- Pleasure for me in my life means doing something important, for my family, my friends and other people. Not doing nothing, says Frida.
We meet her at the Santa Ponsas golf court in Mallorca. She is not here to play golf herself this day, even though that is a big hobby of hers.
No, she is really working hard. She and her husband Ruzzo are hosting a golf tournament for two days.
I get a chance to talk to Frida in one of the small golf cars. We have a little conversation about life, love and most of all Mentor. The last
being the reason for her to be here. The golf tournament is part of Mentor's
annual meeting in Mallorca. The reason for being in Mallorca this time is a project here on the island. Together with Queen Silvia, the Duke of Luxembourg, the business man George Soros, Queen Noor and others Frida is part of this foundation which contributes with support to different projects in the world working for preventing drug use.
- Education is a big part of this. We want to create cooperation between parents, teachers and people who work with the young, Frida explains. She
talks with passion about the foundation and the inspiring work. Why? After just releasing a new CD two years ago - after 12 years - she could deserve to take some time off, and just do nothing?
- To do something good is important. It's my way of enjoying life.
We all know her life well: ABBA, world fame, touring, a place in the sun (sometimes), separation (also in her private life), moving, silence and a new love and security. Now she finally feels at home in this turbulent life she says:
- I am me. I like myself. If you want to lead a full life it takes years to get to know yourself and accept all the things you are, the things youlike and the things you're not so fond of. She has spent a lot of time thinking about this.
- Everyone has many facets to their personality within and identity
lies in every form of outgoing motion that has something to do with work, family, friends and other things. But in a deeper sense identity to me
is what you see in yourself and who you realise you are eventually. That
changes the whole life through, the older you get and it depends what happens in your life. You don't stand still if you don't want to, she says seriously.
Then she smiles, says hi to some golfers passing by. "Hi! How's it going today? The weather's a little better! Great!"
Her husband Ruzzo stands a little bit away discussing golf rules with some of the golfers. They are deeply involved in each others work. Here it's him contributing with his golf skills to make the annual meeting of Mentor even better.
- It's natural that we help each other, she says. We have a very good relation built on strong and solid basic love. We have been through a lot together. And it doesn't matter wheter you're rich or poor, or don't use drugs. There are so many other things that can bring sorrow in one's life. The tragic accident that took Frida's daughter away from her is nothing she wants to - or is able to - discuss yet. Just the mentioning of it hurts her and she definitely doesn't want to talk about in public.
- He is a wonderful man, she says about Ruzzo. Not just for me. I think most people who gets to know him likes him very, very much.
He is both handsome - and - very nice. A prince - and she is a princess. At official gatherings and dinners etc her full name is used: Princess Anni-Frid Reuss.
- I have a prince who is one of the most normal men there is, she says and laughs. We do not live with any titles in our day to day life. We live in the country with our dog and Ruzzo has his work as a golf course architect, which takes most of his time during spring and summer. But titles like
these can come in handy, she realises that. Like for instance when it comes to organising things like the work for Mentor.
On CD she is just Frida. It was her big desire to work again that made her come back after twelve years of musical silence. During those years she has been involved in a lot of other things like her family and the environmental work. But there was always a desire to sing.
- I wanted to work with my voice again. The way I have for so many years
and it's just not something that you can stop doing. There was a void that needed to be filled.
To say that bad fortune would bring out the best, a geniality of some sort for performers, poets and actors is something Frida does not believe in.
- All humans have sorrow in their lives and we have to go through it, work through sadness and losses. It can create positive thoughts and be a foundation for creativity during a period of time. But to have success in life as a human being you have to acknowledge all parts of your life. And there is so many other things apart from creativity. I myself am pedantic so I like to have control over everything I do and that includes all aspects of my life.
Back home in Sweden, in Trosa where Frida's son Hasse lives, there is a recording studio which both Hasse and Ruzzo has created. It's build with a futuristic vision of multimedia. The connection to Sweden is strong, with her son in Trosa and the place where she works. Ruzzo has children and a home in southern Sweden. And they have their friends there.
- Apart from going to Sweden we don't travel very much. Ruzzo has his work in Switzerland and we don't come here to Mallorca as often as I would like, she tells us and hurries off to continue working. She has to prepare a speech for the price ceremony and other things for the meeting next day. She likes it. She is happy as a business woman. Wants to feel needed and usefull.
- Give something back of all the things I have received in life.
Svensk Damtidning 23 July 1998