La Dolce Vita star Anita Ekberg has died aged 83.

The Swedish-born actress received acclaim for her performance as Sylvia in Federico Fellini’s iconic film as the unattainable "dream woman" and was branded a "sex goddess".

Italian media reported her death on 11 January, which was soon confirmed by her lawyer to agencies. Her lawyer Patrizia Ubaldi said Ekberg had been hospitalized most recently after Christmas following a series of illnesses.

Anita Ekberg dancing to guitarist in a scene from the film 'La Dolce Vita', 1960/Anita Ekberg, star of La Dolce Vita, dies aged 83 (American International Pictures/Getty)

A former Miss Sweden, she also appeared in films such as Blood Alley and War and Peace. La Dolce Vita revolved around a series of stories following a week in the life of a philandering paparazzo journalist living in Rome. Ekberg was immortalized after she was filmed bathing in the Trevi fountain in La Dolce Vita.

Anita Ekberg in the iconic La Dolce Vita scene (JTavin/Everett/REX)

She had long lived in Italy, the country that gave her worldwide fame. She was married twice, first to Anthony Steel in 1956. They divorced three years later and she married Rik Van Nutter in 1963 until 1975.

The Years of La Dolce Vita Show all 9 1 /9 The Years of La Dolce Vita The Years of La Dolce Vita Brigitte Bardot Marcello Geppetti (1933-1998), 'Brigitte Bardot in Spoleto', June 1961 MGMC & Solares Fondazione delle Arti The Years of La Dolce Vita Marcello Mastroianni Arturo Zavattini (b. 1930), Marcello Mastroianni pictured on the set of ‘La Dolce Vita’ Solares Fondazione delle Arti The Years of La Dolce Vita Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor Marcello Geppetti (1933-1998), 'Richard Burton and Liz Taylor kissing in Ischia', June 1962 MGMC & Solares Fondazione delle Arti The Years of La Dolce Vita Joan Collins Marcello Geppetti (1933-1998), 'Jack Lemmon, Joan Collins and Robert Wagner at “Caffè dell’Epoca”', Rome, October 1961 MGMC & Solares Fondazione delle Arti The Years of La Dolce Vita Jane Mansfield Marcello Geppetti (1933-1998), 'Jane Mansfield and Mike Hargitay', Rome, September 1960 MGMC & Solares Fondazione delle Arti The Years of La Dolce Vita Fellini on La Dolce Vita set Arturo Zavattini (b. 1930). Set of 'La Dolce Vita'. Assistant cameraman Ennio Guarnieri, Nico Otzak and Federico Fellini, 1960 Solares Fondazione delle Arti The Years of La Dolce Vita Audrey Hepburn Marcello Geppetti (1933-1998), 'Audrey Hepburn', Rome, 1961 MGMC & Solares Fondazione delle Arti The Years of La Dolce Vita Anita Ekberg Marcello Geppetti (1933-1998), 'Anita Ekberg driving a Mercedes', Rome, May 1962 MGMC & Solares Fondazione delle Arti The Years of La Dolce Vita Sophia Loren Marcello Geppetti (1933-1998), 'Carlo Ponti, Sophia Loren and Vittorio De Sica', Rome, 1961 MGMC & Solares Fondazione delle Arti