Hedman, Martha (1883–1974)
Hedman, Martha (1883–1974)
Swedish stage actress. Born Aug 12, 1883, in Ostersund, Sweden; died June 20, 1974, in DeLand, Florida; studied for stage with Siri von Essen; m. Henry Arthur House.
Made stage debut in Helsingfors, Finland, in a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale (1905); appeared with Emile von der Osten as Desdemona in Othello and Katusha in Resurrection; other plays include Hauptmann's Elga (title role) and Life's Masquerade; had 3-year engagement under Albert Ranft at Vasa Theater, Stockholm, starring in Quality Street, You Never Can Tell, Catherine and L'Autre Danger; under management of Charles Frohman, made NY debut as Renée de Rould in The Attack (1912), followed by Liberty Hall and Indian Summer; appeared in London in The Attack (1914) but returned to US, appearing in The Heart of a Thief, The Trap, The Boomerang and Three for Diana; with husband, wrote the play What's the Big Idea (1926).