Hedvig Willman


Hedvig Charlotta Konstantina Willman née Harling was a Swedish stage actor, opera singer and drama teacher. She was co-principal of Dramatens elevskola in 1877-86.

Life

Hedwig Willman was bolrn in Stockholm. She was the daughter of the clothe's seller P. A. C. Harling and Emelie Charlotta Wàhlsten. She married the actor Anders Willman in 1871.

Career

Hedvig Willman made her debut in Ladugårdslandsteatern in Stockholm in 1857, and was engaged at the theater company of Johan Anders Oskar Andersson and then by Edvard Stjernström at the Mindre teatern. From 1863 onward, she was employed as an actor at the Royal Dramatic Theatre and, from 1865, as an opera singer at the Royal Swedish Opera in parallel.
About her career at the Mindre teatern it was said:
In her capacity of a singer, she was often used within the Opéra comique. She performed as a guest artist in Denmark and Germany, notably at the Royal Danish Theatre in 1869.
About her career as a singer it was said:
In 1877, she and her spouse were appointed joint principals of Dramatens elevskola. She also gave singing lessons. One of her notable pupils was John Forsell who was later the leading baritone of the Royal Swedish Opera.
Of Willman as an instructor it was said that:
Hedvig Willman died in Stockholm in 1887 "after a long lasting illness". In retrospect it was said about her career: