Ann-Margret Olsson, better known by her stage name Ann-Margret, is a Swedish-American actress, singer, and dancer who shot to popularity in the 1960s and 1970s as one of Hollywood’s leading women. Ann-Margret Olsson has been known professionally as Ann-Margret. Her parts in many classic movies, such as “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Viva Las Vegas,” and “The Cincinnati Kid,” are mostly responsible for her widespread recognition.
Ann-Margret was born in Valsjobyn, Sweden, in 1941. She emigrated to the United States with her family when she was 5 years old, and they eventually settled in Illinois. Ann-parents Margret’s saw early on that their daughter had a natural ability for performance, and they pushed her to pursue her interest in the arts. She started taking dancing classes when she was very young, and by the time she was a senior in high school, she was already participating in community musicals and talent events.
After receiving her diploma from high school, Ann-Margret went on to further her education at Northwestern University, where she majored in both music and theater. It was there that she first met the guy who would eventually become her manager, Roger Smith, who was also her future husband. As a result of the many people in the entertainment business seeing Ann-skill Margret’s and attractiveness, she was quickly put in a position where she was in high demand as a performer.
Ann-Margret made her screen debut in the 1960 musical comedy “Pocketful of Miracles,” which also featured Bette Davis and Glenn Ford. Ann-Margret had a supporting role in the picture. The movie was a financial and critical success, and Ann-performance Margret’s received a lot of positive feedback from audiences. She rose to prominence quite rapidly to become one of Hollywood’s most in-demand actors.
However, she is most known for her role in the 1973 Western film “The Train Robbers,” in which she appeared with John Wayne. This is widely considered to be one of her most iconic roles. Continue reading to find out which of Ann-experiences Margret’s while making the movie have stayed with her the most, as well as how she recalls the illustrious “Duke.”
During the course of her career, Ann-Margret appeared in a wide range of films, playing a variety of characters, including both leading and supporting parts. In addition to that, she was a singer and dancer who appeared live on stage and released many albums. She had roles in a variety of television episodes and movies that were developed specifically for television throughout the 1990s and 2000s, and she has remained active in the entertainment business up to the present day.
The work that Ann-Margret has done during her career has earned her a number of awards, including two Golden Globe Awards and a nomination for an Academy Award. She is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished and adaptable actors of her time, and her contribution to the entertainment business has been significant.
Co-starring with John Wayne in the 1973 Western film “The Train Robbers,” which was directed by Burt Kennedy, Ann-Margret made her debut in the role the same year. The plot of the movie centered on a band of bandits who recruited a gunslinger to assist them in robbing a gold cargo that was being transported by rail. The on-screen chemistry between John Wayne’s character and Ann-character, Margret’s who portrayed his love interest, received a lot of appreciation from both spectators and critics alike.
It was well knowledge in the Hollywood community that Ann-Margret and Wayne were good friends because of their tight personal connection. They talked well of one another in interviews and held each other in high regard, not just as performers but also as individuals. They had a lot of respect for one other.
She said that in the week leading up to production, both she and Wayne were having a hard time physically. While Ann-Margret was healing from an injury received while performing in Lake Tahoe, Wayne had cracked two ribs and was having trouble sleeping at night. In order to participate in the parts involving horses in the movie, she had to get over her phobia of them. Despite this, the actress said that Wayne maintained his support.
He reminded me of a giant teddy bear, and we got along swimmingly. She enthused about her co-star, Duke, saying that he helped her get the self-assurance she lacked.
Ann-Margret and Wayne, who was popularly dubbed “The Duke” after a much-loved pet dog, were friends until the famed actor passed away in 1979. Ann-Margret was named after Wayne. Even though his death had a profound impact on Ann-Margret, she was able to find some measure of comfort in the memories she had with him. She responded as follows when asked what shocked her the most about the “True Grit” star:
Oh, I wasn’t sure what to anticipate at all. But when he held me, it seemed like the whole universe was embracing me at the same time. He was enormous in stature and had a deep, resonating voice. My parents came to see me when I was filming in Durango, Mexico, and it was a great experience for them. He was very wonderful to have around my folks. They were treated in a way that was completely friendly and compassionate. And everybody who was kind to my parents was elevated to the position of a king or queen in my eyes. We stayed friends over the years. Never was he ever (pretentious). He had a tremendous amount of friends, and each and every one of them cherished him.
In an interview that she gave in 2001 to Larry King, she expressed her agreement with the feeling and added, “He had the largest hands, you know, and when he’d shake your hands, you felt like a tiny baby.” And he was such a wonderful son to my mother and father.”
Concerning Wayne, on the other hand, she had certain reservations that she just couldn’t shake off no matter how hard she tried. In 2014, she said the following to Interview magazine:
“When I initially arrived in this country, neither my mother nor I were able to communicate in English. First, I would curtsey, then I would say “Thank you,” and then I would curtsey again as I was leaving. For instance, we traveled to Dallas to promote the film “The Train Robbers,” which I co-starred in with John Wayne. But I never referred to him as Duke. I simply couldn’t. That is how my parents brought me up. When you first meet a new person, you should address them as either Mr. or Mrs. or Miss. You have just stood up. I believe that we were instructed on the same material.