She is known for being a leading actor in the 1569 Plot to free and reinstate the imprisoned and deposed king Erik XIV of Sweden.
Elin Andersdotter was reportedly the widow of a certain Gerdt Svärdfejare from Vadstena, and remarried at an unknown time to a man by the name Hans Andersson.
The plan was the ship owner Per Larsson would fire at the city of Stockholm, and that the former monarch should be able to flee from his prison in the royal palace during the confusion, and the gather followers in Dalarna, by which he could be reinstated upon the throne.
The conspirators consisted of members of the staff of the former royal couple Erik XIV and Karin Månsdotter: the secretary and mistress of the robes of Karin, Thomas Jakobsson and Elin Andersdotter; the ship owners Per Larsson and Frans Klementsson; the chaplain Jon, Per Pålsson and the spouse of Elin Andersdotter; Hans Andersson.
The conspirators held their conferences at the home of Jakobsson, who also handled the correspondence with Erik XIV, who was informed about the plot.