Mirror (Perth, WA : 1921 - 1956), Saturday 21 April 1956, page 11


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'The luckiest man

in the world'

Mirror Special Service

Anthony Steel, whom envious males call tue 'luckiest guy in the world' — and with good reason, had more than his share of luck to win the 'Swedish Bombshell,' Anita Ekberg.

For it was sheer j chance which led to the famous date which brought them! together. Their romance,- which Steel has made famous by his verbal 'swoorungs over his conquest,' started when Steel phoned starlet Jackie Lane, to ask her to a premiere. As he was phoning, Anita was asking Warwick Films director, Euan Lloyd, to take her to the show. 'Sorry, I'm baby sitting,' said Euan. Meanwhile, Steel phoned the director to find out why Miss Lane's phone was not answering. 'Stuffy' 'She's in Rome,' Lloyd told him. 'Why don't you take Miss Ekberg?' So Steel did— but not before Anita had remarked'Another stuffy English-! nian, I suppose.' Well, the whole world knows the sequel of the meeting. Steel made himself thousands of male enemies and went into a hopeless love trance over the Swedish siren. Steel is by no means the strong, silent lover. He tells the world in genthe world. And it would only be sour grapes toj deny he's right. Steel is no stranger toj marriage. He was in double har-j ness for two years with!

L o n (i o ii girl, Juanita i Forbrs. .';nd was divorced after four years of sepnr-j .iticn. Tony whs glad to return to the Hfe of a bachelor gay and determined to stay that way. But he didn't know then that the little man with the lethal arrows was laughing up his mythical sleeve as he saw Anita moving towards the London scene— and Steel. Georgeous The first meeting between Anita and Anthonytook place nearly four months ago and hit Steel with atomic force. He says what thousands of other men are thinking: 'I thought she was the most gorgeous thing I had ever seen in my life.' Steel maintains that he expected Anita to want to visit the highspotsbut received a shock when she settled down to a routine which would be dull to all but those in love — strolling eral that, he is marrying the most beautiful girl in along the embankment or watching TV.'

Anita was oertainl\ not living up to her forrppv ballyhoo build-up and -ia.--quite content to sljj h-w at country pubs with Sti :?: and generally lead -}k quiet life. By this timo Stre! v;w properly 'hooked' ami even refused to let. An. (a out of his sight when M*1 returned to visit her parents in Sweden— a precautionary measure v/irh which most men w'V, agree. He followed her to| Hollywood where the-'i worked out marriage -plans. j Steel says the breathtaking beauty will heroin*1 his wife when she finishes her present picture in Hollywood. ' Steel has summed up tus sweetheart: 'Don't get Anita wrong. Just because she looks like she does dont run away with tbe-

Anita Ekberv?

idea that she is lust a glamor doll. 'She has got a fine sense of humor and a lot ol ? courage. In fact she has everything to keep a hus'janq haDp'.'I 'I have to keep pinching myself to believe I am Che lucky follow.' Steel may sound like a lovelorn teenager since his conquest of the lovely daughter of Sweden— but take another look nt Anita —and think again.