Ann-Margret Remembers John Wayne’s Treatment Of Her On 'The Train Robbers' Set

Feb 09, 2023 by apost team

Ann-Margret Olsson, known professionally as Ann-Margret, is a Swedish-American actress, singer and dancer who rose to fame in the 1960s and 1970s as one of Hollywood's leading ladies. She is best known for her roles in a number of iconic films, including "Bye Bye Birdie," "Viva Las Vegas" and "The Cincinnati Kid." 

Ann-Margret was born in Valsjöbyn, Sweden, in 1941. At the age of 5, she and her family immigrated to the United States and settled in Illinois. As a child, Ann-Margret displayed a natural talent for performing and was encouraged by her parents to pursue her passion. She began taking dance lessons at a young age, and by the time she was in high school, she was performing in local musicals and talent shows.

After graduating from high school, Ann-Margret attended Northwestern University, where she studied drama and music. It was there that she met her future husband, Roger Smith, who would later become her manager. Ann-Margret's talent and beauty caught the eye of many in the entertainment industry, and she soon found herself in demand as a performer.

In 1961, Ann-Margret made her film debut in the musical comedy "Pocketful of Miracles," which starred Bette Davis and Glenn Ford. The film was a critical and commercial success, and Ann-Margret's performance was widely praised. She quickly became one of the most sought-after actresses in Hollywood.

One of her most memorable performances, however, was in the 1973 Western film "The Train Robbers," in which she co-starred with John Wayne. Read on to find out what memories about filming the movie stuck most with Ann-Margret and how she remembers the legendary “Duke.”

Throughout her career, Ann-Margret acted in a variety of films, both in the lead and supporting roles. She also recorded several albums and performed on stage as a singer and dancer. In the 1990s and 2000s, she appeared in a number of television shows and made-for-TV movies, and she has continued to work in the entertainment industry to this day.

Ann-Margret has received numerous accolades for her work, including Golden Globe Awards and an Academy Award nomination. She is considered one of the most talented and versatile actresses of her generation, and her impact on the entertainment industry has been immense.

In 1973, Ann-Margret co-starred with Wayne in "The Train Robbers," a Western film directed by Burt Kennedy. The film told the story of a group of outlaws who hire a gunslinger to help them steal a gold shipment from a moving train. Ann-Margret played the love interest of Wayne's character, and their on-screen chemistry was widely praised by audiences and critics alike.

Ann-Margret and Wayne had a close personal relationship, and their friendship was widely known in Hollywood. They had great respect for each other both as actors and as people, and they often spoke fondly of one another in interviews. 

She recalled that, prior to filming, she and Wayne were struggling physically. Wayne had fractured two ribs and found it hard to sleep at night, while Ann-Margret was recovering from an injury sustained while performing in Lake Tahoe. She also had to overcome her fear of horses for scenes in the film. However, the actress said Wayne remained supportive. 

“He was a big teddy bear, and we got along famously. Duke gave me the confidence I lacked,” she gushed about her co-star.

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Ann-Margret and Wayne, who was famously nicknamed “The Duke” after a beloved pet dog, remained friends until the legendary star's passing in 1979. While Ann-Margret was deeply affected by his passing, she could at the very least cherish the memories she had of him. When asked what surprised her most about the “True Grit” star, she said:

“Oh, I didn’t know what to expect. But when he hugged me, it’s like the world was hugging me. He was so big and wide with that booming voice. We were shooting in Durango, Mexico and my parents came down to visit me. He was so great with my parents. So absolutely welcoming and gentle with them. And anybody who was great to my parents was on a throne in my eyes. I was friends with him forever. He was never (pretentious). He had so many friends and every single person loved him.”

She echoed the sentiment in an interview with Larry King in 2001 and said: “He had the biggest hands, you know, he'd shake your hands, and you felt like a little baby. And he was so great to my parents.” 

However, she had some qualms she simply couldn’t quell when it came to Wayne. She told Interview magazine in 2014:

“When I came to this country, first of all, mother and I didn’t know English. I would curtsey, then say, ‘Thank you,’ and then when I was leaving, curtsey. For example, we went to Dallas to introduce (‘The Train Robbers’) I did with John Wayne. And I never called him Duke. I just couldn’t. That’s the way I was raised. When you meet someone, you say either Mr. or Mrs. or Miss. You stand up. I think you were taught the same things.” 

Were you aware of the close relationship Ann-Margret had with John Wayne? What are your thoughts on “The Train Robbers,” if you’ve seen it? Let us know and pass this on to movie lovers who’d love to hear about this.