Trivia (15)
Miss Sweden 1950 and 1955 Deb Star.
Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100
Sexiest Stars in film history (#98) (1995).
Was up for the lead role in the short-lived
television series
Sheena: Queen of the Jungle (1955) before
her contract was bought out by
John Wayne's production company Batjac
Productions.
Returned to Sweden in 1964 to appear in her
first Swedish movie,
Bo Widerberg's
Kärlek 65 (1965), but canceled her
appearance because, she said, "Widerberg was
such an amateur!".
Best remembered for her appearance in
Federico Fellini's
Det ljuva livet (1960), which features the
famous scene of her cavorting in Rome's Trevi
Fountain, clad in a black gown with a plunging
neckline.
Had a long involvement with
Tyrone Power that began when she was
uncredited in his film
Högt spel i New Orleans (1953). She was
involved with him during his subsequent tour of
"John Brown's Body" and showed up in New York
while he was filming
Musik under stjärnorna (1956). At one point,
he took her to Cincinnati with him to meet his
family. This all took place while he was married
to
Linda Christian. Christian describes the
affair, but never mentions Ekberg's name, in her
autobiography.
On July 19, 2009, she was admitted to the San
Giovanni Hospital in Rome, after falling ill in
her home in Genzano, according to a medical
official in its neurosurgery department. Despite
her condition not being considered serious,
Ekberg was put under observation in the facility.
In December 2011, Ekberg was destitute following
three months in a hospital with a broken thigh
in Rimini, during which her home was robbed and
badly damaged in a fire. She applied for help
from the Fellini Foundation, itself in difficult
financial straits.
Has not lived in Sweden since the early 1950s
and rarely visits the country. She has welcomed
Swedish journalists in her house outside Rome,
and in 2005, appeared on the radio program
"Sommar", talking about her life. She stated in
an interview that she will not move back to
Sweden before she dies, when she will be buried
there. Ekberg said that the Swedish people and
media have not appreciated her sufficiently;
nevertheless, her personal and radio appearances
have been popular in Sweden.
Was considered for the role of Honey Rider in
the first James Bond film
Agent 007... med rätt att döda (1962), which
went to
Ursula Andress.
Was mentioned in the song "I Shall Be Free" by
Bob Dylan on his 1963 album "The Freewheelin'
Bob Dylan".
Was mentioned in the song "High School
Confidential" by the Canadian New Wave group
Rough Trade.
Was engaged in a long-running personal feud with
fellow starlet
Cleo Moore.
Celebrity spokesperson for Foster Grant
sunglasses during the 1960s.
Retired from acting in 2002 after 50 years in
the motion picture industry. Ferrico Fellini
1960
