Anita Ekberg

 

Kerstin Anita Marianne Ekberg (Swedish pronunciation (listen) 29 September 1931 - 11 January 2015) was a Swedish actress in American and European film, well-known for her beauty and stunning figure. Her fame was heightened by her iconic role in the role of Sylvia in the Federico Fellini film La Dolce Vita (1960). Ekberg primarily worked in Italy which she later made her permanent resident in the year 1964. Anita Ekberg was the eighth child in a family of eight. Anita worked as a fashion model throughout her teenage years. Ekberg was a participant in the Miss Malmo competition in 1950 following the advice of her mother. She took home the Miss Sweden contest. Despite her inability to speak English She travelled to the United States to compete to take home the Miss Universe title for 1951. Although it was an informal pageant that was later made an official pageant, it was formalized in 1952. While Ekberg was not crowned the Miss Universe pageant, as one of the six finalists she did get a starlet's contract with Universal Studios. As a starlet at Universal they gave her lessons in elocution, drama, horseback riding, dancing and fencing. She appeared briefly in The Mississippi Gambler (1953), Abbott and Costello go to Mars (1953), Take Me to Town (1953) as well as The Golden Blade (53).