Britt Ekland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Britt Ekland
Ekland in 2019
Born	Britt-Marie Eklund (1942-10-06) 6 October 1942 (age 82) Stockholm, Sweden
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1959–present
Spouse(s)	Peter Sellers ​ ​ (m. 1964; div. 1968)​ Slim Jim Phantom ​ ​ (m. 1984; div. 1992)​
Partner(s)	Lou Adler (1972–1974) Rod Stewart (1975–1977) Phil Lewis (1979–1981)
Children	3, including Victoria Sellers
Parent(s)	Sven Eklund (father)

Britt Ekland (born Britt-Marie Eklund on October 6, 1942) is a famous Swedish actress. She became a star in the 1960s and 1970s, appearing in many popular movies.

Some of her best-known films include the crime movie Get Carter (1971) and the horror film The Wicker Man (1973). She also became famous around the world when she played a Bond girl in the James Bond movie The Man with the Golden Gun (1974).

Ekland's busy social life was often in the news. Her marriage to actor Peter Sellers and her relationship with singer Rod Stewart made her one of the most photographed celebrities of the 1970s. Since the 1990s, she has mostly acted in stage plays and appeared on television shows.

Early Life and Family

Britt-Marie Eklund was born in Stockholm, Sweden. Her father, Sven Eklund, owned a clothing store and was the captain of Sweden's national curling team. Her mother, Maj Britt, was a secretary. Ekland grew up with three younger brothers.

As a teenager, Ekland left school to join a traveling theater company. While in Italy, a talent agent saw her in a coffee shop. The agent thought she had star potential and sent her to London to try out for movies.

Acting Career

Ekland with Lee Majors in The Six Million Dollar Man (1973)

Ekland (second from left) with Åsa Vesterlund, Maria Montazami and Gunilla Persson in 2014

Ekland began her career with small roles in Swedish films. Her first big role in an American movie was in the Western Advance to the Rear (1964).

Rise to Fame

Ekland's career took off after she married actor Peter Sellers. They appeared in a few movies together, including After the Fox (1966) and The Bobo (1967). She received great reviews for her role as a dancer in the musical The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968).

In 1971, she starred opposite Michael Caine in the crime film Get Carter. This role made her famous for playing glamorous characters. Throughout the 1970s, she also appeared in several horror movies. Her most famous horror role was in The Wicker Man (1973), where she played a mysterious villager. Because of her Swedish accent, another actress's voice was used for her lines in the film.

James Bond and Later Films

In 1974, Ekland became a Bond girl, playing Mary Goodnight in The Man with the Golden Gun. This role made her an international star. She also appeared in the comedy Royal Flash (1975), which some critics say features her best acting.

During the 1970s and 1980s, Ekland continued to act in many films, including Fraternity Vacation (1985) and Scandal (1989).

Stage and Television Work

Since the 1990s, Ekland has focused more on stage and television work. She has starred in many stage plays, including productions of Cinderella in theaters across the United Kingdom.

She has also appeared on many reality TV shows. In 2010, she was a contestant on the British show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. From 2012 to 2014, she was part of the cast of Svenska Hollywoodfruar (Swedish Hollywood Wives). In 2020, she appeared on the BBC TV series The Real Marigold Hotel, where a group of celebrities traveled to India.

Personal Life

Ekland and Peter Sellers, 1964

Ekland's relationships have often been in the public eye.

Relationships and Children

In 1964, she married the English actor and comedian Peter Sellers just after they met. Their marriage made her famous overnight. They had one daughter, Victoria Sellers, born in 1965. Ekland and Sellers made three movies together before they divorced in 1968.

In the 1970s, Ekland was in a well-known relationship with rock star Rod Stewart. They were a famous couple for over two years. During this time, Ekland provided the spoken French part on Stewart's hit song "Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)."

Ekland has two sons from other relationships. Her son Nicolai Adler was born in 1973. In 1984, she married Slim Jim Phantom, the drummer for the band Stray Cats. They had a son, Thomas Jefferson, in 1988, and divorced in 1992.

Legacy

Ekland in 2019

Britt Ekland remains a well-known figure from the 1960s and 1970s. Her role as a Bond girl and her high-profile relationships made her a pop culture icon.

Her life has been portrayed in films. In 2004, actress Charlize Theron played Ekland in the movie The Life and Death of Peter Sellers. In the 2018 film My Dinner with Hervé, she was played by Helena Mattsson.

Selected Filmography

This is a list of some of Britt Ekland's most notable movies and TV shows.

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: Britt Ekland para niños