Swedish actress Meta Velander, 100, died on May 16. Her husband (since 1949) and frequent costar, Ingvar Kjellson, died last year. Velander studied at the Royal Dramatic Training Academy, and soon became a regular presence with the Uppsala Stadsteater and Stockholm’s Stadsteater; she also performed in plays all over Sweden. She made her film debut in 1945, but it wasn’t till the mid-60s that she started playing numerous character (and voice-over) roles. Velander had a small role in the cult favorite Pippi Longstocking (1969), but I am more fascinated with her 1987 TV series Titties Salong—(you can imagine what popped up on my computer screen when I tried to get that translated!). After her husband’s death last year, Velander continued working, saying, “I don’t want to sit at home and twiddle my thumbs, then I just get nasty and in a bad mood. It is wonderful to be part of a context and be needed.”
