May Britt facts for kids

Quick facts for kids May Britt
Britt in the 1960s
Born	Maj-Britt Wilkens (1934-03-22)22 March 1934 Lidingö, Sweden
Died	11 December 2025(2025-12-11) (aged 91) Tarzana, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1952–1988
Spouse(s)	Edwin Gregson ​ ​ (m. 1958; div. 1959)​ Sammy Davis Jr. ​ ​ (m. 1960; div. 1968)​ Lennart Ringquist ​ ​ (m. 1993; his death 2017)​
Children	3

Maj-Britt Wilkens (born March 22, 1934), known professionally as May Britt, was a talented Swedish actress. She had a short but memorable career in movies during the 1950s, first in Italy and then in the United States. She was also known for her marriage to the famous American entertainer, Sammy Davis Jr., from 1960 to 1968. May Britt passed away on December 11, 2025, at the age of 91.

May Britt's Early Life and Career

Maj-Britt Wilkens was born in Lidingö, Sweden, on March 22, 1934. Her parents were Hugo and Hillevi Wilkens.

Discovery and Italian Films

In 1951, when May Britt was a teenager, she was discovered by Italian filmmakers Carlo Ponti and Mario Soldati. At the time, she was working as an assistant to a photographer in Stockholm. The filmmakers were in Sweden looking for a young blonde actress for a movie called Jolanda, the Daughter of the Black Corsair.

They visited the studio where she worked to look at photos of models. After meeting May Britt, they offered her the main role. She then moved to Rome and began her acting career, using the professional name May Britt. She made her film debut in Jolanda, the Daughter of the Black Corsair in 1952.

Britt in Cavalleria rusticana

Over the next few years, May Britt appeared in about ten Italian movies. She also had a role in the big historical film War and Peace in 1956.

Moving to Hollywood

Britt in L'ultimo amante

In the late 1950s, May Britt moved to Hollywood, USA, after signing a contract with 20th Century Fox. She starred in several American films. These included The Young Lions (1958) with Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift. She also appeared in The Hunters (1958) with Robert Mitchum and Robert Wagner. Another notable role was in Murder, Inc. (1960) alongside Peter Falk. She also took on a role in a new version of The Blue Angel (1959).

Family Life and Marriages

May Britt married Edwin J. Gregson, a college student, in 1958. They divorced in 1959.

Marriage to Sammy Davis Jr.

She met the famous American entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. in 1959. They fell in love and married on November 13, 1960. Their marriage was a significant event because, at that time, society had many different opinions about couples from different backgrounds. Before their wedding, May Britt chose to convert to Judaism. After they married, May Britt decided to step away from acting in films to focus on her new family life.

Children and Divorce

May Britt and Sammy Davis Jr. had a daughter named Tracey Davis, who was born on July 5, 1961, and passed away on November 2, 2020. They also adopted two sons: Mark Sidney Davis (born in 1960, adopted in 1963) and Jeff (born in 1963). May Britt and Sammy Davis Jr. divorced in 1968.

Later Years and Legacy

After her divorce, May Britt made occasional guest appearances on television shows. Her last acting role was in 1988. After that, she retired from acting and focused on her passion for painting. Her third husband, Lennart Ringquist, passed away in 2017. May Britt died at Providence Tarzana Medical Center in Tarzana, California, on December 11, 2025, at the age of 91.

Film Appearances

Television Roles

See also

In Spanish: May Britt (actriz) para niños