Söderbaum, Kristina (1912–)

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Söderbaum, Kristina (1912–)

Swedish actress. Name variations: Kristina Soderbaum or Soederbaum. Born in Djursholm-Stockholm, Sweden, Sept 5, 1912 (one source cites 1909); dau. of Henrik Söderbaum; m. Veit Harlan (director, died 1964); children: sons, Caspar and Kristian.

Star of German films during Nazi era, moved to Berlin to study art history (1930); made film debut in Onkel Bräsig (1936); came to prominence in Veit Harlan's Jugend (Youth) and Verwehte Spuren (Covered Tracks, both 1938); appeared in the popular Das unsterbliche Herz (The Immortal Heart, 1939); also appeared in Die Reise nach Tilsit (The Journey to Tilsit, 1939), which was strongly influenced by Nazi ideology; appearance in the anti-Semitic Jud Süss (1940) was to haunt her for the rest of her life; was featured in several more large-budget films, including Die goldene Stadt (The Golden City, 1942), only the 2nd film to be made in color by a German studio, Immensee (1943), Opfergang (Sacrifice, 1943), and the patriotic epic Kolberg (1945); following WWII, starred in 7 more films (1951–58), often receiving good reviews; made one final screen appearance, in Hans Jürgen Syberberg's Karl May (1974).

See also Women in World History.