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.
Hazel Roberts, Julia Roberts’ 16-year-old daughter, makes her Red Carpet debut
Julia Roberts is one of the rare celebrities who lives a relatively ordinary existence. She has been married to cinematographer Daniel Moder for 19 years, and the couple appears to be extremely happy.
he couple has three children: twins Phinnaeus and Hazel, both 16, and a son, Henry, 14.
Both Roberts and Moder try to keep their children out of the public eye, which is why we rarely see them attending public events or sharing images on social media.
However, we saw Hazel in the presence of her father at the Cannes Film Festival in France in July.
The two were there to promote the film Flag Day. Moder was the choreographer, and Sean Penn, was the director.
While Penn’s children played characters in the film, Hazel did not, but she attended the ceremony to support her father’s efforts.
Hazel’s amazing beauty drew everyone’s attention.
While some claim she inherited her mother’s nose, many believe she’s a striking likeness of her handsome father, so it’s no surprise she’s attractive herself. Hazel has blonde hair and blue eyes.
She was dressed in a soft yellow long lace gown and black Mary Jane heels. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail and her make-up was modest. A true woman!
Moder was clearly proud of his girl and spent the entire evening by her side.
Whether Hazel or her siblings are interested in pursuing professions in the film industry is unknown because their parents rarely speak about their children and prefer to keep them out of the spotlight, which is understandable given Roberts’ grounded nature.
Despite her great income, which is reported to be approximately $250 million, she has never acted like a diva and has always maintained a humble demeanor.
In 2016, Hazel and her brothers played minor roles in Robert’s film Mother’s Day.
In 2018, Roberts told Harper’s Bazaar about her children:
“I don’t think they’ll ever understand (my fame). I think I told you once that when they started figuring it out, they were like, ‘You’re famous?’”
“And I said, ‘I think a lot of people might have seen the movie that I’m in or might know who I am.’”
She then discussed the issues that today’s youngsters experience, saying, “It’s different than when I might have said to my mom, ‘Mom, you don’t know what it’s like to be a teenager today,’ even though she probably did.”
Danny and I have no idea what it’s like to be an adolescent today. When my children ask me questions, I just tell them, ‘I’m going to say no and check into it because I have no idea what we’re talking about.’”
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