Monica Z is a biopic about the Swedish singer and actress Monica Zetterlund focusing on her journey from a job as a telephone operator in a small town in Sweden to stardom in the clubs of New York and Stockholm. During her career, Zetterlund recorded numerous jazz albums and appeared in 10 films. In 1963 she represented Sweden in the Eurovision song contest and in 1972 won Sweden's national film prize - a Guldbagge - for best supporting actress for her role in The Emigrants (Utvandrarna). Scoliosis forced Zetterlund to retired from performing in 1999. She died six years later after a fire in her apartment in Stockholm.