May Britt, the captivating Swedish actress who graced both European and Hollywood screens, has passed away at the age of 91. Her son, Mark Davis, confirmed she died peacefully on December 11th in Los Angeles, concluding a life filled with artistry and remarkable personal challenges.
Born Maj-Britt Wilkens, her journey to stardom began unexpectedly. While assisting in a photography studio in Stockholm as a teenager, fate intervened when Italian filmmakers Carlo Ponti and Mario Soldati were searching for a fresh face. They weren’t looking at her photographs; they were captivated by *her*.
Offered the lead role in “Jolanda, the Daughter of the Black Corsair,” the young woman was instantly transformed – both professionally and geographically. Renamed May Britt, she embarked on a new life in Rome, quickly becoming a fixture in ten films produced by the renowned Cinecittà studio.
The late 1950s saw a move to Hollywood, where she signed with 20th Century Fox. She soon shared the screen with some of the era’s biggest stars, appearing alongside Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift in “The Young Lions,” and Robert Mitchum and Robert Wagner in “The Hunters.”
Britt’s talent extended to epic productions as well, notably portraying Sonya Rostova in the lavish 1956 adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace,” a film that also featured Audrey Hepburn and Henry Fonda. She continued to challenge herself with diverse roles, including a controversial remake of the classic “The Blue Angel.”
Though the remake of “The Blue Angel” – a role previously immortalized by Marlene Dietrich – was critically panned, it cemented Britt’s willingness to take risks. The film’s failure didn’t diminish her spirit, but it foreshadowed the greater challenges that lay ahead, challenges that would test her courage and resilience.
Beyond her acting career, May Britt’s life became a powerful story of love and defiance. Her relationship with Sammy Davis Jr. blossomed at a time when interracial marriage faced fierce opposition and, in many states, was illegal.
Their 1960 engagement ignited a firestorm of controversy. Davis was disinvited from John F. Kennedy’s inauguration, and Britt lost her contract with 20th Century Fox. The couple endured death threats, forcing them to live under constant armed guard, a stark reality of the prejudice they faced.
Despite the immense pressure, they married and built a family, welcoming daughter Tracey in 1961 and later adopting sons Mark and Jeff. Though their marriage ended in divorce in 1968, the love between them remained profound, as their daughter later revealed.
Tracey Davis, who sadly passed away in 2020, spoke of her parents’ enduring affection. “My mum loved my dad like crazy, and my dad loved my mother,” she shared. The split wasn’t a result of lost love, but the demands of Davis’s relentless performance schedule.
Davis himself acknowledged the strain, telling Tracey he simply couldn’t provide the family life Britt deserved. After her divorce from Davis, Britt found happiness again, marrying Lennart Ringquist, who predeceased her in 2017.
May Britt’s life was a testament to her talent, her courage, and her unwavering spirit. She navigated a complex world with grace and resilience, leaving behind a legacy that extends far beyond the silver screen.
