Anita Ekberg

 

Kerstin Anita Marianne Ekberg (Swedish pronunciation (listen) 29 September 1931 11 January 2015) was an Swedish actress in American and European film, well-known for her beautiful and stunning body. She gained notoriety for her iconic character in the role of Sylvia in the Federico Fellini film La Dolce Vita (1960). Ekberg mostly worked in Italy, where she became an permanent resident in 1964.Anita Ekberg was born on 29 September 1931, in (Sweden) she was the sixth of eight children. Anita was a model for fashion during her teens. Ekberg upon the request of her mother in 1950 was a contestant in Miss Malmo. It led to her being her being selected for the Miss Sweden contest which she was crowned. Despite not being fluent in English the contestant traveled to the United States to compete to be awarded the Miss Universe title for 1951. Although it was an informal pageant that was later made an official pageant, it was official in 1952. Even though Ekberg was not the winner of the Miss Universe pageant, as one of the six finalists, she did win an actress' contract with Universal Studios. As a starlet at Universal she received training in drama, elocution, horses, dancing and fencing. She appeared in a few scenes in The Mississippi Gambler (1953), Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953) (playing a woman on Venus), Take Me to Town (1953), and The Golden Blade (1953).