Anita Ekberg, the Swedish actress known for her stunning beauty and talent, led a life marked by both success and hardship. Born into a devout family,
she faced strong opposition from her father when she pursued acting. Despite this, she moved to Italy at 18 to chase her dreams, embracing her passion for the craft.Her journey to international fame was a testament to her determination and resilience. However, as she navigated the pressures of fame, Ekberg also struggled with significant health issues, which eventually affected her appearance and well-being.
KERSTIN ANITA MARIANNE EKBERG[1] (29 SEPTEMBER 1931 – 11 JANUARY 2015) WAS A SWEDISH ACTRESS ACTIVE IN AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN FILMS, KNOWN FOR HER BEAUTY AND CURVACEOUS FIGURE. SHE BECAME PROMINENT IN HER ICONIC ROLE AS SYLVIA IN THE FEDERICO FELLINI FILM LA DOLCE VITA (1960).[2] EKBERG WORKED PRIMARILY IN ITALY, WHERE SHE BECAME A PERMANENT RESIDENT IN 1964.[3]
EARLY LIFE
ANITA EKBERG WAS BORN ON 29 SEPTEMBER 1931, IN MALMÖ, SKÅNE (SWEDEN), THE SIXTH OF EIGHT CHILDREN. IN HER TEENS, ANITA WORKED AS A FASHION MODEL. EKBERG ENTERED THE MISS MALMÖ COMPETITION IN 1950 AT HER MOTHER'S URGING. THIS LED TO THE MISS SWEDEN CONTEST WHICH SHE WON. DESPITE SPEAKING VERY LITTLE ENGLISH, SHE WENT TO THE UNITED STATES TO COMPETE FOR THE 1951 MISS UNIVERSE TITLE (AN UNOFFICIAL PAGEANT AT THAT TIME, THE PAGEANT BECAME OFFICIAL IN 1952).[2]
CAREER
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
ALTHOUGH EKBERG DID NOT WIN THE MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT, AS ONE OF SIX FINALISTS, SHE DID EARN A STARLET'S CONTRACT WITH UNIVERSAL STUDIOS.[4]
AS A STARLET AT UNIVERSAL, SHE RECEIVED LESSONS IN DRAMA, ELOCUTION, DANCING, HORSEBACK RIDING, AND FENCING. SHE APPEARED BRIEFLY IN THE MISSISSIPPI GAMBLER (1953) WITH TYRONE POWER, ABBOTT AND COSTELLO GO TO MARS (1953) (PLAYING A WOMAN ON VENUS), TAKE ME TO TOWN (1953) WITH ANN SHERIDAN, AND THE GOLDEN BLADE (1953) WITH ROCK HUDSON AND PIPER LAURIE.
EKBERG SKIPPED MANY OF HER DRAMA LESSONS, RESTRICTING HERSELF TO RIDING HORSES IN THE HOLLYWOOD HILLS. EKBERG LATER ADMITTED SHE WAS SPOILED BY THE STUDIO SYSTEM AND PLAYED, INSTEAD OF PURSUING BIGGER FILM ROLES.[4] UNIVERSAL DROPPED HER AFTER SIX MONTHS.[5]
Personal life
Ekberg in Lund in 2007
Both of Ekberg's marriages were to actors, but neither of them succeeded. She was married to Anthony Steel from 22 May 1956 until their divorce on 14 May 1959 and to Rik Van Nutter from 9 April 1963 until their divorce in 1975.[2][6] In a 2006 interview she said she wished she had a child,[25] but stated just the opposite six months later.[26] Ekberg's great love was Gianni Agnelli, the Italian industrialist and owner of Fiat. They were lovers for several years, although he was married.[27][28]
Ekberg was often outspoken in interviews, e.g., naming famous people she reportedly "couldn't bear". She was also frequently quoted as saying that it was Fellini who owed his success to her, rather than vice versa: "They would like to keep up the story that Fellini made me famous, that Fellini discovered me", she said in a 1999 interview with The New York Times.[29]
In 1960, after paparazzi followed her home to her villa from a nightclub, she was photographed kneeing one of them in the groin, and pulling out a bow and arrow to threaten others.[30] Felice Quinto claimed she shot arrows at him. [31]
Ekberg did not live in Sweden after the early 1950s, and rarely visited the country. However, she welcomed Swedish journalists into her home outside Rome and in 2005, appeared on the popular radio program Sommar, talking about her life. She stated in an interview that she would not move back to Sweden but would be buried there.[25]
In 1963, she was sued by her publicist.[32] In 1977, she was robbed in August and in December.[33]
On 19 July 2009, she was admitted to the San Giovanni Hospital in Rome after falling ill in her home in Genzano, according to a medical official in the hospital's neurosurgery department. Despite her condition not being serious, Ekberg was put under observation in the facility.[34]
In December 2011, it was reported that the 80-year-old Ekberg was "destitute" following three months in a Rimini hospital with a broken hip, during which time her home was robbed of jewelry and furniture,[2] and her villa was badly damaged by fire.[35] Ekberg applied for help from the Fellini Foundation, which also found itself in difficult financial straits.[36]
Death
Ekberg died on 11 January 2015, at the age of 83, at the clinic San Raffaele in Rocca di Papa, Roman Castles, from complications of chronic illnesses. The actress had been in a wheelchair for several years after being knocked down by one of her pet Great Danes, which broke her hip.[2][37][38] Ekberg's funeral service was held on 14 January 2015, at the Lutheran-Evangelical Christuskirche in Rome, after which her body was cremated and her remains were buried at the cemetery of Skanör Church in Sweden, in accordance with her wishes to be buried in the land of her birth.[39]