Born on September 29, 1931, in Malmö, Sweden, Anita Ekberg grew up in a modest household as the sixth of eight children. Though her early years gave little hint of the international fame that awaited her, her striking beauty set her apart from an early age.
Her journey to stardom began in 1950 when she won the title of Miss Sweden. While she didn’t take home the Miss Universe crown, her participation in the pageant proved to be a turning point. The exposure brought her to Hollywood, where her captivating presence quickly caught the eye of industry insiders. This newfound recognition opened doors in modeling and acting, setting the stage for her entertainment career.
Breaking into Hollywood
Ekberg’s Hollywood debut came in the mid-1950s with supporting roles in films such as Blood Alley (1955), where she appeared alongside John Wayne and Lauren Bacall, and the comedy Artists and Models (1955), starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Her Nordic beauty and statuesque elegance earned her the nickname “The Iceberg,” reinforcing her image as a classic Hollywood bombshell. Popular media, including Playboy, frequently featured her, further cementing her status as a pop culture sensation.
La Dolce Vita and Global Stardom
However, it was her role in Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita (1960) that made her an international icon. Her portrayal of Sylvia, the enchanting yet elusive starlet, captured the essence of celebrity allure and mystery. The film’s most legendary moment—Ekberg wading through Rome’s Trevi Fountain in a flowing black gown—became one of the most enduring images in cinematic history.
Despite the worldwide recognition La Dolce Vita brought her, the role also led to typecasting, with many directors offering her parts that emphasized her glamorous persona. While this limited her opportunities for more diverse roles, Ekberg embraced the fame it afforded her, understanding the power of the image she had cultivated.
Life in Italy and Career Beyond Hollywood
Choosing to remain in Italy after her rise to stardom, Ekberg found greater creative freedom outside Hollywood’s constraints. She appeared in notable European films such as Boccaccio ’70 (1962), an anthology featuring works by Fellini and Vittorio De Sica, and 4 for Texas (1963), where she reunited with Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. Though filmmakers often cast her in roles that leaned into her seductive image, she maintained a strong presence in European cinema, solidifying her legacy as a screen siren of her era.
With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of
He discussed Angela’s breakthrough moment with her husband, Ken, a former Sun photographer.
A girl was on page three. Yesterday marked the end of Angela Jay’s brief battle with lung cancer.
She was always inside The Sun in the early 1980s.
She also starred in advertisements for boxer Henry Cooper’s Brut Aftershave and Gossard lingerie.
Beside her husband Ken, she passed away in an Eastbourne, East Sussex, hospital. Her age was seventy-one.
He described her as “the perfect girl next door” and described her as a “dared to dream miner’s daughter from the northern pits.”
After moving to Manchester, Angela was noticed by a modeling agency, according to Ken, a 79-year-old former photographer for The Sun. Her birthplace was Sunderland.
“She knew she couldn’t stay there and marry a miner,” he added.
“After she relocated to Manchester, a modeling agency noticed her.”
She was really skilled at it from the start. Very youthful-looking.
Angela was almost prepared to leave. Many of the models require two hours to prepare.
“She looked beautiful even though she was wearing jeans and a dirty t-shirt when I first saw her.”
“I knew she was the one at that point.”
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