Britt Ekland

Infobox actor
name = Britt Ekland


imagesize = 200px
image_caption = Britt Ekland as Mary Goodnight in the 1974 Bond film, "The Man with the Golden Gun".
birthname = Britt-Marie Eklund
birthdate = birth date and age|1942|10|6|df=yes
location = Stockholm, Sweden
yearsactive = 1962 – present
spouse = Peter Sellers (1964–68)
Slim Jim Phantom (1984–92)
children = Victoria Sellers, Nikolaj, Thomas Jefferson

Britt Ekland (born 6 October 1942 in Stockholm, Sweden) is a Swedish actress, long resident in the United Kingdom. She first became known for her marriage to actor Peter Sellers in 1964. She is fluent in English, French, German, her native Swedish and is most famous for her role as a Bond Girl in "The Man with the Golden Gun".

Youth

Ekland's father was a successful retailer and she has three younger brothers. Her mother died after a long battle with Alzheimers and Ekland was diagnosed with osteoporosis (which in her case she attributes to chronic dieting and low calcium), [ [http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/120387/health_watch_bone_disease_highlighted/index.html HEALTH WATCH: Bone Disease Highlighted - Health - RedOrbit ] ] after falling at an awards show and fracturing her wrist and ankle. She has been associated with Alzheimer's and Osteoporosis organizations.

Career

Ekland appeared in the 1974 James Bond movie "The Man with the Golden Gun". Other notable film appearances include "The Night They Raided Minsky's", "Baxter" (co-starring Patricia Neal), "The Double Man", "Get Carter" (in the 1999 BBC television series "I Love the '70s" she hosted the 1971 episode in homage to her role as "Anna" in the film), and the 1973 cult film "The Wicker Man" (for which her voice was dubbed to disguise her Swedish-accented English).

She was one of the first celebrities to do Pilates (beginning in the 1970s) and she published a beauty and fitness book in 1984, followed by a fitness video in 1992. Ekland credits her personal Swedish trainer, Herb Genendelis, for a workout regimen that has kept her in "show biz shape".

Ekland appeared on stage as a cast member in Grumpy Old Women Live, in December 2007 participated in the Swedish reality show "Stjärnorna på slottet" along with Peter Stormare, Arja Saijonmaa, Jan Malmsjö and Magnus Härenstam, and in December 2007 and January 2008 she starred in "Cinderella" at Swindon's Wyvern Theatre [ [http://archive.oxfordmail.net/2007/12/18/209591.html Oxford Mail review of Cinderella at Wyvern Theatre, Swindon] ] . She appeared as a guest on the top rated British daytime television show "Loose Women", in January 2008.

Personal life

Ekland became famous as a result of her 1964 whirlwind romance and marriage to British actor and comedian, Peter Sellers, who proposed after seeing her photograph in the paper.cite book | last=Sikov| first=Ed | title=Mr. Strangelove: a biography of Peter Sellers | year=2002 | publisher=Pan MacMillan | isbn=0283072970] She stood by him after he suffered a series of massive heart attacks shortly after their marriage, and in 1965 they had a daughter, Victoria. The couple made two films together, "After the Fox" in 1966 and "The Bobo" in 1967, before she divorced Sellers. Ekland also has a son, Nikolaj (born 1973) from her relationship with record producer Lou Adler.

Britt Ekland had a much-publicised romance with rock star Rod Stewart; they were introduced in 1975 by Joan Collins and lived together for over two years, with Ekland giving up her career to focus exclusively on the relationship. (She is heard whispering on his song "Tonight's the Night, Gonna Be Alright"). Stewart has since admitted the relationship broke down because of his infidelity. After a highly public and acrimonious split she sued him for $12 million; the case was settled out of court. Following the split, Ekland became associated with the term "boy toy" having flings with, amongst others, John Waite and Bay City Roller Les McKeown. From 1979-1981 she dated and became engaged to Girl frontman and future L.A. Guns singer Phil Lewis. In 1981 she was reported as having a fling with a 17-year old Spaniard. In 1984 she married rock musician Slim Jim Phantom who was almost two decades her junior and they had a son Thomas Jefferson (born 1988) before divorcing in 1992.

She also became infamous in the early 1980s for chasing young rock stars. Most notably, in 1984, Britt pushed herself in front of dozens of photographers and eager fans to have her picture taken next to Duran Duran keyboardist, Nick Rhodes, during a fashion show in Los Angeles. Rhodes was there with his then girlfriend, and later wife, Julie Ann Friedman, who was one of the featured models at the event. Ekland has said during some interviews that she was at one point an "avid" fan of the makeup-sporting member of Duran Duran. Rhodes loudly refused to allow Ekland to appear in the photo with him and with that left in a private elevator.

In the 1970s she was one of the most photographed and talked about celebrities in the world and in 1980 her autobiography "True Britt" was published. [Eklund, Britt, "True Britt", Simon & Schuster (February 1984) ISBN 0139310894] This inspired kiss-and-tell tales about Ekland, including McKeown's subsequently retracted tales of group romps and an affair with Ekland's daughter Victoria.

She was portrayed by Charlize Theron in "The Life and Death of Peter Sellers" (2004). Theron invited her to be her date at the Cannes Film Festival, and she became emotional when she saw the film for the first time. [ [http://www.virginmedia.com/movies/interviews/charlizetheron.php Charlize Theron interview - Interviews - Movies - Virgin Media ] ]

She is a close friend of Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne and is still a regular fixture on the rock and roll social scene.

Trivia

* As an active member of PETA, she has made firm stands against animal testing.
* She was director Roman Polanski's first choice for the title role in Rosemary's Baby (1968) because he thought her pure, American looks would contrast well with the film's dark undertones. The studio preferred Mia Farrow, however, who had become a star on the enormously popular night-time soap opera "Peyton Place" (1964).
* Listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1965" (#3) in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 17. [1965]
* Was maid of honor for Sharon Tate at her marriage to director Roman Polanski in London, England on January 20, 1968.
* In 1965, was named "Hollywood's Deb Star of the Year" by the Association of Hollywood Make up Artists and Hairstylists.
* In 1965, won the Photoplay Gold Medal Award for Best Newcomer.
* Was among the women chosen by famed photographer Patrick Lichfield to be included in his 1983 book, "The Most Beautiful Women".

Discography

*"Do it to Me" / "Private Party" (1979)

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0001180|name=Britt Ekland
*

Persondata
NAME= Ekland, Britt
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Ekland, Britt Marie
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Actress
DATE OF BIRTH= 6 October, 1942
PLACE OF BIRTH= Stockholm, Sweden
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=