Anita Ekberg in the Fontana di Trevi. Screenshot from La Dolce Vita. This is one of the most celebrated images in cinema history.

Kerstin Anita Marianne Ekberg (born on September 29, 1931 in Malmö, Skåne) is a Swedish model, actress and cult sex symbol. Image File history File links Sjff_01_img0145. ... Image File history File links Sjff_01_img0145. ... The Trevi Fountain (in Italian, Fontana di Trevi) is the largest and most ambitious of the Baroque fountains of Rome. ... La Dolce Vita (1960) (translation The Sweet Life) is a film directed by Federico Fellini and usually cited as the film that signals the split between his earlier neo-realist films and his later symbolist period. ... September 29 is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1931 calendar). ... Motto: FrÃ¥n arbetarstad till kunskapsstad (eng: From industrial city to knowledge city) Location of Malmö in northern Europe Coordinates: Country Sweden Municipality Malmö Municipality County SkÃ¥ne Province Scania Charter 13th Century Government  - Mayor Illmar Reepalu Area  - City 335. ... The Flag of SkÃ¥ne (also known as Scania in English) is the southernmost historical province (landskap) and County (Län) of Sweden. ... Photograph of the once famous model Dovima A model is a person who poses or displays for purposes of art, fashion, or other products and advertising. ... Actors in period costume sharing a joke whilst waiting between takes during location filming. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Biography

Anita was born in 1931 in Malmö, Sweden into a very large family. She was the sixth of eight children, the oldest girl. In her teens she worked as a fashion model. In 1950 Anita was urged by her mother to enter the Miss Malmö competition which led to the Miss Sweden contest. Anita won both competitions and consequently went to America to compete (unsuccessfully) for Miss Universe in the United States despite not speaking English. Motto: FrÃ¥n arbetarstad till kunskapsstad (eng: From industrial city to knowledge city) Location of Malmö in northern Europe Coordinates: Country Sweden Municipality Malmö Municipality County SkÃ¥ne Province Scania Charter 13th Century Government  - Mayor Illmar Reepalu Area  - City 335. ... Miss Universe is an annual international female-only beauty contest, and the title for the winner of the contest, founded in 1952 by California clothing company Pacific Mills. ...

As a contestant in Miss Universe, she did win a starlet's contract with Universal Studios, who in those days gave contracts every year to the six finalists.^[1] In America, Anita met millioniare film producer, Howard Hughes who wanted her to change her name, nose and teeth. Hughes said "Ekberg" was too difficult to pronounce. She refused to change her name, saying that if she became famous, people would learn to pronounce it, and if she didn't become famous, it wouldn't matter. The Toyota Starlet was a small automobile (or a microcar) manufactured by Toyota from 1973 to 1999, replacing the Toyota Publica (and retaining the Publicas P code and generation numbering). ... Universal Studios (sometimes called Universal Pictures or Universal City Studios), a subsidiary of NBC Universal, is one of the major American film studios that has production studios and offices located at 100 Universal City Plaza Drive in Universal City, California, an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County between Los Angeles... For the Welsh murderer, see Howard Hughes (murderer). ...

At Universal the starlets received lessons in drama, elocution, dancing, horse-riding and fencing. Anita regarded the whole system as a paid vacation and did not attend many of the lessons, restricting herself to horse riding in the Hollywood hills. Anita later admitted that she was spoiled by the studio system and played instead of pursuing bigger film roles.^[1]

The Pin Up

Image:Anita Ekberg, 22 March 1955 While at Universal Anita bloomed physically and her already full bust became especially big, to the delight of photographers including legendary director and photographer Russ Meyer who went on record numerous times to say that she was the most beautiful woman he ever photographed and that her 39DD breasts were the biggest in A-list Hollywood history, dwarfing rivals Jayne Mansfield and the British actress Sabrina.^[1]"^[2]. Anita also delighted the gossip columnists with her social life. Her name was linked to many famous men, and Anita was given the nickname "The Iceberg" because of her mysterious demeanor Russ Meyer Russell Albion Meyer (March 21, 1922 – September 18, 2004), best known as Russ Meyer was an American motion picture director and photographer. ... ... Jayne Mansfield (born Vera Jayne Palmer, April 19, 1933—29 June 1967) was an American actress and Playboy centerfold. ... Sabrina (born 19 May 1933) was a 1950s English glamour model who progressed to a minor movie career, her main claim to fame was her large bust. ...

The combination of Anita's colourful private life and now awesome physique, made her ideal material both for gossip magazines like Confidential and for the new type of men's magazine that proliferated in the 1950s. Quickly she became a major '50s pin-up. In addition Anita participated in publicity stunts. Famously, she has admitted that her dress bursting open in the lobby of London's Berkeley Hotel was pre-arranged with a photographer.^[1] Confidentiality has been defined by the International Standards Organization (ISO) as ensuring that information is accessible only to those authorized to have access and is one of the cornerstones of Information security. ... The media itself often stage stunts for movies and television shows. ...

Film career

By the mid-50s, other studios offered Ekberg work. Paramount Studios and Frank Tashlin cast her in Hollywood or Bust (1956) and Artists and Models (1955) both starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Both films show off her stunning body but also use her as a foil for many of the director's clever sight gags.^[1] Ekberg also played an Amazonian extraterrestrial in 1953's Abbott and Costello Go to Mars. The Paramount Pictures logo used from 1988 to 1989. ... Frank Tashlin (February 19, 1913 - May 5, 1972) was an animator, screenwriter, and director. ... This was the last movie that Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin appeared in together. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion, because: it is patent nonsense. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... In comedy, a Sight Gag is anything which conveys its humour visually, often without words being used at all. ... Abbott and Costello Go To Mars is a 1953 science fiction comedy film directed by Charles Lamont and staring Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. ...

Bob Hope joked that her parents had received the Nobel Prize for architecture as she was touring with him and William Holden to entertain U.S. troops in 1954. That tour led her to a contract with John Wayne's Batjac Productions. Wayne cast her in a small role Blood Alley (1955) where Ekberg's features and appearance were Orientalized to play a Chinese woman, a role that earned her a Golden Globe award. Bob Hope, KBE (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003), born Leslie Townes Hope, was an English-Born American entertainer who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, on radio and television, in movies, and in performing tours for U.S. Military personnel, well known for his good natured humor and career longevity. ... The Nobel Prizes (Swedish: ) are awards in Physics, Chemistry, Literature, Peace, Physiology or Medicine and Economics. ... William Holden (April 17, 1918 – ca. ... John Wayne (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), born Marion Robert Morrison[1] and later changed to Marion Michael Morrison, popularly known as the Duke, was an iconic, Academy Award-winning, American film actor. ... Batjac Productions is an independent production company founded by John Wayne that produced many of his films in the latter part of the late actors career. ... Blood Alley is a 1955 seafaring adventure movie starring John Wayne and Lauren Bacall. ... // Events November 3 - The musical Guys and Dolls, starring Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra, debuts. ... The term the Orient - literally meaning sunrise, east - is traditionally used to refer to Near, Middle, and Far Eastern countries. ... The Golden Globe Awards are American awards for motion pictures and television programs, given out each year during a formal dinner. ...

RKO gave Anita the female lead in Back From Eternity. Co-starring Robert Ryan and Rod Steiger. Anita was perfectly adequate in her cardboard role, and suggested that with a good director and a worthwhile part, she might have something to offer.^[1] The neutrality of this article is disputed. ... Rod Steiger (April 14, 1925 – July 9, 2002) was an American actor. ...

In 1956 Anita went to Rome to make War And Peace, directed by distinguished Hollywood veteran King Vidor and co-starring Audrey Hepburn. Nickname: Motto: SPQR: Senatus Populusque Romanus Location of the city of Rome (yellow) within the Province of Rome (red) and region of Lazio (grey) Coordinates: Region Lazio Province Province of Rome Founded 21 April 753 BC Government  - Mayor Walter Veltroni Area  - City 1,285 km²  (580 sq mi)  - Urban 5... War and Peace (Russian: Война и мир, Voyna i mir; in original orthography: Война и миръ, Voyna i mir) is an epic novel by Leo Tolstoy, first published from 1865 to 1869 in Russki Vestnik, which tells the story of Russian society during the Napoleonic Era. ... King Vidor King Wallis Vidor (February 8, 1894 – November 1, 1982) was an American film director. ... Audrey Hepburn (May 4, 1929 – January 20, 1993) was an Academy Award-winning actress of film and theatre, Broadway stage performer, ballerina, fashion model, and humanitarian. ...

As Sylvia in La Dolce Vita

However it was Federico Fellini who gave Ekberg her greatest role in La Dolce Vita in 1960, in which she played the unattainable "dream woman" opposite Marcello Mastroianni; then Boccaccio '70 in 1960, a movie that also featured Sophia Loren. Fellini would call her back for two other films: I Clowns (1972), and Intervista (1987), where she played herself in a reunion scene with Mastroianni. See also: 1959 in film 1960 1961 in film 1950s in film 1960s in film years in film film // Events April 20 - for the first time since coming home from military service in Germany, Elvis Presley returns to Hollywood, California to film G.I. Blues August 10 - Filming of West... Marcello Mastroianni in 1958 Marcello Vincenzo Domenico Mastroianni (September 28, 1924 – December 19, 1996) was an Italian film actor. ... Boccaccio 70 (1962) is an Italian film directed by Mario Monicelli, Federico Fellini, Luchino Visconti and Vittorio de Sica, from an idea by Cesare Zavattini. ... // Events Dr. No launches the James Bond film series, the longest-running motion picture franchise of all time, running more than 40 years. ... Sophia Loren (born September 20, 1934) is a motion picture and stage, Academy Award-winning actress, widely considered to be the most popular Italian performer. ... I Clowns (aka The Clowns) is a 1971 film by Federico Fellini about the human facination with clowns and circuses. ... // Top grossing films The Godfather Fiddler on the Roof Diamonds Are Forever Whats Up, Doc?, starring Barbra Streisand and Ryan ONeal Dirty Harry The Last Picture Show A Clockwork Orange Cabaret, starring Liza Minnelli The Hospital Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex Academy Awards Best Picture... Intervista (English:Interview) is a 1987 film by Italian director Federico Fellini. ... // May 9 - Actor Tom Cruise marries actress Mimi Rogers. ...

"La Dolce Vita" was a sensational success, and Anita Ekberg's uninhibited voluptuousness cavorting in Rome's Trevi Fountain remains one of the most celebrated images in movie history. By 1961 she had grown even more full figured and buxom and was perhaps the most extravagantly feminine star in movies. Nickname: Motto: SPQR: Senatus Populusque Romanus Location of the city of Rome (yellow) within the Province of Rome (red) and region of Lazio (grey) Coordinates: Region Lazio Province Province of Rome Founded 21 April 753 BC Government  - Mayor Walter Veltroni Area  - City 1,285 km²  (580 sq mi)  - Urban 5... The Trevi Fountain Trevi Fountain at night. ...

Personal life

Ekberg was married to the British actor Anthony Steel from 1956 to 1959. From 1963 to 1975, she was married to the actor Rik Van Nutter; during their marriage, she had several miscarriages, but no successful pregnancies. In an interview she said she wished she had a child ^[3], although on another occasion she said she never wanted a child.^[4] Anthony Maitland Steel (21 May 1920 - 21 March 2001) was an English actor. ... Rik Van Nutter playing Felix Leiter in Thunderball Rik Van Nutter (May 1, 1929 – October 15, 2005), was an American actor who appeared in many minor films, but is most famous for playing the third version of Felix Leiter in the James Bond movie Thunderball. ...

She reportedly was romantically involved with Tyrone Power, Marcello Mastroianni, Errol Flynn, Yul Brynner, Frank Sinatra, and Gary Cooper; she also had a three-year affair with the late Fiat chairman Gianni Agnelli. Tyrone Power in Charles Laughtons production of John Browns Body, photo by Carl Van Vechten, March 3, 1953 Tyrone Edmund Power, Jr. ... Marcello Mastroianni in 1958 Marcello Vincenzo Domenico Mastroianni (September 28, 1924 – December 19, 1996) was an Italian film actor. ... Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn (June 20, 1909 – October 14, 1959) was an Australian film actor, most famous for his romantic swashbuckler roles in Hollywood films and his flamboyant lifestyle. ... Yul Brynner (July 11, 1920[1] – October 10, 1985) was a Russian-born Broadway and Academy Award-winning Hollywood actor. ... Francis Albert Sinatra (December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was a jazz oriented popular singer and Academy Award-winning actor. ... Gary Cooper (born Frank James Cooper May 7, 1901 – May 13, 1961) was a two-time Academy Award-winning American film actor of English heritage. ... Fiat Group, or Fiat S.p. ... Gianni Agnelli. ...

Anita has continued working in small parts and today she lives with four dogs in a house near Lazio in Italy, still impatient, still brutally honest, still good humoured. She admits that she has received offers for her memoirs but has refused, because she is aware that all that is wanted is intimate details of her love life. Trinomial name Canis lupus familiaris The dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is a domestic subspecies of the wolf, a mammal of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. ... Lazio (Latium in Latin) is a regione of central Italy, bordered by Tuscany, Umbria, Abruzzo, Marche, Molise, Campania and the Tyrrhenian Sea. ...

She hasn't lived in Sweden since the early 1950s and rarely visits the country. She speaks Swedish with some difficulties. She has welcomed Swedish journalists in her house outside Rome, and in 2005 she appeared in the popular radio program Sommar, talking about her life. She has stated in an interview that she will never move back to Sweden, not until she dies, when she will be buried there. ^[3] She has frequently said that the Swedish people and media hasn't appreciated her enough, because of jealousy. Desptite this, her appearances in radio and in person have been very popular. Nickname: Motto: SPQR: Senatus Populusque Romanus Location of the city of Rome (yellow) within the Province of Rome (red) and region of Lazio (grey) Coordinates: Region Lazio Province Province of Rome Founded 21 April 753 BC Government  - Mayor Walter Veltroni Area  - City 1,285 km²  (580 sq mi)  - Urban 5... Sommar is one of the most popular Swedish radio programs ever. ...

Ekberg in popular culture

• Once said famously that "It was I who made Fellini famous, not the other way around." [1]

• Ethel Merman dubbed the buxom Ekberg (measurements 40D-22-36) "the thinking man's dunce cap: two of them."

• When "Cubby" Broccoli co-produced "From Russia With Love", the film star in the movie poster through which the Bulgarian assassin Krilencu escapes, was changed from Marilyn Monroe, as in Ian Fleming's novel, to Anita Ekberg.)

• Anita Ekberg is classic Hollywood's most naturally large-breasted actress with Pam Grier being her only contemporary rival.^{[citation needed]}

Federico Fellini (January 20, 1920 – October 31, 1993) was a famous Italian film-maker and director. ... Ethel Merman (January 16, 1908 – February 15, 1984) was a Tony Award winning star of stage and film musicals, well known for her powerful voice and vocal range. ... Pamela Suzette Grier (born May 26, 1949) is an iconic American actress. ...

Notes

Aftonbladet (Swedish for the evening-sheet) is a Swedish newspaper, founded by Lars Johan Hierta in 1830, during the liberalization of Sweden. ...   IPA: is a city in SkÃ¥ne in southern Sweden. ...

References

• McDonough, Jimmy (2005). Big Bosoms and Square Jaws : The Biography of Russ Meyer, King of the Sex Film. London: Jonathan Cape. ISBN 0-224-07250-1. 
• Sullivan, Steve (1995). VaVaVa Voom!Glamour Girls of The Pinup Era. London: Stoddart. ISBN 978-1881649601. 
• Mancini, Henry (2002). Did They Mention the Music?: The Autobiography of Henry Mancini. USA: Copper Square Press. ISBN 978-0815411758. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Anita Ekberg

• Anita Ekberg at the Internet Movie Database
• Anita Ekberg at TV.com