Maria Franck
Maria Kristina Franck (2 February 1771 – 17 April 1847) was a Swedish actress and drama teacher. She was a member of the pioneer generation of the Royal Dramatic Theatre, and belonged to the first stars of the theater. She has been referred to as her country's first native dramatic tragedienne. She was the principal of the Royal Dramatic Training Academy from 1819 to 1823. During her last years on stage, she was known under her name as married, Ruckman. Life Maria Franck was the daughter of a bricklayer journeyman, Johan Franck, and Brita Lundström. In 1784, she was enrolled as a student of the Royal Swedish Opera. Her mentors where Marie Louise Marcadet and Monvel, members of the French theatre. Monvel where reportedly impressed by her talent and she was trained as an actress exclusively for speaking drama and not as a singer of opera. Career In 1788, Maria Franck was contracted as a "First actress" of the Royal Dramatic Theatre, which was founded that year. She was as such also a member of the actors board of directors, which managed the theater until 1803. Maria Franck achieved great success foremost as a tragedienne, and as such, she has