Her presence is singular. The second the celluloid begins to reel, an internal tiger is unleashed. To observe her is to be enthralled by her — the ferocious eyes, hair like fireplace, a near-permanent smirk. Decade after decade, audiences have remained entranced by the depth of her performances, be it managed and simmering or wild and uninhibited. You get the sensation that she certainly is the keeper of true carnal data, to borrow a title from her filmography. Nonetheless, at 84 years younger, there isn’t a one else like Ann-Margret. This Labor Day weekend, followers have the chance to look again at her profession and admire all she is on the Cinecon Movie Pageant, which can honor her with their Legacy Award in Los Angeles.
Contemplate these opening and shutting moments of her breakout “Bye Bye Birdie,” added as bookends in post-production by director George Sidney, the place the exuberant actress sings straight to digital camera, a sole determine in opposition to a blue backdrop, begging the movie‘s titular character no to go “away-a-a.” It’s a kind of few moments within the cinematic canon the place a persona leaps off the display and an icon is born.
Earlier than “Birdie,” she was already properly on her approach to stardom. Born in Sweeden however largely raised in America, her first film, “Pocketful of Miracles” in 1960, put her reverse Bette Davis, whose daughter she portrayed.
In an unique interview with IndieWire, Ann-Margret recalled that Davis instructed her, “I would like you to look your highest. That is your first time shut up. I would like you to look the perfect you could.”
“State Truthful” with Pat Boone adopted, establishing her musical chops within the final gasp of the Hollywood singing spectacle. She nonetheless sees Boone, now 91, by the best way — “As a matter of truth, final week,” she mentioned.
Forged reverse Elvis Presley — and dubbed the feminine Elvis — she turned electrical energy ignited. A collection of hits adopted, every of which appeared like adjectives meant to explain their star: “The Pleasure Seekers,” “The Tiger and the Pussycat,” “R.P.M.,” and — most importantly — “Kitten With a Whip.” She launched hit data, and he or she began happening USO excursions, too, which she counts as her most vital contribution.
“I went to Vietnam twice. I went in 1966 with Johnny Rivers and his bassist and drummer, simply 4 of us. After which, in fact, in ’68 I went with Bob Hope, when there have been much more of us [including] Les Brown & His Band of Renown. And I simply have such a sense for everyone. It’s laborious for me to translate what I really feel. I need to convey pleasure. I actually do. It means the world to me,” Ann-Margret mentioned.
However even along with her movie successes and her spirit, Ann-Margret largely wasn’t handled as something past field workplace by the bigger austere movie group within the Nineteen Sixties. A teen idol, to make sure, however a actual actress?
There have been indicators of what was to come back, to make sure. Her expertise is probably most evident in “The Cincinnati Child,” when she was a part of an all-star ensemble that additionally had Steve McQueen, Edward G. Robinson, Tuesday Weld, Karl Malden, Rip Torn, and Joan Blondell.
“One scene that I did with McQueen, and I occurred to be standing on a sure facet. He was deaf in a single ear, due to all of the motion films that he did. So I acquired on the opposite facet. I’m so glad he instructed me. I by no means would have recognized in any other case,” she remembered.
She labored in a visitor look on “Right here’s Lucy” in 1970, permitting her to flex her comedic chops. Lucille Ball, although, didn’t fairly get her identify proper. “She at all times referred to as me Margret. Not Ann-Margret,” she associated, and Ann-Margret by no means corrected the sitcom legend. “She was unimaginable.”
However it was 1971’s “Carnal Data,” the Mike Nichols coming-of-age drama that cracks open the sexual whims of its male leads, Jack Nicholson and Artwork Garfunkel, that may ceaselessly increase her picture (the film was simply added final month to the Criterion Assortment). As a type of “intercourse kitten” counterpart to Candice Bergen’s character, Ann-Margret is put via the ringer in a tumultuous relationship with Nicholson — which results in intense, vocal-chord-ripping fights. Her uncooked, unbridled efficiency captured her a nomination for Greatest Supporting Actress on the Oscars, in addition to a Golden Globe win. Abruptly, Hollywood took her critically.
“I knew once I learn the script the place I needed to go, and it was horrifying, actually scary,” she mentioned. “[Nicholson] gave all the pieces he had. I imply, to be on the receiving finish of his efficiency simply wiped me out.”
Ann-Margret doesn’t like to speak a lot concerning the subsequent groundbreaking occasion in her life, a traumatic fall throughout a 1972 stage efficiency in Lake Tahoe that required an extended restoration and a number of other surgical procedures — although had been her life to be filmed, it virtually actually would play a key position. And the potential for a movie is certainly a much-discussed thought. On Lindsay Lohan‘s present “Freakier Friday” press tour, it comes up continuously — and is advocated by her co-star Jamie Lee Curtis.
“I’m going to out you now to the world — I would like her to do the Ann-Margret story,” Curtis mentioned on “Good Morning America.” “So, each day on Instagram… I discover movies of her again within the day, and I ship [Lohan] each day movies [of Ann-Margret].” And Lohan added that she used to look at Ann-Margret’s films along with her grandmother.
Lohan additionally instructed Bustle, “She’s a triple menace, and he or she’s an incredible lady on prime of that. So I simply actually need to do her justice and assist inform an amazing story for her.”
“I do know that [Lohan] needs to try this,” Ann-Margret instructed IndieWire. “It simply is determined by what the dialogue is like. What can I say? I like her. I believe she’s filled with expertise, and I simply want to see what they’ll give you.”
In 1975, Ann-Margret made one other indelible mark on film historical past along with her unrestrained flip in The Who’s rock opera “Tommy,” which required — no exaggerating — her to writhe in a combination of baked beans and cleaning soap suds, all whereas performing a quantity after her character’s tv set explodes. Don’t consider me? Have a look:
“I couldn’t actually do [rehearsal] till I really did it,” she mentioned. “As a result of everybody — all of the crew — had on waist-hip boots, and right here I used to be in my cat swimsuit and nylons, however I survived.”
“Tommy” introduced her one other Academy Award nom, this time for Greatest Actress. Quite a lot of movies, every distinctive in and of themselves, adopted, from the horror hit “Magic” to the spoof “The Low-cost Detective.” She was a frequent star of big-budget movies-of-the-week on community TV within the Nineteen Eighties, touchdown a collection of Emmy nominations — although she wouldn’t win till her acclaimed visitor spot on “Legislation & Order: SVU” in 2010.
In 1983, her position in “Who Will Love My Youngsters?,” the ripped-from-the-headlines story of a dying mom in search of houses for every of her ten kids, was so praised that the eventual Emmy-winner in her class, Golden Age legend Barbara Stanwyck, used her speech to reward Ann-Margret.
“I might to pay a private tribute right now to a girl who was a beautiful entertainer, however she gave us a movie final yr — final season — during which I believe she gave one of many best, most stunning performances I’ve ever seen,” Stanwyck mentioned. Ann-Margret, you had been very good.”
“I had seen her that that day at a becoming with [designer] Nolan Miller. We had the identical unbelievable man, and he or she was saying, ‘You’re going to get it.’ And I mentioned, ‘No, no, no.’ And I used to be proper! She was at all times so nice to me,” Ann-Margret recalled. “I keep in mind [my husband Roger Smith], and going ‘What simply occurred?! I imply, what?’ I’ve by no means gotten over that. God bless her.”
She turned recognized to new generations within the Nineties, first with Disney’s “Newsies,” after which with the double-whammy of buddy comedies “Grumpy Previous Males” and “Grumpier Previous Males,” which starred Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. Ann-Margret has by no means stopped working, showing in all the pieces from “The Break-Up” with Jennifer Aniston to “Going In Fashion” with Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, and Alan Arkin.
“I discover it so rewarding to have the ability to get into any individual else’s head,” she mentioned of her diversified roles.
At the same time as she prepares to just accept her award from the Cinecon Movie Pageant, she is able to tackle regardless of the subsequent character will likely be. Not too long ago, she noticed the Brad Pitt blockbuster “F1” — and as an avid fan of speedy autos, she sees potential for herself within the style. However she as a substitute needs to be racing bikes, with a gentle director on the helm. “That’s an excellent thought.” I requested: Christopher Nolan or Paul Thomas Anderson? She mentioned, “Oh my gosh. They’re nice.” Let’s make it occur, Hollywood.
As for the Cinecon honors — properly, she’s virtually speechless. Her response, she mentioned, was merely simply to say, “How great.”
Tickets are obtainable now for Cinecon, which will likely be held August 29-September 1. Ann-Margret is about to introduce her movie “The Pleasure Seekers,” an Italian-set-and-filmed comedy-drama that can get pleasure from a world-premiere restoration.
