May Britt, the Swedish-born actress whose Hollywood career and personal life made her part of one of the most talked-about interracial marriages in American history, has died at 91. Her son, Mark Davis, confirmed she passed away from natural causes on December 11 at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Born Maj-Britt Wilkens on March 22, 1934, in Lidingö, Sweden, Britt grew up far from the glamour she would later encounter. She had no early plans for stardom, and her entry into film came almost by accident while working as a photographer’s assistant in Stockholm.

In the early 1950s, Italian filmmakers Mario Soldati and Carlo Ponti cast her in adventure and drama films, including Jolanda, the Daughter of the Black Corsair (1953), giving her visibility across European cinema. Her role in King Vidor’s 1956 adaptation of War and Peace alongside Audrey Hepburn and Henry Fonda drew Hollywood attention. Buddy Adler of 20th Century Fox offered her a studio contract, prompting her move to the U.S.

Once in Hollywood, Britt starred opposite Robert Mitchum in The Hunters (1958) and Marlon Brando in The Young Lions (1958). Her most notable role came in 1959 with Edward Dmytryk’s remake of The Blue Angel, stepping into the iconic role of Lola-Lola, made famous by Marlene Dietrich. That year, she appeared on Life magazine’s cover, highlighted as a modern European presence in Hollywood.

Britt’s personal life soon drew intense attention. After a brief marriage to Edwin J. Gregson, she met entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. in 1959. Their 1960 marriage, after Britt converted to Judaism, sparked public hostility, including death threats, as interracial marriage was illegal in many U.S. states.

The backlash affected her career. 20th Century Fox declined to renew her contract, effectively ending her Hollywood trajectory. Despite the challenges, Britt later said she never regretted marrying Davis. The couple had a daughter, Tracey, and adopted two sons, Mark and Jeff.

Britt and Davis separated in 1967 and divorced in 1968. She returned briefly to acting, appearing in TV series such as Mission: Impossible and the film Haunts (1976), with her final appearance in 1988.

May Britt is remembered for her striking screen presence, resilience amid public scrutiny, and her role in breaking social barriers during a turbulent era in American history.