Tommy Berggren's doctor forbade him to travel and Pia Degermark had to make the trip to Cannes alone.
The reason for the trip is the premiere of Jon Asp's and Mattias Nohrborg's documentary "In the Head of Bo", which is about the director Bo Widerberg. And of course, part of the film is about "Elvira Madigan", which was shown here in 1967 and which gave the then 17-year-old Pia Degermark the prize as best female actor.
This is the first time I visit in Cannes since then. We had a long house in the mountains, we were here every summer but we never visited the festival.
Pia Degermark was discovered by Bo Widerberg when he saw a photo of her together with the then Crown Prince Carl-Gustaf. She was portrayed as his girlfriend.
It wasn't true, we were just very good friends. But it was very tough, this with constantly being called a rich man's girlfriend and the Crown Prince's girlfriend.
Severe Anorexia
She suffered from severe anorexia.
It made me not have any memories of how it was here in 1967. I suffered so from anorexia. When the others went to celebrate, I went back to the hotel.
The win in Cannes led to her getting offers to film in other countries.
I made some films to fill up the cash register. But I'm not an actress, so it didn't become more.
Pensioner Life
Bo Widerberg wanted her to be in his "Ådalen 31", but she declined. They kept sporadic contact over the years (Widerberg passed away in 1997. Nowadays, she lives a quiet pensioner life, the short-lived life as a celebrated film star lies far away. In Cannes, she is present at the film's gala premiere, but tells TT that she won't attend the party afterwards.
But the screening seems to have gone well after all – when the party begins at 22, she is on the spot.
Cohabitant.
Lives: Stockholm.
Films: "Elvira Madigan", "Una breve stagione", "Spegelkriget", "Gebissen wird nur nachts", "Die buschspringer".
