Swedish-born actress Anita Ekberg, who became an international sex symbol best known for her role as Sylvia in the 1960 Federico Fellini film La Dolce Vita, died in Italy today at age 83, her lawyer confirmed.
The one-time 'Miss Sweden' went on to model for men's magazines Playboy andConfidential before securing roles in American films including comedies such asAbbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953), in which she played a voluptuous Venusian guard, Hollywood or Bust (1956), starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, and a John Wayne drama, 4 for Texas (1963).
According to Deutsche Welle: "Arriving in Italy in 1956, Ekberg starred in director King Vidor's War and Peace alongside Audrey Hepburn and Henry Fonda. It was there she came to the attention of iconic Italian director Federico Fellini who cast her in La Dolce Vita."
Ekberg died in Rocca di Papa, southeast of Rome, Sunday morning of complications from a longtime illness, her lawyer, Patrizia Ubaldi said.