Zarah Leander

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Zarah Leander was a Swedish singer and actress, born Sara Stina Hedberg on 15 March 1907 in Karlstad, Sweden. She died on 23 June 1981 in Stockholm at age 74. She had a long career from 1929 to 1979 and was married three times, with two children.

Zarah Leander rose to fame in Sweden and Scandinavia, winning a big breakthrough in 1931 playing Hanna Glavari in The Merry Widow. She became known for her deep, powerful voice and a confident, independent screen image, often called a “female baritone.” She also sang many songs on stage and in films, and one early signature tune was Vill ni se en stjärna.

Her greatest international success came in Germany, where she worked for the state-run studio UFA from 1936 to 1943. She negotiated boldly for big roles and high pay, and she recorded and starred in many popular films and songs. Because of the political situation in Germany at the time, some of her films and lyrics were linked to Nazi propaganda. She never publicly joined the Nazi Party, and Joseph Goebbels once called her an “Enemy of Germany,” though she remained a controversial figure for the rest of her life.

Leander’s most famous songs include Davon geht die Welt nicht unter and Ich weiss, es wird einmal ein Wunder geschehen, both sung in a dramatic, hopeful style. She also recorded the Yiddish song Bei Mir Bistu Shein in 1938. She did not socialize with Nazi leaders and preferred to entertain audiences rather than engage in politics.

Her last Nazi-era film premiered on 3 March 1943. During the war, her home in Berlin was damaged by an air raid, and she decided to retreat to Sweden, where she owned a mansion near Stockholm. She kept a pending contract with UFA but delayed or refused many scripts. After the war, she returned to Sweden to perform on stage, tour in Germany and Austria, and make new records and appearances in musicals. She never regained the pre-war level of popularity.

Leander lived for many years after the war, answering questions about her time in Germany. Some rumors suggested she was a Soviet agent, but she denied any spying. She remained a popular figure in German-speaking countries for decades. In later years, she inspired other artists, including singer Nina Hagen, who released a song titled Zarah in 1983. A statue in her honor stands in Karlstad, and a Zarah Leander museum and scholarship programs continue to celebrate her legacy.