A Royal Affair, Ex Machina star to voice documentary set for Cannes Film Festival.

Ingrid Bergman - In Her Own Words

Fast rising Swedish actress Alicia Vikander is to be the “voice” of legendary star Ingrid Bergman in Stig Björkman’s documentary Ingrid Bergman - In her Own Words

Speaking to ScreenDaily, Björkman described Vikander as “the Bergman of today”.

The film, sold by TrustNordisk, receives its world premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival in mid-May prior to its Swedish release on August 28 - the day before the centenary of Ingrid Bergman’s birth. Cannes will also commemorate the centenary by featuring the late Casablanca star on its poster.

Vikander (A Royal Affair, Testament Of Youth) was apparently eager to join the film.

Björkman has unearthed unique personal records of Bergman - including home movies, films of her as a child, diary entries and many letters.

“I’ve met Alicia a couple of times over the years and I like her very much,” Björkman said of Vikander. “I also thought it was nice because really she is the Ingrid Bergman of today. She is making film after film in England and America and wherever.

“She is also a fine young actress. That is also why I wanted her to join.”

Another perhaps unexpected contributor in the Bergman documentary is US actress and producer Sigourney Weaver. It turns out that one of the Alien star’s first ever professional engagements, in 1975, was as an understudy in a Broadway production of A Constant Wife directed by John Gielgud and in which Bergman starred.

Ingrid Bergman - In her Own Words is produced by Stina Gardell for Mantaray Film, co-produced by ZDF, SVT, NTR, YLE, Jonas Gardell Produktion, Spellbound Capital and Filminvestment in Örebro through Filmregion Stockholm-Mälardalen and Chimney Pot AB with support from Swedish Film Institute, EU Creative Europe, Nordisk Film & TV Fond and Konstnärsnämnden.

Nordic distribution is being handled through NonStop Entertainment.