Pinup girl: Anita Ekberg

Anita Ekberg

Such a beautiful girl didn't go unnoticed for Hollywood cinema studios. In 1951 when she was only 19 she became Miss Sweden and thanks to this title she took part in Miss Universe contest.

She had a small role in the comedy "Abbot and Costello go to Mars" (1953) directed by Charles Lamont.

Lately she profited from her beauty and acted in films such as "The Golden Blade" (1953) by Nathan Juran, "The Mississippi Gambler" (1953) by Rudolph Maté, "Take me to Town" (1953) by Douglas Sirk or "Artists and Models" (1955) and "Hollywood or Bust" (1956) both directed by Frank Tashlin and this last played by Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin.

She played more important roles at the end of 50's decade in films as "War and Peace" (1956) directed by King Vidor, "Zarak" (1957) by Terence Young, "Paris Holiday" (1958) by Gerd Oswald, or "Nel Segno di Roma" (1959) by Guido Brignone.

In the 60's decade she played Sylvia's role by the side of Marcelo Mastroianni in "La Dolce Vita" (1960) directed by Federico Fellini. She would always be remembered inside La Fontana di Trevi.

Moreover she acted in other important productions as "I Mongoli" (1961) by André Toth, "Bocaccio 70" (1962) by Luchino Visconti and Federico Fellini with Sofia Loren, "Four for Texas" (1963) by Robert Aldrich, "Call Me Bwana" (1963) by Henri Douglas,Gordon Geddes and Bluey Hill, "The Alphabet Murders" (1966) by Frank Tashlin, "Way... Way Out" (1966) by Gordon Douglas, or "Woman Times Seven" (1967) by Vittorio de Sica with Shirley MacLaine.

Lately she left the cinema because she wanted to take up to her model career. Sometimes she was photographed for "Playboy" magazine. Her last works in cinema were "Intervista" (1987) by Federico Fellini and "Bámbola" (1997) by Bigas Luna.

Anita married twice men: the first time she married the british actor Anthony Steel and the second one she married the also actor Rik Van Nutter but she finally divorced both. Moreover she had different love affairs with some actors as Marcelo Mastroianni, Frank Sinatra, Tyrone Power, Errol Flynn or Gary Cooper.

Nowadays she lives alone in Roma.