Uppsalatidningen 140410
By: MATTIAS SJÖBERG
She became a shining star after the musical Kristina från Duvemåla. Her God-given voice has been raised to the skies. But Helen Sjöholm herself is not very interested in music and rather searches silence. In April, she is a current topic in Jacke Sjödin’s Top Lunch at Katalin.
The tables in the old freight shed at Uppsala Travel Center are packed when Jacke Sjödin, Andreas Nilsson and Helen Sjöholm bawlingly parade in between the rows of seats and onto the stage. Most visitors have had time to finish the fish soup that is served for the lunch show when the trio takes the first tune.
(…)
Then a moderately fast mix of monologues, songs, skits and comic poems follow. (…)
– It’s great fun to work with Jacke Sjödin who is a lovely person, and a stunning text-person. We haven’t had that much time to rehearse, but it’s been intense and fun, Helen Sjöholm says.
(…) She has done similar appearances at Klara Soup Theater in Stockholm and therefore the musical star has discovered the difference between a sober lunch crowd and a party-focused evening crowd.
– Yes, surely we adapt the content a little to the type of audience. I was actually quite taken aback the first times the lunch guests here at Katalin cheered and laughed out loud to what we did on stage. So really there isn’t that big a difference.
With these lunch performances she has become one of all those train commuters. But Helen Sjöholm has not yet experienced annoying delays and happily cycles from her home in Nacka to Stockholm Central Station, and back again.
She doesn’t know Uppsala city very well. But her husband David Granditsky grew up here, played in punk bands and has taken her on a sightseeing tour around town.
– He moved away already at 15-16 years of age so he mostly associates the town with his punk time here. It still seems to be a pretty big difference between Uppsala and my childhood town Sundsvall, which is a distinct workers’ town.
It is often said that Helen Sjöholm came from nowhere and made a heavy break through in Kristina från Duvemåla in 1995. That’s not entirely true, (…) But for the general public, she is the Musical superstar with the big M.
– I have also sung ballads, jazz, folk music and rock. But for obvious reasons I’m associated with musicals since I’ve done Duvemåla, My Fair Lady, Chess and this autumn ”Livet är en schlager”. I have a narrative voice that fits that format. But personally I’m not a big musical fan and never listen to it myself. Though I have no problem with being placed in that box.
Helen Sjöholm neither has any problem with being associated as a bit all-good and homey.
– No, absolutely not. There are worse judgements to get. I probably am a good girl too, although I, like all other people, also have other sides, she says.
Right now there is not much music that sounds in the Sjöholm home.
– I have three young children who take a lot of time and if I get a spare moment I just want silence. May sound strange but I’m pretty uninterested in music, in keeping up with the supply and industry.
In the autumn one of her life’s greatest roles awaits. Then she’ll play Mona in Jonas Gardell’s Livet är en schlager.
– I really look forward to that. Extra fun is for once playing a character who you don’t pity but who helps herself and acts pretty selfish. A quite multilayered person and it’s a giant production that will be insanely fun to be involved in, Helen Sjöholm says.
HELEN SJÖHOLM
Current: Takes part in Top Lunch at Katalin in April
(…)
Interests: Haha! I have no time for interests. To sleep maybe?
Latest movie: Monica Z
HELEN’S HIGHLIGHTS
1. Kristina från Duvemåla
”You cannot get away from mentioning that musical. Merely to be involved in such a large project – see it be born and develop into the great worldwide success it later became”.
2. Aniara
”A great creative challenge to dramaturgically portray the poetic work. Andreas Kleerup who composed the poem is a musical genius”.
3. Simon and the Oaks
”Incredibly fun to do a big role in such a good movie. But it’s hard to pick out specific highlights. If you ask me tomorrow I might mention three others”.
HOW IT WAS…
(…) There are many things demanding attention during our fragmented interview. Sometimes I wonder if Helen Sjöholm is answering to me or any of the others around the table at Katalin. (…)
(Due to copyright reasons the entire interview cannot be reproduced)