Anita Ekberg

 

Kerstin Anita Marianne Ekberg (Swedish pronunciation (listen) 29 September 1931 11 January 2015) was a Swedish actress in American and European films, renowned for her beautiful and striking silhouette. She was famous for her iconic character in the role of Sylvia in the Federico Fellini film La Dolce Vita (1960). Ekberg mostly worked in Italy which is where she was a permanent resident in 1964.Anita Ekberg was born on 29 September 1931, in (Sweden) she was the sixth child of eight. Anita worked as a fashion model throughout her teenage years. Ekberg was a participant in the Miss Malmo competition in 1950 on the advice of her mother. She took home the Miss Sweden contest. Despite speaking little English Ekberg traveled to the United States to compete in the Miss Universe 1951 title. This was an official pageant in the year 1951. The pageant was officially made officially recognized in 1952. Ekberg was not the winner of the Miss Universe pageant. However she was among six Finalists. Universal Studios offered her an exclusive starlet contract. She was a Universal starlet who received instruction in dramatization, elocution  as well as horseback riding, fencing, and elocution. She was briefly seen 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).