Anita Ekberg, the Swedish actress known for her stunning beauty and talent, led a life marked by both success and hardship. Born into a devout family,
she faced strong opposition from her father when she pursued acting. Despite this, she moved to Italy at 18 to chase her dreams, embracing her passion for the craft.Her journey to international fame was a testament to her determination and resilience. However, as she navigated the pressures of fame, Ekberg also struggled with significant health issues, which eventually affected her appearance and well-being.
Kerstin Anita Marianne Ekberg[1] (29 September 1931 – 11 January 2015) was a Swedish actress active in American and European films, known for her beauty and curvaceous figure. She became prominent in her iconic role as Sylvia in the Federico Fellini film La Dolce Vita (1960).[2] Ekberg worked primarily in Italy, where she became a permanent resident in 1964.[3]
Early life
Anita Ekberg was born on 29 September 1931, in Malmö, Skåne (Sweden), the sixth of eight children. In her teens, Anita worked as a fashion model. Ekberg entered the Miss Malmö competition in 1950 at her mother's urging. This led to the Miss Sweden contest which she won. Despite speaking very little English, she went to the United States to compete for the 1951 Miss Universe title (an unofficial pageant at that time, the pageant became official in 1952).[2]
Career
Universal Studios
Although Ekberg did not win the Miss Universe pageant, as one of six finalists, she did earn a starlet's contract with Universal Studios.[4]
As a starlet at Universal, she received lessons in drama, elocution, dancing, horseback riding, and fencing. She appeared briefly in The Mississippi Gambler (1953) with Tyrone Power, Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953) (playing a woman on Venus), Take Me to Town (1953) with Ann Sheridan, and The Golden Blade (1953) with Rock Hudson and Piper Laurie.
Ekberg skipped many of her drama lessons, restricting herself to riding horses in the Hollywood Hills. Ekberg later admitted she was spoiled by the studio system and played, instead of pursuing bigger film roles.[4] Universal dropped her after six months.[5]
