About
Gunilla Persson is a Swedish–American model and television personality whose larger-than-life presence has kept Scandinavian audiences glued to their screens for more than a decade. Born Sonja Gunilla Persson on December 31, 1958, in Norrköping, Sweden, she first earned recognition in the 1980s fashion scene before reinventing herself on the hit reality series “Svenska Hollywoodfruar” (Swedish Hollywood Wives), where she starred from season 4 through the show’s finale in 2019. Her unapologetic confidence, devotion to family, and flair for melodrama quickly made her a breakout figure, and she has since parlayed that notoriety into public-speaking appearances, brand collaborations, and charity work. Even in her sixties, Persson continues to straddle two worlds—maintaining Scandinavian roots while enjoying the sunshine of California—and she shows no sign of slowing down.
Before Fame
Persson grew up in a modest household as the daughter of Nils Erik Persson and Iris Strid. Early on she balanced school with after-class jobs, including a stint as a local tour guide that sharpened the storytelling skills she would later use on television. Her life changed in 1983, when she entered Damernas Värld magazine’s “Face of the 80’s” modeling competition. Judge Eileen Ford, co-founder of Ford Models, was so impressed that she offered Persson a contract on the spot. Less than a year later, the ambitious Swede was posing for international campaigns and walking runways in Paris, Milan, and New York. Determined to broaden her craft, she studied acting in Dallas and Los Angeles, landing small roles on American soap operas during the late 1980s. These early experiences—jet-lagged castings, backstage quick-changes, and late-night acting classes—laid the groundwork for the confident persona fans would later recognize on reality TV.
Trivia
- Reality-show mantra: Persson famously declared, “God made me a reality star,” a quote that became a meme among Swedish pop-culture followers.
- Home fire heroics: In April 2017 a blaze damaged her Pacific Palisades home. Persson led first responders to her 91-year-old mother, who was rescued with smoke-related injuries. Fans praised her quick thinking and composure.
- Musical dabble: Away from the cameras she recorded a handful of schlager-inspired pop singles—an unexpected nod to Sweden’s love of catchy melodies.
- Animal advocate: Persson often fosters stray dogs in Los Angeles and has raised funds for shelters in both Sweden and California.
- Language whiz: In addition to Swedish and English, she speaks conversational German and Italian, skills picked up during early modeling tours.
Family Life
Family has always been Persson’s North Star. Her mother, Iris Strid, moved in with her in the early 2000s, and their close—sometimes fiery—relationship became a running storyline on “Svenska Hollywoodfruar.” Persson was married to actor Stephen Linville from 1984 to 1990, but today she proudly describes herself as a single parent to daughter Erika, born in August 2002. Much of her schedule revolves around Erika’s education and budding interest in fashion marketing. Persson frequently shares everyday moments—grocery runs, piano recitals, and low-key beach walks—with an online following that appreciates her blend of glamour and normality. Despite decades in the United States, she returns to Sweden every summer so Erika can bond with grandparents, cousins, and the coastal landscapes Persson still calls home in her memories.
Associated With
During her reality-TV tenure Persson traded witty one-liners and occasional clashes with fellow “Hollywoodfruar” stars Maria Montazami, Britt Ekland, and Elena Belle, relationships that fueled endless water-cooler chatter back in Sweden. Outside the show, she keeps ties to the fashion industry; early in her career she walked for designers who also featured rising talents like Cindy Crawford, building a professional network that spans continents. Persson has appeared on talk shows alongside Swedish presenters such as Malou von Sivers and has shared charity gala stages with athletes like Zlatan Ibrahimović to raise funds for children’s hospitals. Her life story—a mix of Scandinavian resilience and Hollywood spectacle—illustrates how a small-town girl with big ambitions can carve out a truly global path while keeping her loved ones front and center.
