Iconic, hip-swiveling bombshell Ann-Margret has been in the Hollywood spotlight as a triple threat for more than 60 years. The Swedish-American actress, singer, and dancer has won five Golden Globe Awards and been nominated for two Academy Awards, two Grammy Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and six Emmy Awards.
Ann-Margret Olsson was born in Valsjöbyn, Sweden. She and her mother joined her father, already living in the United States at the time, in 1946. She became a naturalized citizen in 1949 and began taking lessons at the Marjorie Young School of Dance, showing a natural talent from the start.
Ann-Margret’s career began on the cabaret stage, which she would revisit throughout her life as a Las Vegas entertainer and TV variety show host. Her star began to rise with a dance performance with George Burns for a holiday special.
Shortly thereafter, her musical career took off in 1961 with the release of her album “And Here She Is: Ann-Margret.” In the late 1970s and early 1980s, she had hits on the dance charts, the most successful being 1979's "Love Rush," which peaked at number eight on the disco and dance charts.
Ann-Margret made her film debut in the 1961 comedy film “Pocketful of Miracles.” In 1963, “Bye Bye Birdie” was released, cementing her status as a full-blown movie star. She then went on to star opposite Elvis Presley in 1964’s “Viva Las Vegas,” stirring up rumors surrounding their love affair along the way.
While her sex appeal would continue to be at the forefront in films such as “Kitten with a Whip,” “The Pleasure Seekers,” and “The Cincinnati Kid,” Ann-Margret longed to be known for more than her singing sex kitten image. Wanting to prove she could hold her own in dramatic roles, she got her chance in 1971 opposite Jack Nicholson as his tragic lover in "Carnal Knowledge." The breakthrough performance established her as a credible actress.
In 1972, Ann-Margret defied death, lapsing into a coma for three days after a 22-foot fall that shattered bones in her face and broke her arm. She made a full recovery and soldiered on, appearing in “The Train Robbers,” “Tommy,” “Newsies,” “Grumpy Old Men,” “Grumpier Old Men,” and “Any Given Sunday,” among many others.
On May 14, 2022, she was awarded an honorary doctoral degree in Humane Letters by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.