This is what the actress who played Pippi Longstocking looks like today. She's blonde!
Pippi Longstocking is undoubtedly one of the favorite characters of millions of children all over the world. At the end of the 60s, the first film based on her crazy adventures appeared in cinemas. See what Inger Nilsson, who played her, looks like now.
Pippi Longstocking is the protagonist of a series of novels by Swedish writer Astrid Lindgren. Readers were first introduced to her in 1945. Since then, 8 further books dedicated to her have been written, along with several film and television adaptations, both in live-action and animated versions.
The youth's idol is a 9-year-old determined girl living in Villa Villekulla. She is raised without parents. Her mother died prematurely, and her father works as a ship captain. The constant companions of her childhood are the neighbors' children - Tommy and Annika and a beloved horse and a monkey named Mr. Nilsson. Pippi manages perfectly on her own, always has a lot to say and can come up with amazing stories. Despite her roughness, she always puts the well-being of others first, helping them even in the biggest troubles.
The first movie about Pippi was made over half a century ago. How was the actress chosen?
Pippi was characterized by her carrot-shade of red hair, braided in two sticking out braids. Her face was adorned with numerous freckles. The producers of the first film, which was based on Astrid Lindgren's books, had the task of finding a girl strikingly physically similar, who could also portray the traits and temperament of the girl.
The choice fell on Inger Nilsson from Sweden. The 8-year-old won the casting, which her father took her to. Interestingly, she had not known the character she was supposed to embody before. Quite unexpectedly, this turned out to be the key to success. The people present at the audition appreciated the naturalness with which little Inger played the audition line.
The director did not give us the script, we rarely memorized prepared lines. He would usually just describe to us what would be happening in the scene, what emotions our characters had, what was going on in their minds.We spoke in our own words - the actress recalled years later.
The role of Pippi Longstocking brought little Inger enormous popularity. Initially, she was very pleased with the positive reactions from the audience and numerous signs of sympathy. Over time, however, the image of the red-haired resident of Villa Villekulla began to clearly weigh on her. The teenager dreamed of continuing her acting career and performing on theater stages. Yet directors didn't give her a chance, bluntly stating that she would "ruin" every show. The Pippi label stuck with her for many years.
Inger Nilsson recalls the role with great sentiment
It's been 54 years since the premiere of the first series and the full-length movie based on it. Even today, young viewers enthusiastically read and watch stories from her crazy, happy childhood. Nilsson, who brought her to life, has come to terms with the fact that she is eternally recorded in people's consciousness as Pippi Longstocking.
The woman fulfilled her professional dream. However, she had to wait 30 years for her acting chance in adult life. In 2000, she played a small role in the Swiss production "Gripsholm Castle". Then she joined the cast of the series "The Commissioner and the Sea" broadcasted from 2007 to 2021. Currently, she can be seen in episodic television roles.
From time to time, Inger Nilsson shines on the red carpets. The 64-year-old still enchants with a radiant smile and cheerful spirit. The most noticeable change in her appearance is the dyeing of her hair to blonde. Perhaps in this way she was trying to effectively break away from the image of Pippi.
