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.
A woman stumbled upon a dusty, tattered suitcase hidden in some underbrush
During her commute to work, a nurse from Essex, England, stumbled upon a discarded suitcase on the sidewalk. Her curiosity piqued, she decided to take a closer look, leading to an unexpected revelation! Inside the suitcase, nestled within some foliage, were 15 kittens, each just three to five weeks old.
The bag had been deliberately punctured with holes to allow air in, indicating that whoever left the kittens behind wanted them to survive. Notably, the suitcase was abandoned right next to a prominent animal rescue facility.
The nurse quickly reached out for assistance from Alison Gamble, a staff member at the shelter. After examining the kittens, Alison expressed her relief at their condition, noting: “They are in good shape, though it’s evident they have been separated from their mother”.
Since the kittens were still nursing, they required feeding from humans to avoid nutritional deficiencies. Fortunately, the dedicated team at the shelter is prepared to care for these 15 little ones until they can find permanent homes. At this stage, the kittens are too young and fragile to be released.
“Six of them are showing signs of eye infections, while the others seem generally healthy, but we will continue to monitor them closely to ensure they remain well”, Alison added. Check out the video below to hear the full story of these fortunate kittens!
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