GREAT ACTRESSES: Ann-Margret

Here is a version of this classic song (already sung, among many others, by Judy Garland, Shani Wallis – in the film Oliver! – or Shirley Bassey) by the beautiful and sparkling Ann-Margret.

Ann-Margret (born in 1941) is a five-time Golden Globe Award-winning, Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-nominated Swedish-American actress, singer and dancer who was born Ann-Margret Olsson in Valsjöbyn, Jämtland, Sweden. She moved to the United States when she was young and grew up in Wilmette, Illinois. She attended Northwestern University and was discovered singing in a nightclub by George Burns. She was often referred to as a "sex-kitten" and the "female Elvis". Ann-Margret started recording for RCA in 1961, but her recording career was not as successful as her concurrent movie career. She had a sexy, throaty, singing voice, and RCA attempted to capitalize on the "female Elvis" comparison by having her record a version of Heartbreak hotel and other songs stylistically similar to Presley's. In 1961, Ann-Margret made her film début in Pocketful of miracles, starring Bette Davis, Glenn Ford, and Hope Lange, a remake of the Oscar-winning 1933 film Lady for a day; both versions were directed by the great Frank Capra. She followed that role with the successful 1962 remake of Rodgers' and Hammerstein's musical State fair. Her next starring role, as the all-American teenager in Bye bye Birdie, made her a major star. When she filmed Viva Las Vegas with Elvis Presley the two began an affair that received considerable attention from the gossip columnists. Although he ended the affair, Presley remained a friend and continued to send Ann-Margret flowers at the opening of each of her stage appearances until he died. Of all the Hollywood starlets with whom he had worked or had a relationship, Ann-Margret was the only one to attend his funeral. In 1963, Ann-Margret was featured and guest-starred, in animated form, in an episode of Hanna-Barbera's The Flintstones as "Ann-Margrock". Ann also co-starred along with friend Dean Martin in the 2nd Matt Helm film, Murderer's row. In March 1966, Ann-Margret and entertainers Chuck Day and Mickey Jones teamed up for a USO tour to entertain U.S. servicemen in remote parts of Vietnam and other parts of Southeast Asia. She still has great affection for the veterans and refers to them as "my gentlemen". In 1971, she starred in Mike Nichols's Carnal knowledge, marking a significant change from her sex-kitten musical roles and garnering a nomination for an Academy Award for best supporting actress. Throughout the 1970s, Ann-Margret balanced her live musical performances with a string of critically-acclaimed dramatic film roles that played against her glamorous image. These included Tommy in 1975, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for best actress. In addition, she has been nominated for ten Golden Globe Awards and has won five times, including her best actress for Tommy. She also did a string of successful TV specials, starting with The Ann-Margret Show for NBC in 1968. She continues to act in films. Ann-Margret has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1995, she was chosen by Empire magazine as one of the "100 sexiest stars in film history".

Enjoy!