Maria Katarina Öhrn

Maria Katarina Öhrn, later Maria Katarina Berlin, (1756 – 8 November 1783 in Stockholm) was a Swedish stage actress and singer. She was active at the Stenborg Troupe in Humlegårdsteatern from 1776–80 and in Eriksbergsteatern from 1780–83. During her career, she was one of the most popular stars on the Swedish stage.^[1]

In 1776, she was noted as one of the new members of the Stenborg company:

"the 20 year old actress mamsell Öhrn proved herself to be a true profit for the theatre and was soon given the appreciation of the audience, who saw the advantages in the art of acting, by which she raised above all her female colleagues in the troupe.

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She was the star at the inauguration of the Eriksbergsteatern (Eriksberg Theatre) in 1780 and "became the favourite of the audience through her pleasant personality and stage ability". She performed in dramatic plays and as a singer. She was named "first actress" in 1782.^[3]

Possibly her most famous part was Perette in the operetta De båda jägarna och mjölkflickan (English: "The two hunters and the milking maid") opposite Magnus Bonn (Vilhelm) and A. Lundberg (Colas) in 1780.^[4] Originally a French play, it was performed by the Du Londel Troupe at Bollhuset in 1765, but was now for the first time performed in the Swedish language. It continued running for eighteen years, until 1798.

She married Isak Berlin, a minor functionary of the royal court, in 1780. She died of a "consuming fever" four days after her spouse died of tuberculosis. Her inventory was written up by her sister-in-law Maria Helena Berlin and Johanna Catharina Enbeck, and has been quoted as an example of the wardrobe of an actress of her time.

References

• Johan Flodmark (Swedish): Stenborgska skådebanorna (The Stenborg Stages)