Anita Ekberg

 

Kerstin Anita Marianne Ekberg (Swedish pronunciation (listen) 29 September 1931 - 11 January 2015) was an Swedish actress who appeared in American and European films, famous for her beauty and stunning body. Her role as Sylvia, in Federico Fellini's movie La Dolce Vita (1960) became well-known. Ekberg performed her work mainly in Italy, where she became permanent residents in 1964.Anita Ekberg was born on 29 September 1931 in (Sweden), the sixth child of eight. As a teenager, Anita worked as a fashion model. 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 traveled to the United States to compete to win the Miss Universe title for 1951. While it was an informal contest and the official one was official in 1952. Ekberg was not the winner of the Miss Universe pageant. However she was one of six finalists. Universal Studios offered her the chance to sign a starlet contract. As the starlet at Universal, she received lessons in elocution, drama, dancing, horseback riding, and fencing. She appeared briefly in The Mississippi Gambler (1953), Abbott and Costello (as a woman in Venus), Take Me to Town (1853), and The Golden Blade (1953).