Pernilla August (born Mia Pernilla Wallgren, February 13, 1958 in Stockholm, Sweden) is a Swedish actress.
August started acting during her childhood in theater and at school. Her professional acting career started in 1979 when she began studying acting. She attracted the attention of Ingmar Bergman, who cast her as a nanny in his film, Fanny och Alexander.
She has acted in several notable plays, including William Shakespeare's Hamlet, Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House, and Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters.
Many in the English-speaking world know her best as Shmi Skywalker (the mother of Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader ) from the Star Wars prequel movies. She also appeared in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. She played the Virgin Mary in Mary, Mother of Jesus, 1999 (TV).
August has been married twice and changed her name both times. Her first marriage was to Klas Östergren and her second to Bille August (1991 - 1997). She has three daughters named Agnes, Asta and Alba.
Pernilla August started acting as a child, performing in plays at Vår teater and at school. In 1979 she was accepted at the Statens scenskola to study acting professionally. Director Ingmar Bergman took note of her early and cast her as a nanny in his Fanny och Alexander (1982). In 1982 she got married to author Klas Östergren and started work at the Folkteatern in Gävle, appearing in August Strindberg's A Dreamplay and Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters. She returned a few years later to the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm for roles in William Shakespeare (I)'s Hamlet and Henrik Ibsen (I)'s A Doll's House (as Nora). Until then she hadn't had any bigger experience of television or movies but Ingmar Bergman specifically asked for her to play his mother in the biographical Goda viljan, Den (1992) By then her marriage was over and she started a relationship with director Bille August whom she married in 1991 - and had her name changed for the second time. He offered her a role in his House of the Spirits, The (1993), but due to her pregnancy the role went to Winona Ryder instead. She has admirably managed an international career despite having three daughters. She is best known for her appearances in films like Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) or I Am Dina (2002).
