Swedish News

Swedish economy - strong as Pippi Långstrump. Noomi Rapace nominated for a BAFTA Award. Bill Skarsgård and Mikael Persbrandt in Oscar race. Chris O’Neill – Madeleine’s new man. 

  • Swedish economy - strong as Pippi Långstrump
    The Swedish economy looks as strong as Pippi Longstocking," said OECD Secretary General Jose Angel Gurria, when he presented the OECD's report on Sweden at a conference in Stockholm. He went on with commending Sweden by saying that the country is "an island of prosperity in very uncertain waters". But the OECD also sees some clouds on the horizon. Unemployment risks staying at a permanently high level unless the Swedish labor market gets more flexible.

  • Noomi Rapace nominated for a BAFTA Award
    The British Film Academy, BAFTA, just presented their nominations for this year’s awards – the Orange British academy film awards. Among the nominees, we find Noomi Rapace (unless you’ve been living under a stone lately, you know she plays Lisbeth Salander in “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”). Noomi is competing with stars like Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman and Hailee Steinfeld. “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” is nominated in the category “Adapted Screenplay”. The BAFTA awards are handed out in London on February 13.

  • Bill Skarsgård and Mikael Persbrandt in Oscar race
    Nine films remain in the Oscar category “Best Foreign Film”. One of them is Swedish “I rymden finns inga känslor” (“Simple Simon”) by Andreas Öhman, starring Bill Skarsgård. Another one is the Danish “Hämnden” (“In a Better World”) by Susanne Bier, starring Swedish actor Mikael Persbrandt. “Hämnden” has already received a Golden Globe award. On Tuesday, January 25 we will know which film will be nominated (it might of course not be either of them, they are both competing with films from Canada, Greece, Japan, Mexico, South Africa and Spain). The Oscar Ceremony is on February 27.

  • Chris O’Neill – Madeleine’s new man
    The mystery man that Princess Madeleine was cuddling with at the Boathouse in New York’s Central Park recently is a mystery no more. His name is Chris O’Neill and he bears more than a passing resemblance to Jonas Bergström, but who cares as long as they are both happy? It was a Spanish tourist who took the cell phone video of the lovebirds in New York, where Princess Madeleine is seen rubbing O’Neill’s arm affectionately. The 36-year-old very wealthy O’Neill makes a living dishing out financial advice to super-wealthy clients, but is said to be 'in a love affair' with the Swedish princess. He is the son of socialite Eva O'Neill who reportedly once dated Prince Charles, according to daily Aftonbladet. Seen as New York's answer to William and Kate's royal romance, the couple's relationship is causing a stir and questions are being raised as to whether Princess Madeleine is finally heading all the way to the altar. Since moving to the Upper East Side she has been linked to Paris Hilton's ex-boyfriend, Greek shipping heir Stavros Niarchos and to fellow Swede, New York Rangers goalkeeper Henrik “Henke” Lundqvist (who, as Nordstjernan reported earlier, is now engaged to his longtime girlfriend). In 2008 the attractive royal who is third in line to the Swedish throne, was voted 12th in the list of the Hottest Young Royals, compiled by Forbes Magazine.