Introducing... 'Doctor' Åsa Vilbäck
Introducing... is The Local's guide to the Swedish celebrity. In this installment Oliver Gee finds out more about Åsa Vilbäck - the doctor turned celebrity turned unwilling sex-symbol whose boyfriend is on trial for allegedly burning down his own mansion…
OK, so who is she and why is she famous?
Åsa Vilbäck is a 37-year-old doctor and hails from Skellefteå in northern Sweden. She’s famous because she ticks all the boxes – TV show host, celebrity doctor, posed nude a few times, was on the original Survivor TV show…
Sorry, posed nude?
Sigh. Yes, nude. This is Sweden, is it really such a big deal?
Yes it’s a big deal; tell the whole story
Seriously? OK, let’s get this out of the way early then. She was a pin-up on the cover of “Café” magazine in 1999, and raised readers’ eyebrows by wearing nothing more than a thin layer of paint in the Veckorevyn paper afterwards.
In 2009, her racy pin up pics were re-published by the magazine and Vilbäck told the Aftonbladet newspaper how much she regretted her decision to do the shoot – and that she wanted to be taken seriously as a doctor despite her blonde-bombshell looks and bamboozling bikini body.
What about Survivor, isn’t that an American show?
How dare you! Survivor was inspired by a Swedish television show, called “Expedition Robinson” and was on TV much earler! Dr. Åsa was on the very first season back in 1997. This is when she shot to fame.
So why are you writing about her today?
Well, glad you asked actually. Her boyfriend, Magnus Lundberg, has been all over the Swedish tabloids recently after allegedly burning down his own Stockholm mansion (that previously belonged to the late Harry Schein who founded the Swedish Film Institute).
Overwhelming evidence, including GPS trackers and surveillance of Lundberg buying lighter fluid, has made prosecutors sure that he lit the fire, however Lundberg vehemently claims that he didn’t start the fire. He was arrested three months ago and his trial began on Monday. It’s expected to last three days.
Why would he burn his own mansion?
This is about Åsa, not Lundberg. Next question.
Um, will she stand by her man?
How can we say? Early signs look good, but we’re just sticking with the facts today. Next?
OK, tell me more about her TV show - where can I find it?
Her show was called “Dr Åsa” and was featured on Sveriges Television (SVT). Vilbäck answered people’s medical questions for two seasons between 2008 and 2009.
What is she up to now, besides the whole court case?
She is writing a health column for the Dagens Medicin newspaper and it’s unlikely that she’ll do any more work as a pin up model.
Oliver Gee
Comments
See Also
OK, so who is she and why is she famous?
Åsa Vilbäck is a 37-year-old doctor and hails from Skellefteå in northern Sweden. She’s famous because she ticks all the boxes – TV show host, celebrity doctor, posed nude a few times, was on the original Survivor TV show…
Sorry, posed nude?
Sigh. Yes, nude. This is Sweden, is it really such a big deal?
Yes it’s a big deal; tell the whole story
Seriously? OK, let’s get this out of the way early then. She was a pin-up on the cover of “Café” magazine in 1999, and raised readers’ eyebrows by wearing nothing more than a thin layer of paint in the Veckorevyn paper afterwards.
In 2009, her racy pin up pics were re-published by the magazine and Vilbäck told the Aftonbladet newspaper how much she regretted her decision to do the shoot – and that she wanted to be taken seriously as a doctor despite her blonde-bombshell looks and bamboozling bikini body.
What about Survivor, isn’t that an American show?
How dare you! Survivor was inspired by a Swedish television show, called “Expedition Robinson” and was on TV much earler! Dr. Åsa was on the very first season back in 1997. This is when she shot to fame.
So why are you writing about her today?
Well, glad you asked actually. Her boyfriend, Magnus Lundberg, has been all over the Swedish tabloids recently after allegedly burning down his own Stockholm mansion (that previously belonged to the late Harry Schein who founded the Swedish Film Institute).
Overwhelming evidence, including GPS trackers and surveillance of Lundberg buying lighter fluid, has made prosecutors sure that he lit the fire, however Lundberg vehemently claims that he didn’t start the fire. He was arrested three months ago and his trial began on Monday. It’s expected to last three days.
Why would he burn his own mansion?
This is about Åsa, not Lundberg. Next question.
Um, will she stand by her man?
How can we say? Early signs look good, but we’re just sticking with the facts today. Next?
OK, tell me more about her TV show - where can I find it?
Her show was called “Dr Åsa” and was featured on Sveriges Television (SVT). Vilbäck answered people’s medical questions for two seasons between 2008 and 2009.
What is she up to now, besides the whole court case?
She is writing a health column for the Dagens Medicin newspaper and it’s unlikely that she’ll do any more work as a pin up model.
Oliver Gee
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.