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Gunilla Backman
Gunilla Backman
Gunilla Backman
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Key Information

Gunilla Katarina Backman (born 18 June 1965) is a Swedish singer, actress, and musical artist.[1]

Early life and career

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Backman comes from a musical family and studied classical ballet from 1972 until 1982 at Kungliga Teaterns balettskola and at the Balettakademien, Statens dansskola and Cullbergbaletten.[2] She attended Adolf Fredrik's Music School and studied song at the age of seventeen, when she debuted in the role of Liesl in the musical Sound of Music at Folkan.[2][3] At the same theater she also acted in the children's play Snövit och de sju dvärgarna about Snow White.[2] In both productions she got to know her co-star Peter Jöback, with whom she has collaborated with several times. After these works, she has worked primarily within song and musicals.

Career

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In 1984, she toured with Carola Häggkvist, and along with singer Henriette Johnsson, she started the pop duo Katz. The group toured Europe and she also recorded solo singles in Italy in 1989. In 1990, she got the role of Cosette in the musical Les Misérables at Cirkus in Stockholm. She has been a part of the ensemble for over 1000 plays of the musical both in Sweden, Germany and London.[2] In 1992, she had the lead role of Maria in West Side Story at the National Swedish Touring Theatre, and after that, she acted in a revue with Bosse Parnevik, Monica Zetterlund and others.

In 1994, she acted in Ingmar Bergman's special production of Shakespeare's En vintersaga at the Royal Dramatic Theatre and she also acted in the musical Elvira Madigan at Riksteatern. In 1996, she started several years of intensive international work with Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Sunset Boulevard in the German city of Niedernhausen. She has since played roles in Les Misérables in Germany and London, Miss Saigon in London, a concert tour in South Africa and Chess in Denmark.[2]

In 2002, she returned to Stockholm and Oscarsteatern to act as the title role of Greta Garbo in Garbo The Musical, followed by her big breakthrough role as Donna, in the Swedish version of the musical Mamma Mia! at Cirkus between 2005 and 2007.[2] She won the award Guldmasken for this role. In 2009, she participated in the show Primadonnor at Hamburger Börs along with Charlott Strandberg and Sussie Eriksson. Between 2010 and 2011, she played the lead role as Norma Desmond in the Göteborgsoperan musical Sunset Boulevard.

In 2012, she played Mary Magdalene in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar along with Ola Salo at Göta Lejon in Stockholm.[4] In 2013, she played Desiree Armfledt in Stephen Sondeheim's Sommarnattens leende at Malmö Opera.[5] Backman has from time to time been part of Rhapsody in Rock, also in the Ted Gärdestad celebration tour Sol, vind & vatten in 2008. In 2013, she participated in the television recorded arena tour I Love Musicals along with Peter Jöback.[6][7] She has made several concerts with Malmö Brandkårs Musikkår along with Jan Malmsjö.[8]

Backman has participated in a number of television shows like Allsång på Skansen broadcast on SVT, Allsång på Liseberg with Lotta Engberg on TV4, TV-huset, Så ska det låta, Sing along, Doobidoo, Nationaldagen and Nyårsfirande from Skansen.[9] She also had a part in the Melodifestivalmusikalen, which was the break show at Melodifestivalen 2007.[10]

Discography

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  • 2005 – Mamma Mia!
  • 2006 – Nära mig
  • 2006 – Julens ljus
  • 2006 – Julskivan 2006
  • 2010 – Gunilla Backman Sings Andrew Lloyd Webber[11]

Filmography

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  • Babar och hans vänner (voice)
  • Tummelisa (voice)

References

[edit]
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Gunilla Backman

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Gunilla Backman is a Swedish singer, actress, and musical theatre performer known for her acclaimed leading roles in major productions including Mamma Mia!, Les Misérables, Sunset Boulevard, and the world premiere of Garbo the Musical in the title role of Greta Garbo. Born in Stockholm on 18 June 1965, Backman trained in classical ballet at the Royal Swedish Opera’s Ballet School and studied singing from the age of 17 at Adolf Fredrik’s Music School, building a foundation that blended dance, voice, and acting. Her professional debut came in 1982 as Liesl in The Sound of Music, leading to prominent roles across Sweden and internationally, such as Cosette and Fantine in Les Misérables, Ellen in Miss Saigon in London’s West End, and Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard at Gothenburg Opera. She received the Guldmasken award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Donna in the Swedish production of Mamma Mia! in 2005–2007 and a Swedish musical theatre award for Norma Desmond in 2010–2011. Backman has also performed in concerts with orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic and Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, released solo albums including Gunilla Backman Sings Andrew Lloyd Webber, and made guest appearances on Swedish television programs. Her career spans musical theatre, film and television roles, dubbing, and tribute performances, establishing her as one of Sweden’s prominent musical artists.

Early life

Birth and background

Gunilla Backman was born on 18 June 1965 in Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden.

Career

Entry into acting

Gunilla Backman began her performing career with extensive training in classical ballet and music. She received thirteen years of classical ballet training at the Swedish Opera in Stockholm and with the Cullberg Ballet company. She also attended Adolf Fredrik’s Music School in Stockholm. From the age of 17, she studied singing with Vivian Burman in Stockholm. In 1982, Backman made her professional stage debut as Liesl in the musical The Sound of Music at Folkan Theatre in Stockholm, directed by Stig Ohlin. This role marked her entry into acting, initially within the realm of musical theater. Her early professional engagements remained focused on stage work in Stockholm, with additional performances following in the subsequent years.

Musical theatre

Backman has built her primary career in musical theatre with leading roles in major productions in Sweden and internationally. Key roles include Cosette and Fantine in Les Misérables, Ellen in Miss Saigon (West End, London), Donna in Mamma Mia! (Swedish production, 2005–2007), and Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard (Gothenburg Opera). She also starred in the title role of Greta Garbo in the world premiere of Garbo the Musical. She received the Guldmasken award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her role as Donna in Mamma Mia! (2005–2007) and another Swedish musical theatre award for her portrayal of Norma Desmond (2010–2011).

Television roles

Gunilla Backman has appeared in supporting roles in prominent Swedish crime drama series on television. She portrayed Eva Fors in the long-running crime series Beck (1997–present), appearing in one episode titled "Sjukhusmorden" in 2015. Backman also played the recurring guest role of Ann-Sofie in The Sandhamn Murders (Morden i Sandhamn, 2010–present), appearing in three episodes during 2015. These television credits represent her contributions to episodic drama series, in addition to her primary work in musical theatre.

Film and other media roles

Gunilla Backman has contributed to film primarily through voice dubbing for animated features into Swedish. She provided both the speaking and singing voice for the title character in the Swedish-dubbed version of Don Bluth's animated film Thumbelina (1994). Her official biography highlights that she has dubbed numerous musical film scores into Swedish, with Thumbelina as a notable example where she performed the lead role. In other media, Backman has appeared as a guest on the podcast Hjälp, jag fyller 50!. In one episode, she joined Helen Sjöholm to discuss age discrimination, beauty interventions, and mental health with host Rickard Olsson. This appearance reflects her involvement in conversational media formats outside her primary work in theater and television.

Personal life

Family and personal details

Gunilla Backman's family and personal life remain largely private, with no confirmed public details available regarding marriage, children, residence, or personal interests outside her professional work. She has not shared such information in interviews or official profiles, and reliable sources do not provide verified facts on these aspects.

Recognition and public profile

Known credits and reception

Gunilla Backman is primarily recognized for her leading roles in musical theatre productions in Sweden and internationally, including award-winning performances in Mamma Mia! and Sunset Boulevard. She has also appeared in supporting guest roles in Swedish crime television series such as Beck and The Sandhamn Murders. Her musical theatre work forms the core of her professional profile, with additional contributions through television, dubbing, concerts, and albums. These efforts have established her as a prominent musical artist in Sweden.
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