Anita Ekberg

 

Kerstin Marianne Ekberg (Swedish pronunciation (listen), 29 September 1931 - 1 January 2015) was an Swedish actress, best known for her beautiful physique and attractive appearance. She was famous for her character as Sylvia in the Federico Fellini film La Dolce Vita (1960). Ekberg mostly worked in Italy where she became a permanent residence in 1964. Anita Ekberg was the sixth child of eight. Anita was a model for fashion throughout her teens. Ekberg upon the request by her mother, in 1950, entered Miss Malmo. She was crowned the Miss Sweden contest. Despite not speaking fluent English and Swedish, she travelled to the United States to compete to win the Miss Universe title for 1951. While 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 an opportunity to be a starlet. As a starlet at Universal they gave her lessons in elocution, drama, horseback riding, dancing and fencing. She was briefly seen in The Mississippi Gambler (1953), Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953) (playing an actress on Venus), Take Me to Town (1953), and The Golden Blade (1953).