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At 85, Ann-Margret still needs speed.
The “Bye Bye Birdie” and “Viva Las Vegas” legend is opening up his personal archives to fans, partnering with Julien's Auctions to sell treasured memorabilia, home goods and glamorous costumes designed by Bob Mackie starting June 23.
One of the crown jewels of the sale is his custom 1997 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883 Hugger, adorned in a mauve and daisy design and ridden by the star for more than 20 years.
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Ann-Margret has partnered with Julien's Auctions to open her personal archives to fans and offer an extraordinary collection of memorabilia spanning her legendary career. The auction features treasured memorabilia from iconic movies, such as “Viva Las Vegas,” along with deeply personal possessions, including one of his prized motorcycles. The auction launches on June 23, 2026. (Cleopatra Records)
When asked by Fox News Digital what riding means to her, the actress, without missing a beat, declared, “Freedom, freedom, freedom!”
Ann-Margret noted that she loves “speed” and still rides happily today.
Ann-Margret is seen here with a motorcycle, circa 1965. (Darlene Hammond/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
“In Sweden, my uncle, my mother's brother, had a big motorcycle,” he said. “I looked at it and of course asked if I could ride with it. And I did. And that was it. I had to have one of my own.”
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Without hesitation, Ann-Margret answered “no” when asked if she had ever been afraid.
“Isn't that something?” she said. “I never have been. I love speed. I try not to go too fast, although I do love speed. I feel happy when I get on that bike. I don't get scared. That's the problem!”
Ann-Margret played Kim MacAfee in the 1963 film “Bye Bye Birdie.” (John Springer/Corbis Collection)
An avid motorcycle enthusiast since the 1960s, Ann-Margret has spent decades pursuing two-wheeled adventures, both on and off set. In one of his most iconic images, photographer Douglas Kirkland captured the star in 1971 racing down a Las Vegas freeway in a helicopter, dressed in a patriotic showgirl outfit and knee-high boots.
Ann-Margret 1997 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883 Hugger Motorcycle. The star has ridden it for more than 20 years. (Julien Auctions)
And if the star gets any second glances from sensible bikers, she doesn't seem to notice.
“I'm so busy making sure I ride my bike correctly that I don't notice things like that!” she joked.
Ann-Margret attends the 2026 Chita Rivera Awards at the NYU Skirball Center in New York City on May 18, 2026. (Manny Carabel/Getty Images)
That independent streak extends far beyond the open road. At her home, guests can expect to find a sign that reads, “You can tell a Swede, but you can't tell him much,” which was placed by her late husband, Roger Smith.
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Ann-Margret's novelty Harley-Davidson phone from the 1980s. (Julien Auctions)
“It's true,” he laughed. “I'm a rebel. And I'm happy. I'm happy with my life. I had 54 fantastic years with Roger. I'm a happy person. And I enjoy my job. It's not work for me. I deeply appreciate my fans. I understand that they understand me. I take being an artist seriously, but again, it's not work for me. It's joy.”
Ann-Margret and her husband Roger Smith are seen arriving at the premiere of the film “Going In Style” in New York on March 30, 2017. The actor and producer died in June of that year at age 84. (Bryan R. Smith/AFP)
Ann-Margret performs with backup dancers during a 1975 show, wearing a patriotic burlesque costume. (Edward Roth)
Ann-Margret has never been one to follow the rules. One item up for auction is an ivory and orange V-neck dress she wore in 1963 when she appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” She wore the same outfit to sing “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy in 1963 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, following in Marilyn Monroe's footsteps a year later.
“It's such a gorgeous dress,” she said. “And I had the audacity to sing 'Baby, Won't You Please Come Home' [to the president]. I was very, very young. And that audacity? Yes, I had a good time.”
Ann-Margret's 1963 dress was worn on “The Ed Sullivan Show” and to sing to President John F. Kennedy. (Julien Auctions)
The memory of performing for Kennedy remains tied to another milestone in that chapter of his life. Ann-Margret described casting her first vote for Kennedy as one of the many thrills of her life.
The “patriotic” jumpsuit Ann-Margret wore on stage in 1975 during her performance at the White House. (Julien Auctions)
“I was very excited to vote,” she said. “It will always be a special moment for me. And I love my boys and girls. [from the USO]. I surely remember all the trips I took. “They all still mean a lot to me.”
Many of Ann-Margret's Bob Mackie dresses at the auction helped solidify her status as a Hollywood sex symbol, a title she makes no bones about.
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Actress, singer and dancer Ann-Margret poses in a silver and blue beaded dress with a slit at the waist and a purple boa designed by Bob Mackie in Los Angeles, circa 1980. (Harry Langdon/Getty Images)
“Well, if men think I'm sexy, then that's fine,” she smiled. “That's fine with me.”
There's no denying that Ann-Margret has remained young at heart over the years. Another item up for auction is a signed 1979 book written by Arnold Schwarzenegger titled “Arnold's Bodyshaping for Women.” The two starred in the 1979 comedy “The Villain.”
Ann-Margret's Arnold Schwarzenegger signed book from 1979 titled “Arnold's Bodyshaping for Women.” (Julien Auctions)
“The only thing I really can't keep [up with Arnold] It really is dinner at seven o'clock,” she said. “But he's amazing. The proof is in the pudding with him. He practices what he preaches.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ann-Margret appear in the 1979 Columbia Pictures film “The Villain.” (LTD Pictorial Press)
Like Schwarzenegger, Ann-Margret credits discipline and longevity with helping sustain a decades-long career. She said she continues to be amazed by the enduring support of her fans and admitted that she feels “humiliated by all of this.”
On May 3, 2026, Ann-Margret allowed Sabrina Carpenter to wear this dress, now available at Julien's Auctions, to Anna Wintour's pre-Met Gala dinner. Carpenter modified it in the waist and shoulder areas, and also hemmed it to the knee. It has been restored to its original length. (Aeon/GC Images/Getty Images; Julien Auctions)
“I've been working non-stop for all those years and here I am,” he said. “I still get very nervous before doing something. But it's excitement. I'm much better with nerves today than I was when I was 18. And I was thriving. I guess I have [also] been very good at hiding it. “Once I start singing and dancing, I get so into it that I feel confident.”
And Ann-Margret has no plans to slow down anytime soon.
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Actress Ann-Margret attends the USO event honoring her legacy of service at the Margaret Herrick Library in Beverly Hills on April 29, 2026. (Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)
“Even when I was four or five years old, I was constantly moving,” he said. “I was always moving. I moved a lot and I keep moving. I'm a happy person, especially when I move.”
That perspective has driven her for decades. Ann-Margret previously told Fox News Digital that it's no secret that her love of Harley-Davidsons has kept her feeling forever young.
Ann-Margret's motorcycle helmets from the 90s. (Julien Auctions)
“When I was 10 years old, I rode on the back of [my uncle’s] Riding a bike with him,” he recalled at the time. “He would take me to the Norwegian border and we would enter Norway. There's no way I can forget that motorcycle.”
Ann-Margret and Elvis Presley ride a scooter in a scene from the 1964 film “Viva Las Vegas.” (Screen Files/Getty Images)
“I have a lot of energy,” he reflected. “It doesn't come in a bottle. I feel blessed that my mother and father gave me so much energy. And there's no negativity here. They instilled in me all these wonderful things that I still carry with me. You don't complain about things. You just go out and do the things you love. And I feel blessed with the life they've given me.”
