Anita Ekberg

 

Kerstin Anita Marianne Ekberg (Swedish pronunciation (listen) 29 September 1931 11 January 2015) was a Swedish actress who appeared in American and European films, renowned for her beauty and stunning figure. Her role as Sylvia, in Federico Fellini's movie La Dolce Vita (1960) has made her a household name. Ekberg was primarily employed in Italy where she became a permanent residence in 1964. Anita Ekberg was the eighth child in a family of eight. Anita was a fashion model in her teens. In response to the wishes of her mother, Ekberg was a contestant in Miss Malmo in 1950. The result was that she won the Miss Sweden contest. Despite speaking very little English, she went to the United States to compete for the 1951 Miss Universe title (an unofficial pageant until the pageant officially became official in 1952). Ekberg wasn't the Miss Universe winner, but she was one of six finalists. She did however earn a contract with Universal Studios as a starlet. Ekberg was an Universal Starlet, where she was taught the art of elocution, drama and dance. She was briefly featured in The Mississippi Gambler (1953), Abbott and Costello (as an actress in Venus), Take Me to Town (1853), and The Golden Blade (1953).