Overview

May Britt (born Maybritt Wilkens; 22 March 1934) is a Swedish former actress whose career began in continental Europe and later included work in the United States. She is best known for film and modelling work in Italy during the 1950s and for her high-profile marriage to American entertainer Sammy Davis Jr.. Born on the island of Lidingö, Sweden, she became a public figure during a short but visible international career.

Career in film and fashion

Britt moved into acting in the 1950s, appearing in Italian productions and gaining experience on both stage and screen. While based in Italy she also worked as a model, collaborating with prominent fashion designers of the era, including Vincenzo Ferdinandi. Her European work led to occasional opportunities in the United States, where she later made television guest appearances.

Notable aspects and roles

  • Early 1950s: acting and modelling in Italy and other European markets (Italy).
  • 1960s: withdrew from regular screen work during her marriage and public life in the United States (United States).
  • Post-divorce: sporadic television appearances, with documented credits continuing intermittently until the late 1980s.

Personal life and later years

Britt married Sammy Davis Jr. in 1960; the marriage lasted until 1968 and attracted significant media attention. She temporarily stepped back from her acting career during that period. After the divorce she returned to work on occasion, mainly in television, with her last recorded guest roles appearing in the 1980s. In later life she turned to painting and private pursuits and has resided in California.

Legacy and distinctions

May Britt is remembered as part of a group of European actresses who moved between fashion and film, contributing to the international cultural exchange of the 1950s and 1960s. Her marriage to a major American entertainer increased her public profile beyond her filmography. For further reading about her career and context, see archived profiles and film databases that track mid-20th-century European performers and models.

Selected reference points: early life in Lidingö; 1950s work in Italy; later activity in the United States; modelling collaborations including Vincenzo Ferdinandi. Additional biographical summaries and film listings can be found in major entertainment databases and national film archives.