As is generally known among fans, in her teens Geena spent a year as an exchange student in Sweden. When she won the 2006 Golden Globe, Swedish newspapers had feature articles about her host family and ex-fiancee.

- She is still as beautiful now as then. Down to earth and nice. I care for her very much, says Rune Sundelius (79), father of the family from Sandviken, Sweden, with whom Geena lived for a year from 1973-1974. Already back then, 17 years old Virginia Davis had her career planned.

- All the time she talked about how she wanted to become a movie star, says Karin Sundelin (78), Geena’s host mother. Geena’s “real” family wholeheartedly supported her dream, and worked hard so that she could attend drama studies at the Boston University.

- We could hardly imagine that she was going to be a celebrity of such caliber, though, says Rune.

The Sundelins and Geena have kept in touch, primarily through letters (in Swedish!), even though the frequency has decreased a bit over the years. Their son, Lars, is living in California and has more frequent contact. Last time Geena and her host parents talked over the phone was 4 years ago.

- We talked on the phone when she had just had her first child. We talked about how we were doing. I told her about life here in Sandviken - she told me about life in Hollywood, says Karin.

The couple has seen several of Geena’s films, however; Rune admits that the well known movie, “Thelma and Louise”, was a bit much and not exactly his cup of tea.

Rune and Karin admit that an invitation to come visit Geena would’ve been fun.

- It would’ve been cool to go there and meet her, says Rune.
- Yes, definitely, but it probably would be hard to return home again, adds Karin.

- She was my first love, says Mats Dahlsköld - I still have the ring, locked inside my safe-deposit box.

During a school trip to Amsterdam in 1974, the first spark of romance was lit between students Mats and Geena. Later that same spring, they exchanged inexpensive silver rings, with each other’s names engraved. Mats even came to visit Geena after she’d returned home to Wareham, Massachusetts, but after he’d returned to Sweden, they soon realized that there literally was an ocean between them. They agreed to break it up, but Mats admits that it was a difficult time:

- It was incredibly painful. Over a period of nine months, I lost 17 kilos; only ate to survive. I guess that’s what they call unhappy love.

Even though not so often anymore, they still keep in touch, mostly by email, to keep each other informed about their respective lives. They’ve met on four occasions, in the States and on the latest occasion, in 1998, in Sweden. Mats’ wife Eva has also gotten to know Geena. Geena speaks Swedish close to fluent, and all communication, written or spoken, is in Mats’ mother tongue.

- Geena is an incredibly generous person, says Mats. - We had a great time together and split as friends, and that’s why we have managed to keep a good relationship between us ever since. Each time we meet, it’s like we just pick up the conversation from where we left it the last time.

Mats does not have any lost dreams about what could’ve been if they’d stayed together. He is content with his life in a Swedish suburb, and wouldn’t swap his wife with Geena.

- I am incredibly lucky to have a relationship to both of them, though on different levels, Mats smiles.

Mats’ favorite films of hers are “Thelma och Louise” and “The Long Kiss Goodnight”.

Does he think she should run for President in real life, the paper asks.
- I prefer her as an actress, Mats laughs.

Original stories by Anders Haraldsson and Jörgen Larsson (host family story), and Knut-Göran Källberg and Joachim Kerpner (fiancee story). Photography by Fredrik Hofgaard (family) and Björn Lindahl (fiancee).