Anita Ekberg

 

Kerstin Aita Marianne (Swedish pronunciation (listen), 29/09/1931 until 11/01/2015) was an Swedish actress who was well-known for her attractive and striking physique. Her iconic role of Sylvia in Federico Fellini's film La Dolce Vita (1960) has made her famous. Ekberg primarily worked in Italy which was her permanent resident in the year 1964. Anita Ekberg was the sixth child of eight. Anita was a model in her teens. Ekberg participated in the Miss Malmo competition in 1950 on the advice of her mother. She took home the Miss Sweden contest. Despite having a very limited knowledge of English she travelled to the United States to compete for the 1951 Miss Universe title (an unofficial pageant at that time, the pageant was officially launched in 1952). Ekberg was not the winner of the Miss Universe pageant. However, she was one six Finalists. Universal Studios offered her an opportunity to be a starlet. She was a Universal starlet who received instruction in dramatization, elocution  and horseback riding, fencing and elocution. She did a brief appearance in The Mississippi Gambler (1953), Abbott and Costello go to Mars (1953), Take Me to Town (1953) as well as The Golden Blade (53).