May Britt, the Swedish-born actress whose interracial marriage to entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. became a defining cultural moment in American history, has died at age 91. Her son confirmed she passed away from natural causes on December 11 in Los Angeles. Born Maj-Britt Wilkens near Stockholm in 1934, she rose from modest beginnings to become a striking European presence in Hollywood during the 1950s and early 1960s.
Britt’s path to stardom began unexpectedly when Italian filmmakers discovered her in Stockholm and cast her in adventure films, eventually leading to a role in War and Peace. That performance brought her to the attention of 20th Century Fox, where she appeared alongside major stars like Robert Mitchum and Marlon Brando and took on the iconic Lola-Lola role in The Blue Angel remake. Fame came quickly, including a 1959 cover of Life magazine that showcased her as a bold, modern talent.
Her personal life, however, thrust her into a spotlight far harsher than Hollywood could offer. Britt’s 1960 marriage to Sammy Davis Jr., at a time when interracial marriage was illegal in many U.S. states, drew nationwide hostility. The couple endured threats, backlash, and career consequences—Britt’s Fox contract was not renewed following their engagement. Despite this, she later said she never regretted their union, and together they raised three children while facing relentless public scrutiny.
After the couple divorced in 1968, Britt stepped away from major film work, later making select television and film appearances before retiring to a quiet life focused on painting and family in California. She remarried in 1993 and continued to live privately until recent years. Remembered for both her film career and the courage she showed in confronting prejudice, May Britt leaves behind a legacy shaped by talent, resilience, and a love story that helped challenge America’s racial attitudes.
