Anita Ekberg

 

Kerstin Anita Marianne Ekberg (Swedish pronunciation (listen) 29 September 1931 - 11 January 2015) was an Swedish actress, who was active in American and European films, renowned for her beauty and striking figure. She was famous for her character in the role of Sylvia in the Federico Fellini film La Dolce Vita (1960). Ekberg mostly worked in Italy where she became a permanent residence in 1964. Anita Ekberg was the sixth of eight children. As a teenager, Anita worked as a fashion model. As per the requests of her mother Ekberg participated in Miss Malmo in 1950. She was crowned the Miss Sweden contest. Even though she could speak little English Ekberg traveled to America to compete in the Miss Universe 1951 title. This was an non-official pageant at the time. The pageant officially became official in 1952. Ekberg was not the Miss Universe winner, but she was one of six semi-finalists. She did however earn a contract with Universal Studios as a starlet. Ekberg was a Universal starlet where she was taught acting, dancing, and drama. She appeared briefly in The Mississippi Gambler (1953), Abbott and Costello (as an actress in Venus), Take Me to Town (1853), and The Golden Blade (1953).