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Gunilla Persson

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Gunilla Persson
Persson in 2013
Born
Sonja Gunilla Persson

(1958-12-31) 31 December 1958 (age 65)
Known forSvenska Hollywoodfruar, Realitystjärnorna på godset
ChildrenErika Persson
Parents
  • Nils Erik Persson (father)
  • Iris Strid (mother)

Sonja Gunilla Persson (born 31 December 1958) is a Swedish former fashion model and current television personality and singer.[1][2] She is the daughter of Nils Erik Persson (1920–1998) and Iris Strid (1926-2023).

Career

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Persson (front) with Åsa Vesterlund, Britt Ekland and Maria Montazami in the Swedish reality TV series Svenska Hollywoodfruar in 2014

Persson worked as a tour leader and after journalistic studies started her career at Sveriges Radio where she worked as a presenter of a one-hour celebrity entertainment show conducting interviews with celebrities.[3][4]

Modelling

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Persson participated in 1983 Damernas Värld (Swedish women's magazine) modelling competition The Face of the 80's after her boyfriend submitted pictures of her without her knowledge. Eileen Ford, one of the judges of the competition, contacted her and signed her to her agency in New York City in 1983, even though Persson did not win the competition.[5][6] She was also signed at and worked for Elite Model Management. She has appeared on the cover of a number of magazines including notably for the German edition of Bazaar,[7] and has modelled lingerie for La Perla.[7]

In the late 1970s, Persson moved from Sweden to Dallas, US, later moving to New York City where she lived for many years.[3] She studied at Stella Adler's acting school. She moved to California to participate in Svenska Hollywoodfruar, and in early 2015 Persson was forced to leave her Manhattan, New York apartment by her landlord.[8]

Television

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Persson during Melodifestivalen 2024

Persson appeared in a small role in the 1980s soap opera Dallas while living in Dallas.[3][5]

Persson made her television debut in 2010 in the reality series Svenska New holllywoodfruar (Swedish New hollywoodwives): the series lasted one season and was broadcast on TV3.[9] She has also participated in eight seasons of Svenska Hollywoodfruar (Swedish Hollywood-wives) as of 2017,[needs update] also at TV3.[10] Persson participated in the celebrity reality series Realitystjärnorna på godset (Reality Stars at the Manor) in 2014,[11] and in 2015 got her own show called Gunilla tycker till (Gunilla states her opinion) where her fans got to vote on different jobs she had to try out.[12] Persson also got a News show in 2017 called The Gunilla Show on viafree. In February 2013, Persson was a guest on The Schulman Show which is aired on Aftonbladet's website and presented by Alex Schulman.[13] Persson recorded a music video with rapper Dogge Doggelito in 2015.[14] In October 2015, Persson was a guest on the Norwegian talk show God kveld Norge!.[15]

On 13 April 2017, Persson's home in Pacific Palisades that has appeared in Svenska Hollywoodfruar was badly damaged by fire.[16][17] Persson's 91-year-old mother was injured during the incident.[16][18]

In 2018, Persson participated in the celebrity version of Biggest Loser, broadcast on TV4.[19]

She participated in Melodifestivalen 2024 with the song "I Won't Shake (La La Gunilla)".[20] She came fourth in her heat on 17 February 2024, moving on to the run-off round[21] where she was ultimately eliminated.

Personal life

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Gunilla Persson was married to Stephen Linville 1984–1990, whom she met at an acting class in Dallas.[22][23] She lived in Francis Kellogg's apartment in New York in late 1980's, during which she also had a romance with Prince Albert of Monaco.[24] Her boyfriend was hotel developer Patrick Ellis from 1990 until 1995.[25]

She has a daughter whose name is Erika, who was born in August 2002.[26]

On 22 May 2018, Persson was arrested by Palm Beach police on a felony grand-theft charge for stealing sunglasses.[27] She was released the following morning after posting a $5,000 bond.[28]

Discography

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Singles

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List of singles, with selected peak chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
SWE
[29]
"I Won't Shake (La La Gunilla)" 2024 4 Non-album single

References

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  1. ^ "Gunilla Person - Story". TV3.se. Archived from the original on 28 December 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  2. ^ "Gunilla: Hela världen firar min födelsedag". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "Hollywoodfrun Gunilla Persson: Min dotter räddade mig från ensamheten" (in Swedish). 13 October 2015. Archived from the original on 21 October 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  4. ^ "Gunilla Perssons största misstag – att förhållandet med Lasse Hallström tog slut". Expressen (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  5. ^ a b "Svenska Hollywoodfrun lanserar hälsojuice i USA". Kurera.se (in Swedish). 4 February 2013. Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  6. ^ "Gunilla Persson i exklusiv intervju: "Britt var ju anställd för att provocera mig!"" (in Swedish). 13 January 2014. Archived from the original on 6 August 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Gunilla Persson om sina 4 stilhemligheter". Allt om mode (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  8. ^ "Gunilla Persson i vräkningsbråk". Expressen (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 21 October 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  9. ^ "Gunilla Persson i "Svenska New holiywoodfruar": Jag valde bort Lasse Hallström – Klick! – Nöjesbladet – Aftonbladet". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 3 July 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  10. ^ "Gunilla Persson" (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 22 October 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  11. ^ "Gunilla om stormen kring slottssåpan". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 18 August 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  12. ^ "Gunilla Persson om tårarna i "Gunilla tycker till" – Nöje". Expressen (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 14 October 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  13. ^ "Schulman Show". Aftonbladet TV. Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  14. ^ "Gunilla Perssons musikvideo – rappar med Dogge Doggelito" (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Gunilla Perssons öppna brev till svenska folket". Expressen (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 22 October 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  16. ^ a b "Two Critically Injured in Fire at Pacific Palisades Houses". NBC. Archived from the original on 13 April 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  17. ^ about, John Gregory, bio (13 April 2017). "Pacific Palisades fire burns 2 homes, including home of Swedish TV star". ABC7. Archived from the original on 13 April 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ "Fire burns 2 LA houses, including home of Swedish TV star". NY Daily News. Archived from the original on 14 April 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  19. ^ "Gunilla Persson måste avbryta efter tränarens ord". www.expressen.se. Archived from the original on 14 December 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  20. ^ "The 30 artists competing in Sweden's Melodifestivalen 2024". Eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 1 December 2023. Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  21. ^ "Melodifestivalen 2024 - Deltävling 3: Växjö". Mellopedia (in Swedish). SVT. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  22. ^ "Gunilla Perssons svar efter exmakens anklagelser: "Sanningen kan lätt förvridas"". www.hant.se (in Swedish). 14 June 2018. Archived from the original on 23 January 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  23. ^ "Ex-maken avslöjar nu sin sanning om Gunilla Persson". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  24. ^ "Gunilla Persson om romansen med prins Albert". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  25. ^ "Gunilla Persson kan förlora sin  lägenhet". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  26. ^ "5 saker du vill veta om Gunilla Perssons dotter Erika Persson". nyheter24.se (in Swedish). 16 October 2019. Archived from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  27. ^ Webteam, WPTV (24 May 2018). "European reality TV star stole sunglasses from Worth Avenue shop, Palm Beach police say". wptv.com. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  28. ^ "Swedish reality star reported arrested in Palm Beach". The Palm Beach Post. Archived from the original on 23 May 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  29. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 9". Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on 28 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
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