Anita Ekberg

 

Kerstin Aita Marianne (Swedish pronunciation (listen) 29/09/1931 to 11/01/2015) was a Swedish actress, known for her attractive and striking physique. The role she played as Sylvia, in Federico Federlini's film La Dolce Vita (1960) has made her a household name. Ekberg was born in Sweden on the 29th of September 1931. She was the sixth child of eight. Anita was a fashion model during her teens. Ekberg took part in the Miss Malmo competition in 1950 on the advice of her mother. This led to her being selected for the Miss Sweden contest which she won. Despite speaking little English she travelled to America to compete for the Miss Universe 1951 title. It was an not an official pageant at the time. The pageant was officially made official in 1952. Even though Ekberg was not crowned the Miss Universe pageant, as one of the six finalists, she did win an actress' contract with Universal Studios. She was a Universal starlet, and was given lessons in dramatization, elocution dancing and horseback riding, fencing, and elocution. She appeared briefly in The Mississippi Gambler (1953), Abbott and Costello (as a woman on Venus), Take Me to Town (1853), and The Golden Blade (1953).