Anita Ekberg

 

Kerstin Anita Marianne Ekberg (Swedish pronunciation (listen) 29 September 1931 - 11 January 2015) was an Swedish actress in American and European films, known for her beautiful and stunning appearance. Her iconic role of Sylvia in Federico Fellini's film La Dolce Vita (1960) was a major hit. Ekberg was primarily employed in Italy which she later made her permanent resident in 1964. Anita Ekberg was the eighth child in a family of eight. When she was in her teens, Anita worked as a fashion model. Ekberg was influenced by the advice by her mother in 1950, entered Miss Malmo. She was crowned the Miss Sweden contest. Despite speaking very little English she travelled to the United States to compete for the 1951 Miss Universe title (an unofficial pageant until the pageant became official in 1952). Ekberg did not win the title of Miss Universe winner, but she was among six finalist. She did , however, earn the contract of Universal Studios as a starlet. As a starlet at Universal they gave her lessons in elocution and drama, dancing, horseback riding, and fencing. She was briefly seen in The Mississippi Gambler (1953), Abbott and Costello (as a woman in Venus), Take Me to Town (1853), and The Golden Blade (1953).