Swedish beauties dazzled Hollywood

Ingrid Bergman’s beauty was distinct because she was tall, regal and imperious, and her European accent made her mysterious.

She found herself at the center of a scandal after she flew to Italy to make “Stromboli” with Roberto Rossellini, who got her pregnant. The situation was so scandalous that she was banned from Hollywood for years. She remarried (and divorced) a few more times.

With or without makeup, Bergman was beautiful—truly one of the show biz industry’s most photogenic stars. Fans remember her in “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” heating up the screen with constant costar, Gary Cooper, with whom (it is said) she maintained an off-screen relationship.

In fact, she had relations with many of her costars, including Gregory Peck (“Intermezzo”). In “Gaslight,” which gave Ingrid the first of her three Academy Awards, she looked succulent opposite Charles Boyer.

Stage plays

Swedish imports became big stars after Bergman: Luscious Viveca Lindfors starred with Errol Flynn in “Don Juan.” She was equally adept onstage as she was onscreen, having appeared in Ibsen plays on Broadway.

May Britt portrayed Marlene Dietrich’s famous role and married Sammy Davis. The couple didn’t remain married long. Sammy was then part of the group made up of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Peter Lawford. Little was heard of Britt when her Hollywood career ended after their divorce.

Unlike other actresses who grew old gracefully, however, Bergman aged “badly.” But, at least, films like “Saratoga Trunk” and “Casablanca” had captured how lovely she was before age caught up with her.

Isabella, her only daughter with Rossellini, is just as beautiful but, she doesn’t possess her mother’s range and mystique.