Entertainment

Anita Ekberg Dies at 83

by Nicole Pomarico

Sad news for movie fans: Sunday morning, international actress Anita Ekberg died in Rome at 83 years old, according to the Associated Press. Ekberg's career began in 1951 when she was crowned Miss Sweden, and after competing in the Miss Universe pageant, she decided to head to Hollywood to try her hand at acting. This led to her starring in many widely loved films of the '50s and '60s, including a breakout role La Dolce Vita — and the scene where she bathed in the Trevi Fountain quickly became iconic. Ekberg also starred in movies like Clowns and Intervista. Her acting career ended in 1996 with her role in Bambola.

Although Ekberg was born in Sweden, she spent much of her life in Italy. She was married twice, to actors Anthony Steele and Rik Van Nutter, although she had children with neither of them. Entertainment Weekly states that Ekberg was even rumored to have had a high-profile fling with Frank Sinatra, and after spending time in America she became a model.

Ekberg's lawyer, Patrizia Ubaldi, says that the actress was in bad health before her death and was hospitalized after Christmas. "She had hoped to get better, something that didn't happen," Ubaldi said.

R.I.P. Anita Ekberg!