Ann-Margret
A fiery screen presence who evolved from a rock-and-roll ingénue into a daring dramatic actress, defying Hollywood's expectations.
Born 1941 (age 85)·American actress·Birthday: April 28·The Silent Generation
Biography
Ann-Margret arrived in Hollywood like a shock of crimson hair and kinetic energy, branded 'the female Elvis' for her electrifying musical performances in films like 'Viva Las Vegas.' But beneath the sequins and the vivacious persona was a determined artist who refused to be pigeonholed. She deliberately shattered her bombshell image with a raw, unflinching performance in 'Carnal Knowledge,' earning her first Academy Award nomination and proving her serious dramatic chops. This began a pattern of reinvention, from the acid-rock queen in 'Tommy'—which brought her a second Oscar nod—to scene-stealing turns in comedies like 'Grumpy Old Men.' Her career, spanning over sixty years, is a masterclass in longevity built on talent and resilience, surviving a near-fatal fall and personal struggles to remain a vibrant and respected figure in the industry.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Ann-Margret was born in 1941, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ann-Margret Was Born
The biggest hits of 1941
#1 Movie
Sergeant York
Best Picture
How Green Was My Valley
Ann-Margret's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1941Born
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1946Started school
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1954Became a teenager
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1957Could drive
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1959Could vote
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1962Turned 21
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1971Turned 30
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 40
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 50
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 60
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 70
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 80
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 85 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Received Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress for 'Carnal Knowledge' (1971) and 'Tommy' (1975).
- Won five Golden Globe Awards, including for her performances in 'Carnal Knowledge' and the television film 'Who Will Love My Children?'
- Starred in the groundbreaking rock opera 'Tommy,' performing the iconic role of Nora Walker.
- Honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Swedish-American of the Year organization in 2008.
Did You Know?
She performed a provocative song-and-dance number at President John F. Kennedy's infamous 45th birthday celebration at Madison Square Garden in 1962.
She is a skilled drummer and played herself in the 1993 film 'Grumpy Old Men.'
She survived a 22-foot fall from a Lake Tahoe stage in 1972, requiring extensive facial reconstruction.
She was born in Sweden and moved to the United States as a young child.
““I've always been a fighter. You have to be in this business.””
