Agnes von Rosen | |
|---|---|
 Agnes von Rosen, Sydney 1955 | |
| Born | Agnes Elsa Clara Lilian Maud September 8, 1924 Stockholm, Sweden |
| Died | April 11, 2001 (aged 76) Mexico |
| Occupation(s) | Stunt performer, Bullfighter, Actor |
| Known for | Car stunts |
| Spouse | Lars Wahlquist |
| Children | Christina Sabine Maud von Rosen, Johan Wahlquist |
Agnes von Rosen (September 8, 1924 – April 4, 2001) was a Swedish aristocrat, bullfighter, and stunt performer. She spent most of her later years in Mexico.
Agnes von Rosen, the daughter of Gustaf-Fredrik von Rosen, sometime military attaché to the Swedish embassy in London, was born on 8 September 1924.[1] Graduating in physiotherapy at Lund University, Sweden, she acted in French and Italian films and had toured in shows throughout America as a bullfighter. She was also related to the House of Bernadotte, Sweden's Royal Family.[2]
According to The Australian Women's Weekly, she became interested in bullfighting after seeing a newsreel of a woman fighting bulls on horseback when she was 12.[3] After marrying Lars Wahlquist, she moved to Mexico to pursue her dreams of becoming a bullfighter.[4] She divorced Lars in 1949. By this time, she was the mother of Christina Sabine Maud von Rosen and Johan Wahlquist.[1]
In September 1955, the 'Hell Drivers' opened their ‘Hollywood Tournament of Thrills’ at the Sydney Showground. This 'tournament' brought together some of the world's greatest stunt drivers for a night of thrills and spills during which they performed over 22 different stunts.[3] One of these stunts was done by Agnes von Rosen, who was pulled behind one of the cars as it hurtled through a wall of flames.[4]
Agnes von Rosen died in Mexico on 11 April 2001 aged 76.[1]
