Ann-Margret

Ann-Margret was married to actor Roger Smith from 1967 till his death in 2017. She has no children of her own, but was the stepmother of Smith’s three children from his first marriage. She had previously been in a relationship with singer Elvis Presley before her marriage.

Ann-Margret Olsson was born on 28th April 1941, in Valsjobyn, Jamtland County in Sweden. Her mother was Anna Regina while her father was Carl Gustav Olsson. Her father used to work in the US during his youth and went there again in 1942. Ann-Margret and her mother joined him in the US in 1946. In 1949, she became a naturalized citizen of the US.

She started taking dance lessons at the Marjorie Young School of Dance where she showed her natural ability for the art form. Her parents were supportive of her creative pursuits and her mother made all of her costumes.

After her father suffered a serious injury, her mother started working as a funeral parlor receptionist. During this time, young Ann-Margret started taking up acting gigs in order to contribute to the family income.

She studied at the New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois. She later enrolled in Northwestern University, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. However, she left the university without completing her education.

Ann-Margret began her career as a part of a musical group named Suttletones and first performed at the Mist Nightclub in Chicago. She then went on to perform in several places across the country. In 1961, she began recording for RCA Victor. Her first song was ‘Lost Love’ from her debut album ‘And Here She is: Ann-Margret’.

The other albums she released during her musical career include ‘Bachelor’s Paradise’ (1963), ‘The Cowboy and the Lady’ (1969), ‘God is Love: The Gospel Sessions’ (2001), ‘Today, Tomorrow and Forever: Box Set’’ (2002), ‘Ann-Margret’s Christmas Carol Collection’ (2004) and ‘God is Love: The Gospel Sessions 2’ (2011). Her 2001 album ‘God is Love: The Gospel Sessions’ had earned a nomination for a Grammy Award.

Ann-Margret made her film debut in the 1961 comedy film ‘Pocketful of Miracles’. The film didn’t do well commercially but it won multiple awards and nominations. Margret won the Golden Globe award for ‘New Star of the Year’.

In 1963, she was nominated for another Golden Globe Award in the ‘Best Actress- Musical or Comedy’ category for her role in the film ‘Bye Bye Birdie’.

Over the next few years, she continued to appear in several films, such as ‘Kitten with a Whip’ (1964), ‘Once a Thief’ (1965), ‘The Cincinnati Kid’, (1965), ‘Stagecoach’ (1966) ‘Murderer’s Row’ (1966) and ‘The Tiger and the Pussycat’ (1967).

In 1971, she appeared in the film ‘Carnal Knowledge’ which won her a second Golden Globe Award in the ‘Best Supporting Actress’ category. Directed by Mike Nichols, the film was also met favorably by critics.

In 1973, she acted in the movie ‘The Train Robbers’ where she starred with John Wayne. In 1975, she appeared in the musical film ‘Tommy’ for which she earned her second Oscar nomination in the ‘Best Actress’ category. She also won her third Golden Globe Award for ‘Best Actress’.