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 silhouette. Her role as Sylvia in Federico Fellini's film La Dolce Vita (1960) was a major hit. Ekberg mostly worked in Italy which is where she was permanent residence in 1964.Anita Ekberg was born on 29 September 1931, in (Sweden), the sixth child of eight. When she was in her teens, Anita worked as a fashion model. Ekberg, at the urging by her mother in 1950 she entered Miss Malmo. She took home the Miss Sweden contest. Even though she spoke very little English the contestant traveled to the United States to compete for the 1951 Miss Universe title (an unofficial pageant at that time, the pageant officially became official in 1952). Ekberg did not win the Miss Universe pageant. However she was among six semi-finalists. Universal Studios offered her an opportunity to be a starlet. She was an Universal starlet who received instruction in dramatization, elocution  horses, horseback riding and elocution. She appeared in a few scenes in The Mississippi Gambler (1953), Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953) (playing the role of a woman in Venus), Take Me to Town (1953), and The Golden Blade (1953).