Anita Ekberg, born September 29, 1931, in Malmö, Sweden, is often remembered as the sultry blonde of La Dolce Vita, but her life was far more complex than Hollywood glamour suggests. Before rising to stardom, Ekberg endured the struggles of a modest Swedish upbringing, working as a model to support her family after her father passed away. She won the 1950 Miss Sweden contest, which catapulted her to Hollywood—but her dream wasn’t as rosy as it seemed. Early in the U.S., studios tried to mold her

Anita Ekberg at the 5th La Dolce Vita Premiere in Rome

Swedish actor Anita Ekberg dies aged 83

The ultimate beginner's guide to Anita Ekberg