Anita Ekberg

 

Kerstin Marianne Ekberg (Swedish pronunciation (listen) 29 September 1931-11 January 2015.) was an actress from Sweden, famous for her stunning figure and beauty. Her character as Sylvia, in Federico Federlini's film La Dolce Vita (1960) has made her a household name. Ekberg worked primarily in Italy and became permanent residents in 1964.Anita Ekberg was born on 29 September 1931, in (Sweden) in Sweden, sixth child of eight. Anita worked as fashion model during her teens. Ekberg upon the request by her mother, in 1950 she entered Miss Malmo. This resulted in her winning the Miss Sweden contest. Despite not being fluent in English and Swedish, she travelled to the United States to compete to be awarded the Miss Universe title for 1951. Although it was an informal pageant and the official one was official in 1952. Ekberg was not the winner of the Miss Universe pageant. However she was among six finalists. Universal Studios offered her the chance to sign a starlet contract. She was an Universal starlet and took lessons in dramatization, elocution  and 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).