Anita Ekberg

 

Kerstin Anita Marianne Ekberg (Swedish pronunciation (listen) 29 September 1931 - 11 January 2015) was a Swedish actress, who was active in American and European film, well-known for her beauty and striking appearance. She became prominent in her iconic role in the role of Sylvia in the Federico Fellini film La Dolce Vita (1960). Ekberg was a major part of Italy, where she became an permanent resident in 1964.Anita Ekberg was born on 29 September 1931 in (Sweden) she was the eighth child in a family of eight. Anita was a model during her teens. Ekberg was influenced by the advice by her mother, in 1950, entered Miss Malmo. This led to the Miss Sweden contest which she won. Despite speaking little English she travelled to America to compete for the Miss Universe 1951 title. This was an unofficial pageant at the time. The pageant was officially made officially recognized in 1952. While Ekberg did not win the Miss Universe pageant, as one of the six finalists she was able to sign an actress' contract with Universal Studios. She was an Universal starlet who received instruction in dramatization, elocution  as well as horseback riding, fencing, and elocution. The film she appeared in was The Mississippi Gambler (1953), Abbott and Costello (as the woman on Venus), Take Me to Town (1853), and The Golden Blade (1953).