Anita Ekberg

 

Kerstin Marianne Ekberg (Swedish pronunciation (listen) 29 September 1931-11 January 2015) was an Swedish actress, best known for her beautiful shape and beauty. Her character as Sylvia in Federico Fellini's 1960 film La Dolce Vita (1960) was a hit and made her famous. Ekberg was born in Sweden on the 29th September 1931. She was the sixth child of eight. Anita was a model during her teens. Ekberg upon the request of her mother, in 1950 she entered Miss Malmo. The contest was won by her in the Miss Sweden contest. Despite her inability to speak English the contestant traveled to the United States to compete to win the Miss Universe title for 1951. While it was a non-formal pageant that was later made an official pageant, it was formalized in 1952. Ekberg was not crowned the Miss Universe pageant. However she was one of six finalists. Universal Studios offered her an exclusive starlet contract. She was a Universal starlet, and was given lessons in dramatization and elocution dancing as well as horseback riding, fencing and elocution. She appeared briefly in The Mississippi Gambler (1953), Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953) (playing a woman in Venus), Take Me to Town (1953), and The Golden Blade (1953).