Kerstin Hilldén
Kerstin Elizabeth Hilldén (Swedish pronunciation: [ɕæʂtɪn hɪldeːn]) (born 22 June 1988) is a Swedish singer and actress.[1]
Kerstin Hilldén | |
---|---|
Born | Kerstin Elizabeth Hilldén 22 June 1988 |
Occupation | Musical theatre actresses |
Years active | 2016–present |
Employer(s) | Malmö Opera (2022–present) (2017–2020) Gothenburg Opera (2020–2021) Wermland Opera (2016–2017) Länsteatern in Gotland (2016) |
Partner | Isak Bendelin |
Parent(s) | Arne Hilldén Mary-Ann Hopkins |
Early life and education
Kerstin Elizabeth Hilldén was born at Mölndal Hospital in Mölndal on 22 June 1988,[2] the second child to Arne Hilldén, a doctor in geology, and Mary-Ann Hopkins, a music and mathematics teacher. She is the younger sister of Johan Hilldén who was born in 1986,[3] both siblings grew up in Mölnlycke, about 10 km (6.2 miles) from Gothenburg. Hilldén's maternal grandparents, Mary & George Hopkins, were both singers in a church choir in Karlskrona, Blekinge. George Hopkins was of English origin while Mary was born in Jämtland.
As a child, Hilldén had already been on scene at the Gothenburg Opera.[4]
In 2011, Hilldén attended Wendelsbergs folkhögskola, later, in 2014, studying at Balettakademien[1] in Gothenburg. In 2015, Hilldén was accepted into the Royal Academy of Music in London.[1]
Career
Hilldén's first musical was the adaptation of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, which was played in Swedish at the Wermland Opera in 2016.[5] Hilldén played the role of Eponine[6] which she described as "one of [her] favourite characters along with Javert and Valjean". She further stated that Eponine was a character with "which [she] could identify [herself] with".[5]
Hilldén has played major roles in other musicals such as "Sophia" in Sound of Music, "Miss Honey" in the musical adaptation of Roald Dahl's novel Matilda, and Cabaret[7] based on the 1966 musical of the same name. Sound of Music and Matilda were both played at the Malmö Opera, however Cabaret debuted on 2 October 2022 at the Gothenburg Opera.[4]
Hilldén has also played minor parts/roles in several other musicals such as Festkväll (English: Party Night) at the Gothenburg Opera, A Talent To Amuse at St. James Theatre, and Curtain Up! Prince of Wales Theatre.[1]
In 2020, she was part of a group of members of the Gothenburg Opera to participate and performed at Lotta på Liseberg.[8]
Personal life
Hilldén is in a relationship with fellow musical actor Isak Bendelin.[2]
References
- "Kerstin Hilldén". malmoopera.se (in Swedish). Malmö: Malmö Opera. 30 August 2017. Archived from the original on 26 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- "Kerstin Hilldén". hitta.se. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- "In a Nutshell". hillden.net. Archived from the original on 26 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- "Kerstin Hilldén Musikalartist". opera.se (in Swedish). opera.se. Archived from the original on 26 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- "Kerstin Hilldén - Eponine". lesmiz-wermlandopera.blogspot.com (in Swedish). Wermland Opera. 6 April 2017. Archived from the original on 26 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- "Wermland Opera Les Miserables". jgrieve.com. Archived from the original on 26 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- "De spelar huvudrollerna i "Cabaret"". gp.se (in Swedish). Göteborgs-Posten. 28 January 2020. Archived from the original on 26 July 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- "En hälsning från Cabaret på GöteborgsOperan!". facebook.com. Lotta på Liseberg. Retrieved 26 July 2022.