Anita Ekberg: The Swedish Star Who Captivated Hollywood

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.

This girl was able to lose 352 lbs and this is how she looks now!

Nikki Weber from America is only 34 years old, but she has weighed a lot since childhood, devouring cakes and burgers without thinking about the consequences.

When the girl grew up, she realized that she had to lose weight and tried to go on strict diets. But every time she broke down, and attacked sweet and fatty foods. And as soon as she began to weigh 650 lbs, she realized that she had to change her life.

Then Nikki practically could not walk and get out of bed without someone’s help, so she moved to the house with her parents, who did not consider her daughter’s problem to be something global and did not try to direct her to a healthy lifestyle. They even came up with a special mechanism that lifted food to her on the second floor.

A program called “My whole 661 lbs” came to the rescue. Nikki was invited to participate in the program. The program supports fat people and tries to help them lose weight. The girl underwent surgery to make her stomach smaller, and nutritionists made up a personal diet.

Nikki was very worried, and doubted whether she could restrain herself and whether she would succeed, but her fears were in vain. She pulled herself together and overcame all fears. After the operation she threw off 198 lbs.

Nikki was able to lose 352 lbs in the end, and underwent another operation to remove excess sagging skin, which weighed as much as 55 lbs.

Now Nikki weighs 198 lbs and is not going to stop there, she does physical activity and walks a lot every day. Nikki herself can not yet believe that she managed to lose weight and turn into a beautiful woman with a normal life.