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| Birth Name(s) : Ann-Margret Olsson |
Date of Birth: April 28, 1941 |
| Status:
Married
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Partner:
Roger Smith |
| Profession:
Actor |
Official Site
Go to the Ann-Margret Official Homepage |
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Full Ann-Margret Biography
| Swedish born singer, with red hair who started her Hollywood career in quiet roles that usually went unnoticed. She was discovered by the legendary George Burns (1896-1996), when she was just a cabaret singer, and was often typecast as a singing sexpot. In the early 1970s she suffered a very bad fall that nearly ended her Hollywood career, but she fought back to be cast as a sexy older woman type. Twice nominated for an Academy Award: for Carnal Knowledge (1971), and Tommy (1975). |
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Additional Ann-Margret Biography
Ann-Margret (born April 28, 1941) is a five-time Golden Globe Award-winning, Academy Award, Emmy Award and Grammy nominated Swedish actress, singer and dancer.
Ann-Margret was born Ann-Margret Olsson in Valsjöbyn, Jämtland, Sweden to Anna Aronsson and Gustav Olsson, a native of Örnsköldsvik. She grew up in a small town 'of lumberjacks and farmers high up near the Arctic Circle'. Her father worked in the United States during his youth and immigrated back in 1942, working with the Johnson Electrical Company. Ann-Margret and her mother moved to the United States four years later and her mother worked as a funeral parlour receptionist after her father became too ill for his job. She grew up in Wilmette, Illinois and attended Northwestern University for a time but did not graduate. She became a naturalised citizen of the United States in 1949. She was discovered singing in a nightclub by George Burns. She was often referred to as a 'sex-kitten' and the 'female Elvis'.
In 1961, Ann-Margret made her film début in Pocketful of Miracles, starring Bette Davis, Glenn Ford, and Hope Lange, a remake of the 1933 film Lady for a Day; both versions were directed by Frank Capra. She followed that role with the successful 1962 remake of Rodgers' and Hammerstein's musical State Fair. Her next starring role, as the all-American teenager in Bye Bye Birdie, made her a major star. When she filmed Viva Las Vegas with Elvis Presley the two began an affair that received considerable attention from the gossip columnists. The reports led to a showdown with Priscilla Presley, described by Priscilla in her 1985 book, Elvis and Me, including a discussion of Ann-Margret's attempt to "cut her off at the pass" with a press announcement that she and Elvis were engaged to be married. Although he ended the affair, Presley remained a friend and continued to send Ann-Margret flowers at the opening of each of her stage appearances until he died. Of all the Hollywood starlets with whom he had worked or had a relationship, Ann-Margret was the only one to attend his funeral.
In 1963, Ann-Margret guest-starred in an episode of The Flintstones, voicing "Ann-Margrock," an animated version of herself. Decades later, she recorded the theme song to the live-action film The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas in character as Ann-Margrock. The song she recorded was a modified version of the "Viva Las Vegas" theme.‘Ann-Margrock’ in The Flintstones.
Ann also co-starred along with friend Dean Martin in the spy spoof Murderer's Row (1966). In March 1966, Ann-Margret and entertainers Chuck Day and Mickey Jones teamed up for a USO tour to entertain U.S. servicemen in remote parts of Vietnam and other parts of Southeast Asia. She still has great affection for the veterans and refers to them as "my gentlemen." Ann-Margret, Day and Jones reunited in November 2005 for an encore of this tour for veterans and troops at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.
In 1994, she published an autobiography titled Ann Margret: My Story (ISBN 0-399-13891-9). She has been married to actor Roger Smith since 1967. Smith suffers from myasthenia gravis, and his wife has devoted much of her life to caring for him. In 2001 Ann-Margret made her first appearance in a stage musical, playing the character of Mona Stangley in a new touring production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. In 1995, she was chosen by Empire Magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history; she ranked 10th.
In 1989 a photo of Oprah Winfrey graced the cover of TV Guide and although the head was Oprah's the body came from a 1979 publicity shot of Ann-Margret. The photo was created without the permission of either Winfrey or Ann-Margret. The photo was later mentioned in the television sitcom Mama's Family episode 127 entitled 'Pinup Mama'. Ann-Margret is not a natural redhead: her real hair colour is 'natural brunette'. The hair colour was the idea of Sydney Guilaroff, the legendary hairdresser who changed the hair colour of other famous actresses such as Lucille Ball. Carmen Electra cites Ann-Margret as one of her favorite beauty icons/role models.
Singles
- I Just Don't Understand (1961) U.S #17
- It Do Me So Good (1961) U.S #97
- What Am I Supposed To Do (1962) U.S #85
- Sleep In The Grass (1969) U.S #113 (Bubbling Under Chart)
- Midnight Message (1980) U.S #12 (Club Play Chart)
EPs
- And Here She Is - Ann-Margret (1961)
- Side 1: I Just Don't Understand/I Don't Hurt Anymore
- Side 2: Teach Me Tonight/ Kansas City
- More and More American Hits (compilation) (1962)
- Side 2: What Am I Supposed To Do
Albums
- And Here She Is...Ann-Margret (1961)
- One the Way Up (1962)
- The Vivacious One (1962)
- Bachelor's Paradise (1963)
- Beauty and the Beard (1964) (with Al Hirt) U.S. #83
- David Merrick Presents Hits from His Broadway Hits (1964) (with David Merrick) U.S #141
- Songs from "The Swinger" (And Other Swingin' Songs) (1966)
- The Cowboy and the Lady (1969) (with Lee Hazlewood)
- Ann-Margret (1979)
- God Is Love: The Gospel Sessions (2001)
- Ann-Margret's Christmas Carol Collection (2004)
- Love Rush (reissue of "Ann-Margret") (2007)
- Everybody Needs Somebody Sometimes (single, reissue) (2007)
Soundtracks
- State Fair (1962) U.S #12
- Bye Bye Birdie (1963) U.S #2
- The Pleasure Seekers (1965)
- Tommy (1975) U.S #2
- Newsies (1992) U.S #149
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TVNo |
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Ann-Margret Quote(s)
| The critics had an image of me, and they wouldn't accept any other... I was a cartoon character. A joke. |
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