Detailed Biography

Britt Ekland is a Swedish actress long resident in the United Kingdom. She is best known for her roles as a Bond girl in The Man with the Golden Gun, and in the British cult horror film The Wicker Man, as well as her marriage to actor Peter Sellers, and her high-profile social life.

Early life

Ekland's father was a successful retailer in Stockholm, Sweden. She has three younger brothers. Her mother died after a long battle with Alzheimers.

Career

Ekland was the leading Bond girl in the 1974 James Bond movie The Man with the Golden Gun. Other notable film appearances include The Night They Raided Minsky's, Baxter, The Double Man, Get Carter , and the 1973 cult film The Wicker Man .

She had been director Roman Polanski's first choice for the lead in Rosemary's Baby because he thought she would contrast well with the film's dark undertones. The studio preferred Mia Farrow, however, who had become a star on the enormously popular night-time soap opera Peyton Place . She would later stand as maid of honor for Sharon Tate at her marriage to Polanski.

She also portrayed biographical characters, such as the one based on real-life actress Anny Ondra in the television movie Ring of Passion , and prostitute Mariella Novotny in the feature film Scandal about the Profumo affair.

Ekland published a beauty and fitness book in 1984, followed by a fitness video in 1992. Ekland credits her personal trainer, Herb Genendelis, for a workout regimen that has kept her in "show biz shape".

She appeared on stage as a cast member in Grumpy Old Women Live, in December 2007 participated in the Swedish reality show Stjärnorna på slottet along with Peter Stormare, Arja Saijonmaa, Jan Malmsjö and Magnus Härenstam, and in December 2007 and January 2008 she starred in Cinderella at Swindon's Wyvern Theatre. She appeared as a guest on the top rated British daytime television show Loose Women, in January 2008.