Ann-Margret Olsson, better known as Ann-Margret, rose to stardom with an irresistible combination of talent, charisma, and beauty that made her a silver screen sensation.
Born in Sweden and raised in the United States, she quickly captivated audiences with her magnetic presence in both film and music. But it wasn’t just her acting skills that drew attention—her talents as an actress, singer, and dancer made her a true icon.
Ann-Margret’s career, spanning seven decades since 1961, established her as one of the most versatile performers in Hollywood. Early on, she was often compared to Elvis Presley, thanks to her sultry, vibrant contralto voice. She had a Top 20 hit in 1961, a charting album in 1964, and even a disco hit in 1979.
#1.
In 1961, after filming a screen test for 20th Century Fox, she was signed to a seven-year contract. Her film debut came in Frank Capra’s Pocketful of Miracles alongside Bette Davis, a remake of Capra’s own Lady for a Day (1933). For her performance, Ann-Margret won her first Golden Globe for New Actress of the Year, sharing the honor with Jane Fonda and Christine Kaufmann.
#2.
Her next role was in the 1962 remake of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s State Fair, where she played the “bad girl” Emily, opposite Bobby Darin and Pat Boone. Ironically, she had originally auditioned for the role of the “good girl” Margie, but studio executives deemed her too seductive for the part.
#3.
In her autobiography, Ann-Margret reflected on how these two roles mirrored the dual aspects of her own personality. Offstage, she was shy and reserved, but once onstage, she transformed into what she described as going from “Little Miss Lollipop to Sexpot-Banshee.”
#4.
Ann-Margret’s breakout role came in Bye Bye Birdie (1963), where her portrayal of the all-American teenager Kim catapulted her to stardom. The film’s premiere at Radio City Music Hall, 16 years after her first visit to the iconic theater, set a record for the highest first-week grossing film in the venue’s history.
#5.
Life magazine featured her on the cover for the second time, noting that her “torrid dancing almost replaces the central heating in the theater.”
#6.
Her performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress.
#7.
Shortly after, she was invited to perform “Baby Won’t You Please Come Home” at President John F. Kennedy’s private birthday party at the Waldorf Astoria, one year after Marilyn Monroe’s famous “Happy Birthday” serenade.
#8.
Ann-Margret’s chemistry with Elvis Presley became legendary when the two met on the set of Viva Las Vegas (1964).
#9.
According to Filmink, she had so much energy and charisma that she outshone her previous male co-stars, but Elvis was able to match her every step of the way, making him her best on-screen partner.
#10.
The pair recorded three duets for the film: “The Lady Loves Me,” “You’re the Boss,” and “Today, Tomorrow, and Forever.”
#11.
However, only “The Lady Loves Me” made it into the final cut, as Elvis’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker, feared that Ann-Margret’s dynamic presence might overshadow Presley.
#12.
In the 1990s, Ann-Margret continued her career by alternating between television and film roles.
#13.
She introduced herself to a new generation of fans with the 1993 comedy Grumpy Old Men and its successful 1995 sequel, Grumpier Old Men.
#14.
She also earned her fourth Emmy nomination for her role in the 1993 miniseries Queen, where she played a character aging 60 years throughout the series.
#15.
Throughout her career, Ann-Margret was romantically linked to stars like Eddie Fisher, Hugh O’Brien, Frankie Avalon, Vince Edwards, and Hollywood businessman Burt Sugarman, to whom she was briefly engaged in 1962.
#16.
She married actor Roger Smith in 1967, and the couple remained together until his passing in 2017, raising three children from Smith’s previous marriage.
#17.
#18.
#19.
#20.
#21.
#22.
#23.
#24.
#25.
#26.
#27.
#28.
#29.
#30.
#31.
#32.
#33.
#34.
#35.
#36.
#37.
#38.
#39.
#40.
#41.
#42.
#43.
#44.
#45.
#46.
#47.
#48.
#49.
#50.
