2024-06-09 14:32:39
Maria Persson turned a toddler star in 1969 as Longstocking’s buddy Annika. 55 years later, the Swede’s life has modified dramatically.
When you dig by way of the TV archives for cross-generational household leisure, you may inevitably stumble throughout the drawer labeled “Pippi Longstocking.” The cheeky cult determine with the crimson braids and the “Villa Villekulla” rental contract in her hand has enchanted viewers of all ages world wide because the first Longstocking TV journey was broadcast in 1969.
Alongside Inger Nilsson, who performed the principle character within the well-known movies, Swedish baby actress Maria Persson additionally shone as Pippi’s shy buddy Annika Settergren. Collectively along with her brother Tommy Settergren (performed by Swedish actor Pär Sundberg), she skilled numerous adventures across the legendary “Villa Villekulla”.
It began with a casting software. Maria Persson beloved the books by Astrid Lindgren. And when the casting name got here, the then nine-year-old could not be held again any longer: “I mentioned to my dad and mom: ‘I need to participate!’ I used to be additionally positive that I’d get the function,” the Swede as soon as informed the Austrian “Kurier” in an interview. Luck was on her aspect. Maria Persson beat 8,000 different candidates and acquired the function of the reserved Annika: “As a toddler, I really had nothing in widespread with the shy and fearful Annika. I used to be at all times the courageous one,” she admits.
However the function reversal labored out splendidly. Collectively along with her movie companions, Maria Persson turned a serious baby star within the early Seventies, who was celebrated and handled like royalty outdoors of Sweden. However her sudden fame was solely a snapshot. After finishing a complete of six “Pippi Longstocking” movies, her longed-for performing profession was historical past. When no additional gives got here her method, Maria Persson mentioned goodbye to her Hollywood goals and started coaching to be a nurse as a substitute.
A life away from the limelight adopted, and Maria Persson was not at all times on the sunny aspect of issues. As she acquired older, she developed arthritis and was compelled to surrender her job. She additionally confronted a number of setbacks in love: though Persson now has a grown-up son, she goes about her day-to-day life with no accomplice.
Maria Persson can also be apprehensive about her funds: Anybody who thinks she as soon as earned hundreds of thousands throughout her performing profession could be very a lot mistaken. Since nobody anticipated an excellent success story on the time, the “Pippi Longstocking” actors had been paid a mini-fee of the equal of two,000 euros. “On reflection, that actually made me indignant. When you consider how many individuals acquired wealthy due to it and we acquired nothing. And we had been the celebrities. It is so unusual. However that was the contract and we could not do something. I spoke to attorneys, but it surely’s unattainable. Now I am older and I’ve come to phrases with it,” says Persson.
Since there are nonetheless diehard Longstocking followers all around the world, a proud sum of 30,000 euros was raised for the kid stars of the previous by way of crowdfunding. “That was so variety and helped me quite a bit. It is good to have cash to stay on. Every part is so costly today,” explains Maria Persson. At this time the Swede is celebrating her sixty fifth birthday – and maybe her former Longstocking colleagues will come by to congratulate her: “We’ve got a joint WhatsApp group and we’re all nonetheless in contact.”