Ulla (The Producers)

Ulla Inga Hansen Benson Yansen Tallen Hallen Svaden Swanson is a fictional character by Mel Brooks from his 1968 film "The Producers" (MGM), which was remade as film in 2005 (Universal) and as Broadway musical in 2001.

In the 1968 film, she is played by Lee Meredith, in the 2001 musical by Cady Huffman, and in the 2005 film, she is played by Uma Thurman.

1968 Film

In the 1968 film, Ulla is introduced as a "toy" that Max found in the local library, and is a symbol of his new found affluence. She can speak little English, but is a jiggly dancer, and can dance better than type. She also constantly says "God dag på dig", and provides a sexier counterpoint to Max's older girlfriends.

Lee Meredith reprised the dance for the 2005 DVD extras.

2001 Musical

In the musical play adapted from the 1968 film, Ulla introduces herself as a Swedish actress looking for a part in Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom's production "Springtime for Hitler". She is a stereotypical Swedish woman: tall and beautiful with lovely blonde hair. She performs a song she wrote called "When You Got It, Flaunt It". She decided to audition when a "crazy man" (Max) yelled at her the previous day. While the casting isn't to start for quite a while, Max and Leo hire her as their secretary/receptionist. Following the unwanted success of Springtime for Hitler, she and Leo flee to Rio de Janeiro where they marry. Her maiden name is never mentioned, but by the end of the play she is Ulla Inga Hansen-Bensen-Yanson-Tallen-Hallen-Svaden-Swanson Bloom.Earlier, Max and Leo ask her to clean up their place while they're gone, but she doesn't understand English very well, and after they leave, she paints Max's office entirely white. Little of her role in the "Springtime for Hitler" play is shown, but she plays a showgirl representing the German Imperial Eagle and later appears as Eva Braun. In Max/Leo's second production, "Prisoners of Love", she plays the lead prisoner/singer.