From her perch high in the Hollywood Hills, Ann-Margret takes a moment to chat with us, and she’s not alone. “That meow you hear? That’s my baby, Harley,” she says, her voice warm with affection. “He’s 19 years old and still going strong. And don’t forget Miss Mona, my dog. I named her after the character I played in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas—she’s part of the family now.”
At 82, Ann-Margret is Still Shining Bright
At 82, Ann-Margret describes her life as serene, but for most people, her schedule would be anything but calm. Recently, she released a self-titled fragrance, with proceeds going to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund—a cause close to her heart. In April, she also dropped her first-ever rock covers album, Born to Be Wild. “Performing is in my blood,” she says with a laugh. “There’s nothing like seeing people smile and feel joy. It’s what keeps me going.”
Early Beginnings: A Musical Childhood in Sweden
Ann-Margret Olsson’s early years in Sweden were filled with music. “The first sound I remember is the accordion,” she recalls fondly. “My Uncle Calle used to play it, and I would dance around the room. By the time I was four, I was already harmonizing with my mom on Swedish folk songs. Music has always been a part of me.”
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A Journey to Stardom
When her family moved to the U.S. in 1946, Ann-Margret’s love for the arts only grew. She took dance lessons, entered talent competitions, and eventually found herself performing with a group called the Suttletones in Las Vegas. That’s where she caught the eye of vaudeville legend George Burns, who hired her to perform a dance routine with him at his annual holiday show. But fame didn’t come overnight. It wasn’t until Frank Capra’s Pocketful of Miracles, her first film, that she truly broke through, earning a Golden Globe for best newcomer in 1962.
A year later, Bye Bye Birdie skyrocketed her to international stardom. Looking back, she admits she had no idea the film would change her life. “I was just so happy to be there, remembering my lines and singing the songs,” she says with a laugh. “It was such a joyful experience.”
Entertaining the Troops in Vietnam
Ann-Margret’s impact wasn’t limited to the screen. She became a beloved figure among American troops serving in Vietnam. “I got a letter signed by 3,000 soldiers asking me to come over and perform,” she recalls. “I was so moved by it that I wanted to go the very next day.” She ended up doing three tours, starting in 1966. “I wanted to look glamorous, but I didn’t realize how hot it would be,” she jokes. “I wore two sets of false eyelashes, hoping the glue would hold up even as I sweated.”
Once on stage, all her worries melted away. “I looked out into the audience and saw all those smiling faces. We were about the same age, and they were risking everything out there,” she says. “Singing and dancing for them felt like the least I could do. It’s a memory I’ll cherish forever.”
A Tribute to the Past
Her album Born to Be Wild is a love letter to the rock ‘n’ roll era of the 1950s and ’60s. “I covered songs like ‘Splish Splash’ and ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,’ both by Bobby Darin, who was a dear friend,” she explains. “And ‘Volare’ is a tribute to my Bye Bye Birdie costar, Bobby Rydell. We stayed close for years.”
One notable absence from the album? Songs by Elvis Presley, her co-star in Viva Las Vegas. “I decided not to include them,” she says softly. “Elvis and I had a very special friendship, and it was deeply private. I didn’t feel right singing his songs—it felt too personal.”
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