAFFA Awards, and Grammis Awards.

 22 

Emily Baldoni

(Actress)

Birthdate: August 3, 1984

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Uppsala, Uppsala län, Sweden

Height: 5'9" (175 cm)

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 23 

Snoh Aalegra

(Singer)

Birthdate: September 13, 1987

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Uppsala, Sweden

Born Shahrzad Fooladi, to Iranian parents in Sweden, Snoh Aalegra had started writing songs by age 9 and signed with Sony at age 13. She changed her name after moving to the US and soared to fame with her chartbusting tracks such as I Want You Around and Find Someone Like You.

 24 

MyAnna Buring

(Actress)

Birthdate: September 22, 1979

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Sundsvall, Sweden

Height: 5'2" (157 cm)

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 25 

Annika Sörenstam

(One the Best Female Golfers of All Time)

Birthdate: October 9, 1970

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Bro, Sweden

Annika Sörenstam is a Swedish professional golfer who is often counted among the best female golfers of all time. She has won six Vare Trophies and eight Player of the Year awards. In 2003, Annika Sörenstam was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. In 2021, she was honored by Donald Trump with the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom.

 26 

Elsa hosk

(Swedish Model & Former Victoria's Secret Angel)

Birthdate: November 7, 1988

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Swedish model Elsa hosk stunned everyone with a maternity shoot on Instagram in late 2020, announcing that she had been expecting a girl. The former Victoria’s Secret Angel and Sweden's Next Top Model winner has also played in Sweden’s women’s basketball league. Fans believe she resembles Queen Elsa from Frozen.

 27 

Astrid Lindgren

(Swedish Writer Known for Her Children's Books: ‘Pippi Longstocking’ and ‘The Six Bullerby Children’)

Birthdate: November 14, 1907

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Vimmerby, Sweden

Died: January 28, 2002

Astrid Lindgren was a Swedish writer remembered for authoring children's book series and children's fantasy novels. In 1967, the Astrid Lindgren Prize was established in her honor. Lindgren was honored with the Right Livelihood Award in 1994 for her work as a children's writer. In 2017, it was revealed that Lindgren is the 18th most translated author in the world. 

 28 

Loreen

(Singer)

Birthdate: October 16, 1983

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Swedish singer, songwriter, and record producer Loreen soared to fame after winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2012. Born Lorine Zeineb Nora Talhaoui, the Moroccan-origin singer created chartbusting tracks such as Crying Out Your Name and My Heart Is Refusing Me. Politically and socially conscious, she was also a Swedish Committee for Afghanistan ambassador.

 29 

Maud Adams

(Swedish Actress and Model Known for Her Roles as Two Different 'Bond Girls')

Birthdate: February 12, 1945

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Luleå, Sweden

Maud Adams is a Swedish model and actress best known for playing a Bond girl in two Bond films, namely The Man with the Golden Gun and Octopussy. While her appearance in The Man with the Golden Gun earned her international recognition, Maud Adams' portrayal of the eponymous character in the 1983 film Octopussy earned her accolades.

Birthdate: March 22, 1934

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Lidingö, Lidingö, Sweden

May Britt is a Swedish retired actress who moved to the US in the late-1950s where she made headlines for marrying Sammy Davis Jr. at a time when interracial marriage was forbidden by law in the US. In the 1998 film, The Rat Pack, which narrates the circumstances surrounding May Britt's wedding to Davis, Britt was played by Megan Dodds.

 31 

Lykke Li

(Swedish Pop Singer-Songwriter)

Birthdate: March 18, 1986

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Ystad, Sweden

Swedish indie-pop singer Lykke Li was born into a musical family, her father being a member of the band Dag Vag. Known for her award-winning tracks such as I Follow Rivers and Sadness Is a Blessing, she is also an advocate of transcendental meditation. She has a son with musician Jeff Bhasker.

 32 

Neneh Cherry

(Swedish Hip-Hop and Dance Singer-Songwriter)

Birthdate: March 10, 1964

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Neneh Cherry is a Swedish rapper, singer, songwriter, occasional DJ, and broadcaster. After starting her musical career in the early 1980s in London, Cherry went on to become one of the most decorated Swedish musicians of her generation. Over the years, Neneh Cherry has received many prestigious awards such as Brit Awards, MTV Europe Music Award, and NME Award.

 33 

Lise Meitner

(Austrian-Swedish Physicist Who Discovered the Element Protactinium)

Birthdate: November 7, 1878

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Vienna, Austria

Died: October 27, 1968

Lise Meitner was an Austrian-Swedish physicist best remembered for her contributions that led to the discoveries of nuclear fission and the element protactinium. Nicknamed the German Marie Curieby Albert Einstein, Lise Meitner became the second woman in the world to receive a doctorate in physics in 1905. In 1997, chemical element 109 meitnerium was named in her honor.

Birthdate: June 10, 1982

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Drottningholm, Sweden

 Princess Madeleine, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland is the youngest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia.  Third in line of succession to the Swedish throne at the time of her birth, she is currently the eighth. She is involved in extensive charity work and undertakes various engagements on the behalf of her father. 

 35 

Mercedes Mason

(American Actress and Former Model Known for Her Role as ‘Zondra’ in the TV Series ‘Chuck’)

Birthdate: March 3, 1983

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Linköping, Sweden

Swedish-American actor/model Mercedes Mason is best known as Zondra from the series Chuck and as Isabel from The Finder. Fans also loved her in the films Sniper: Legacy and Quarantine 2: Terminal and the series Fear the Walking Dead. A polyglot, she speaks languages such as French and Persian. 

 36 

Queen Silvia of Sweden

(Queen Consort of Sweden)

Birthdate: December 23, 1943

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Heidelberg, Germany

German-Brazilian Silvia Renate Sommerlath is a trained interpreter and has also served the Argentine consulate in Munich. She met Swedish crown prince Carl Gustaf while serving as a hostess at the 1972 Olympic Games and later got married to him and became Queen Silvia of Sweden.

 37 

Linn Berggren

(Swedish Pop Singer Best Known as the Founder of 1990s Pop Band 'Ace of Base')

Birthdate: October 31, 1970

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Gothenburg, Sweden

A founding member of the the pop band Ace is Base, Linn Berggren as a child wanted to sing, but did not want to become a singer. Yet, she went on to become the principal lead vocalist for the majority of their singles and was generally the focus in the video. She quit her stellar career suddenly in 2007 to lead a quiet life.

 38 

Kelly Gale

(Model)

Birthdate: May 14, 1995

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Gothenburg, Sweden

Kelly Gale is a Swedish-Australian model best known for her association with Playboy, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and Victoria's Secret. In September 2016, she was chosen as the Playboy Playmate of the Month. One of the most popular Swedish models of her generation, Kelly Gale has walked runways for famous designers like Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, and Jean Paul Gaultier.

 39 

Victoria Silvstedt

(Swedish Model, Actress, Singer, and Television Personality)

Birthdate: September 19, 1974

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Skelleftehamn, Sweden

Victoria Silvstedt is a Swedish model, singer, actress, and television personality. She achieved national prominence in 1993 when she was selected to represent Sweden in the Miss World pageant in South Africa. She then worked for popular fashion houses like Chanel and Christian Dior before being featured on international magazines like Playboy, Glamour, and Maxim.

 40 

Hilma af Klint

(Swedish Artist and Mystic Best Known for Her 'Temple' Paintings)

Birthdate: October 26, 1862

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Solna, Sweden

Died: October 21, 1944

Hilma af Klint was a Swedish mystic and artist whose paintings represented complex spiritual ideas. English musician and singer-songwriter Jane Weaver cited af Klint's work as inspiration for her 2017 album, Modern Kosmology. In 2019, Hilma af Klint became the subject of a feature-length documentary titled Beyond the Visible — Hilma af Klint.

 41 

Nina Persson

(Swedish Lead Singer and Lyricist for the Swedish Rock Band 'The Cardigans')

Birthdate: September 6, 1974

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Örebro, Närke, Sweden

Nina Persson soared to fame as the lead vocalist of the globally renowned Swedish band The Cardigans. Known for chartbusters such as Lovefool and Erase and Rewind, she interestingly aspired to be an artist instead of a musician in her younger days. She is also a cervical cancer survivor.

 42 

Princess Sofia, Duchess of Värmland

(Princess, Model)

Birthdate: December 6, 1984

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Danderyds hospital, Sweden

Princess Sofia, Duchess of Värmland is a Swedish former reality television personality and glamor model. She made headlines in 2015 when she married Prince Carl Philip, thereby becoming a princess of Sweden. Princess Sofia is also known for her charity work. In 2010, she co-founded a non-profit organization called Project Playground which helps underprivileged children in South Africa.

 43 

Eva Ekeblad

(Swedish Agronomist Known for Discovering a Method in 1746 to Make Alcohol and Flour From Potatoes)

Birthdate: July 10, 1724

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Died: May 15, 1786

Eva Ekeblad was a Swedish countess, agronomist, salon hostess, and scientist. In 1746, she discovered a method to make flour and alcohol from potatoes which earned her popularity. Her discovery made her the first female inductee of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1748.

 44 

Helena Mattsson

(Actress)

Birthdate: March 30, 1984

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Height: 5'8" (173 cm)

 45 

Princess Estelle, Duchess of Östergötland

(Elder child of Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland)

Birthdate: February 23, 2012

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Solna, Sweden

 46 

Melinda Kinnaman

(Actress)

Birthdate: November 9, 1971

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Height: 5'2" (157 cm)

 47 

Bibi Andersson

(Former Actress best known for her frequent collaborations with filmmaker Ingmar Bergman)

Birthdate: November 11, 1935

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Died: April 14, 2019

Height: 5'4" (163 cm)

 48 

Viveca Lindfors

(Actress)

Birthdate: December 29, 1920

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Uppsala, Sweden

Died: October 25, 1995

 49 

Izabella Scorupco

(Best Known for Her Role as the Bond Girl 'Natalya Simonova' in the Film 'GoldenEye')

Birthdate: June 4, 1970

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Białystok, Poland

Polish-Swedish actress, singer, and model, Izabella Scorupco, played Bond girl Natalya Simonova in the James Bond film GoldenEye, for which she gained international fame. She began her career as a model in the late 1980s and appeared on the cover of Vogue. She then started acting as well. A music lover, she also had a brief singing career.

 50 

Margaret I of Denmark

(Queen)

Birthdate: March 15, 1353

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Copenhagen, Denmark

Died: October 28, 1412