Swedish-US actress and presenter Malin Akerman (L) and Swedish actress and presenter Petra Mede pose for a photograph after the primary rehearsal for the primary semi-final of the 68th version of the Eurovision Tune Contest (Getty)
The Eurovision 2024 grand last is simply across the nook: it is going to happen on 11 Might in Malmö, the beautiful capital of Sweden – the host nation of this yr’s competitors. However who’re the presenters?
Annually, the host nation places up its personal presenters to entrance the festivities, whereas contestant international locations typically have their very own native hosts as nicely, who can present very important context and, within the case of the UK’s Graham Norton: hilarious quips.
In 2022, for instance, the competition was held in Turin, Italy, and the presenters from Italy had been Alessandro Cattelan, Laura Pausini and Mika.
For Eurovision 2024, which boasts a wealth of LGBTQ+ acts, Sweden has put ahead two presenters: Malin Åkerman and Petra Mede. However who’re they? Let’s have a deep dive and discover out.
Malin Åkerman
Malin Åkerman is an acclaimed Swedish-American actor who has appeared in lots of well-known motion pictures, together with The Utopia, Harold & Kumar Go to White Fortress, and 2009 superhero movie Watchmen.
She obtained a Saturn Award nomination for Greatest Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Laurie Jupiter/Silk Spectre II in Watchmen. She later spoke about how she felt like she was “out of her league” whereas making Watchmen and why the expertise marked a serious turning level for her profession at that time.
She’s additionally been in some well-known US TV exhibits, for instance she earned vital reward for her lead position on ABC sitcom Trophy Spouse, the place she performed Kate Harrison.
Åkerman additionally has a music background as nicely. For a short while within the early 2000s she was the lead vocalist for an alternate rock band known as the Petalstones, however left to give attention to her burgeoning performing profession. She’s married to UK actor Jack Donnelly, who starred within the BBC sequence Atlantis.
Jack Donnelly has a formidable Eurovision connection: His mom was the choreographer of Bucks Fizz’s successful dance routine on the 1981 Eurovision Tune Contest.
Petra Mede
Petra Mede is a stalwart of Swedish TV, with a number of presenter credit to her title. She’s an achieved comic, who has hosted the Eurovision Tune Contest previously: in 2013 and 2016, to be exact.
Mede is definitely musical: she began as a dancer after which briefly labored as a backing singer for Celine Dion earlier than turning her hand to comedy.
She’s offered Melodifestivalen previously, which is Sweden’s nationwide music contest the place the Eurovision entry for the nation is chosen.
In 2015 she and UK comic and TV presenter Graham Norton hosted the programme Eurovision’s Biggest Hits, which was recorded in London and later broadcast in 27 international locations all over the world.
In an interview with the official Eurovision 2024 web site, the presenters complimented one another. Malin described Petra as one of many funniest girls she’s ever met. Petra returned the praise, including: “We love the craziness and the insanity however typically me and Malin need to work towards that power, in any other case we’d simply be screaming on a regular basis.”
What’s Benjamin Ingrosso’s position in Eurovision 2024?
Benjamin Ingrosso is a Swedish singer-songwriter who represented Sweden within the Eurovision Tune Contest 2018, with the music “Dance You Off”. He positioned seventh within the last, receiving the utmost 12 factors from the juries of eight international locations.
Ingrosso will carry out a number of songs because the interval act within the first semi-final of the Eurovision Tune Contest 2024 in Malmö.
The Eurovision Tune Contest 2024 Grand Closing will happen on Saturday 11 Might.