Britt died on Dec. 11 of natural causes at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center, her son Mark Davis confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter.
Born Majbritt Wilkens on March 22, 1934, in Lidingö, near Stockholm, Sweden, Britt came from modest beginnings. Her father was a postal clerk, and her mother was a housewife. At 18, while working as a photographer’s assistant, her life changed dramatically when she was discovered in Stockholm by famed Italian producer Carlo Ponti.
Ponti signed her to a contract and cast her in several Italian films in the early 1950s, including The Unfaithfuls, Jolanda la Figlia del Corsaro Nero, and The Devil Is a Woman. With her striking looks and calm screen presence, Britt quickly gained attention in European cinema.
Her international career took a major step forward when she appeared in King Vidor’s War and Peace (1956). Soon after, she was screen-tested in Rome and signed by 20th Century Fox in 1957.
In Hollywood, Britt appeared in notable war dramas such as The Hunters (1958), starring Robert Mitchum, and The Young Lions (1958), where she played a love interest to Marlon Brando’s German officer. Often described as a warmer and more approachable version of Greta Garbo, Britt stood out for her elegance and restraint.
Her biggest role came in 1959, when she starred as Lola-Lola, the provocative cabaret performer in The Blue Angel, directed by Edward Dmytryk. The film was a remake of the 1930 classic that made Marlene Dietrich a star. At the time, many in Hollywood believed Marilyn Monroe would land the role, making Britt’s casting a surprise—and a career-defining moment.
She followed that success with Murder, Inc. (1960), playing Eadie Collins, the tragic wife of a singer caught in New York’s criminal underworld. The role allowed Britt to show her singing and dancing skills, further proving her versatility.
Around this time, Britt’s personal life drew as much attention as her career. She met Sammy Davis Jr. after he performed at the Mocambo nightclub in Los Angeles and invited her to a party. Their relationship quickly became serious, and Davis soon broke off a previous engagement.
The couple announced their engagement in 1960 and married on Nov. 13 that year in Los Angeles, with Frank Sinatra serving as best man. Britt was 26; Davis was 34. Their marriage made headlines not just because of their fame, but because interracial marriage was still illegal in 31 U.S. states at the time.
The couple faced intense racism, death threats, and constant pressure, at times requiring round-the-clock security. Shortly after their engagement became public, Fox chose not to renew Britt’s contract, effectively ending her Hollywood film career.
Despite the challenges, Britt and Davis built a family together. Their daughter Tracey was born in 1961, and they later adopted two sons, Mark and Jeff. The family lived in a Beverly Hills mansion once owned by famed producer David O. Selznick.
However, Davis’s demanding career and constant public scrutiny took a toll. The couple divorced in December 1968. In later years, their daughter Tracey said her parents never stopped loving each other. Davis once admitted he struggled to be the family man Britt wanted.
After the divorce, Britt largely stepped away from the spotlight. She made occasional TV appearances on shows like Mission: Impossible and The Danny Thomas Hour, and starred in the 1976 horror film Haunts. She later said she had no regrets about leaving her career behind for love.
“I loved Sammy, and I had the chance to marry the man I loved,” she told Vanity Fair in 1999.
Britt remarried in 1993 to entertainment executive and horse breeder Lennart Ringquist. They remained together until his death in 2017.
May Britt is survived by her sons Mark and Jeff, her sister Margot, and six grandchildren. Her daughter Tracey Davis died in 2020 at age 59.
With her quiet strength, groundbreaking marriage, and memorable screen performances, May Britt leaves behind a legacy that extends far beyond Hollywood.
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