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 beauty and striking figure. She gained notoriety for her character in the role of Sylvia in the Federico Fellini film La Dolce Vita (1960). Ekberg was born in Sweden on the 29th of September 1931. She was the sixth child of eight. As a teenager, Anita worked as a fashion model. At the request of her mother Ekberg took part in Miss Malmo in 1950. This resulted in the Miss Sweden contest which she was crowned. Despite not being fluent in English the contestant traveled to the United States to compete to win the Miss Universe title for 1951. Although it was an informal pageant that was later made an official pageant, it was official in 1952. Ekberg wasn't the Miss Universe winner, but she was among six finalists. She did , however, earn the contract of Universal Studios as a starlet. As a starlet at Universal they gave her lessons in elocution, drama horseback riding, dancing and fencing. She was briefly featured in The Mississippi Gambler (1953), Abbott and Costello (as an actress on Venus), Take Me to Town (1853), and The Golden Blade (1953).