Pernilla August

Pernilla August (born 13 February 1958) is a Swedish actress. August was born Mia Pernilla Wallgren in Stockholm, Sweden. She started acting during her childhood in theater and at school. Her professional acting career started in 1975 when she began studying acting. She attracted the attention of Ingmar Bergman, who cast her as the nanny Maj in his film Fanny och Alexander. She also starred in The Serpent's Way by Bo Widerberg. She has acted in s... more

Pernilla August (born 13 February 1958) is a Swedish actress. August was born Mia Pernilla Wallgren in Stockholm, Sweden. She started acting during her childhood in theater and at school. Her professional acting career started in 1975 when she began studying acting. She attracted the attention of Ingmar Bergman, who cast her as the nanny Maj in his film Fanny och Alexander. She also starred in The Serpent's Way by Bo Widerberg. She has acted in several notable plays, including William Shakespeare's Hamlet, Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House, and Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters. Many in the English-speaking world know her best as Shmi Skywalker (the mother of Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader ) from the Star Wars prequel movies. She also appeared in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. She played the Virgin Mary in Mary, Mother of Jesus, 1999 (TV). She played a bomber in the Swedish film Sprängaren (2001). At the 1992 Cannes Film Festival she won the award for Best Actress, for her role in Den... less