At 85, Ann-Margret still needs speed.
The “Bye Bye Birdie” and “Viva Las Vegas” legend is partnering with Julien’s Auctions to share her personal archives with fans, selling treasured memorabilia, homewares and glamorous costumes designed by Bob Mackie starting June 23rd.
One of the sale’s crown jewels is her custom 1997 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883 Hugger, which is adorned with a mauve and daisy design and which the star has been riding for more than 20 years.
When asked on Fox News Digital what riding means to her, the actress immediately declared, “Freedom, freedom, freedom!”
Ann-Margret said she loved the “speed” and still enjoyed riding.
“When I was in Sweden, my uncle, my mother’s brother, had a big bike,” she said. “I looked at him and, of course, asked if I could ride with him. And I did. That was it. I had to have my own.”
When asked if she had ever felt scared, Ann-Margret answered without hesitation: “No.”
“Isn’t that something?” she said. “I’ve never been there. I love speed. I love speed, but I try not to go too fast. It’s fun to ride that bike. I’m not scared. That’s the thing!”
An avid motorcycle enthusiast since the 1960s, Ann-Margret has spent decades chasing adventure on two wheels, both on and off set.
One of her most iconic photos was when photographer Douglas Kirkland captured the star in a patriotic showgirl ensemble and knee-high boots in 1971, speeding down the Las Vegas freeway in a helicopter.
And even if the star is admired by serious bikers, she doesn’t seem to notice.
“I don’t notice it because I’m so busy riding my bike correctly!” she joked.
Its independent tendencies extend far beyond the open road. At her home, guests can expect to see a sign posted by her late husband Roger Smith that reads, “You can talk about the Swedes, but you can’t tell them much.”
“It’s true,” she laughed. “I’m a rebel. And I’m happy. I’m happy with my life. I had 54 wonderful years with Roger. I’m a happy person and I enjoy my job. For me, it’s not work. I’m really grateful to my fans. I understand that they understand me. I’m serious about being an entertainer, but again, for me it’s not work. It’s joy.”
Ann-Margret was not a person who played by the rules. One of the items up for auction is a low V-neck ivory and orange dress she wore during an appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1963.
She wore the same ensemble to sing “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City in 1963, and a year later followed in Marilyn Monroe’s footsteps.
“It’s such a beautiful dress,” she said. “And I had the audacity to sing ‘Baby, come home’ (to the president). I was very, very young. And the audacity? Yeah, I had a good time.”
The memory of playing for Kennedy remains tied to another milestone in that chapter of her life. Ann-Margret said voting for Kennedy for the first time was one of life’s many thrills.
“I was so excited to vote,” she said. “It’s always a special moment for me. And I love my guys (in the USO). I certainly remember all the trips I took. They all still mean the world to me.”
Many of Ann-Margret’s Bob Mackie dresses up for auction helped cement her status as a Hollywood sex symbol, a title she had no qualms about.
“Well, if men find me sexy, that’s fine,” she said with a smile. “That’s fine.”
There’s no denying that Ann-Margret has remained young at heart through the years. Another item up for auction is a 1979 autographed book written by Arnold Schwarzenegger titled “Arnold’s Bodyshaping for Women.” The two starred in the 1979 comedy “Villains.”
“The one thing I can’t abide by[Arnold]is to have dinner by 7 o’clock,” she said. “But he’s great. The proof is in his pudding. He practices what he preaches.”
Like Schwarzenegger, Ann-Margret believes discipline and longevity helped sustain her decades-long career. She said she is still amazed by her fans’ continued support, admitting that she is “humbled by it all.”
“I worked non-stop for years and now I’m here,” she said. “I still get really nervous before I do something, but it’s excitement. I’m less nervous now than I was when I was 18. And I was in good spirits. I think I was (also) really good at hiding it. Once I start singing and dancing, I get really into it and feel confident.”
And Ann-Margret has no plans to slow down anytime soon.
“Even when I was 4 or 5 years old, I was always on the move,” she said. “I’ve always been on the move. I’ve moved a lot and I’m still on the move. I’m a happy person, especially when I’m moving.”
That outlook has been a driving force for her for decades. Ann-Margret previously told Fox News Digital that it’s no secret that her love for Harley-Davidsons keeps her feeling forever young.
“When I was 10 years old, I was riding on the back of (my uncle’s) bike with my uncle,” she recalled. “He took me to the Norwegian border and we entered Norway. I can’t forget that bike.”
“I have a lot of energy,” she reflected. “It’s not in a bottle. I’m just happy that my mom and dad gave me such great energy. And there’s no negativity here. They taught me all these great things that I still carry with me. You don’t whine about things. You just go out and do what you love. And I just feel blessed with the life I’ve been given.”
