“Börje – The Journey of a Legend” premiered on Viaplay in November 2023, and revolves around Börje Salmings life and career. In the main role is seen Walter Skarsgårdwhile Hedda Stiernstedt plays the hockey icon’s first wife Margitta Wendin. Amir Chamdin directs the series which in six parts follows Börje Salming all the way from Kiruna to Toronto in Canada.
Hedda Stiernstedt’s crazy trick – to sound like Margitta in the “Börje” series
Valter Skarsgård plays Börje Salming
For News24 Valter Skarsgård describes how his first meeting with Börje Salming immediately got him interested in the project.
How did it happen when you got the role?
– It was Börje, Amir and a producer that I met first. Börje sat and told his life story and I was completely captivated. So I told my agent right after, “I don’t care what it takes, I have to get this role. I will do anything.” And as luck would have it, Börje had left there and said to Amir: “That’s our guy. Now we have him”. So they stopped looking there.
This is how Börje Salming’s first wife Margitta Wendin lives today
Valter Skarsgård and Hedda Stiernstedt. Photo: Henrik Montgomery/TTBörje Salming and Valter Skarsgård’s last meeting: “Very nice”
In August 2022, Börje Salming told us that he had suffered from the nerve disease ALS, and on November 24 of the same year he passed away in the aftermath of the disease. Börje Salming was 71 years old when he died. At the same time, the filming of the series about his life was in full swing. Shortly before Börje Salming died, he flew to Toronto where he was celebrated in the Scotiabank Arena, and the actors of the drama series were also there.
All about Börje Salming: Children, wife Pia Salming and the ALS disease
How was your last meeting with Börje?
– It was very nice. We met in Toronto, partly at his farewell match but also on the “set” the next day. And you didn’t know it was the last time. You thought he had a while left. But we got to have a nice moment in any case, and he was still himself, even if he couldn’t communicate in the same way, says Valter Skarsgård.