Anna Quirentia Nilsson (March 30, 1888 – February 11, 1974) was a Swedish actress who achieved success in American silent movies.

Born in Ystad, Skåne län, Sweden, Nilsson began her film career in 1911 and during the silent era was one of the most popular and successful actresses, appearing in approximately 150 films before the introduction of talking pictures. In her autobiography Gloria Swanson acknowledges Nilsson as the first "real" movie star, and also the first woman to become wealthy on the basis of a film acting career.

With the introduction of sound films, Nilsson's career went into a sharp decline, although she continued to play small, often uncredited parts in films into the 1950s. Her best known sound performance is arguably her turn as "herself", referred to as one of the "waxworks" in Swanson's Sunset Boulevard (1950).

Nilsson has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contribution to motion pictures at 6150 Hollywood Boulevard. She died in Hemet, California.

References

• Swanson, Gloria : Swanson on Swanson, The Making of a Hollywood Legend. Hamlyn, 1981. ISBN 0600204960