She dazzled audiences in Bye Bye Birdie and lit up the screen alongside Elvis Presley in Viva Las Vegas. With her fiery red hair, magnetic charm, and undeniable talent, Ann-Margret became a Hollywood icon. But ask her what she’s most proud of, and she won’t mention the awards, the fame, or even her legendary roles.

“My proudest achievement?” she once said. “My marriage.”

Ann-Margret fell in love with actor Roger Smith, and in 1967, they tied the knot. The wedding day itself was far from perfect, but what followed was a love story that lasted five decades. While she was being chased by the spotlight—and many admirers—it was Roger who truly won her heart.

He later stepped away from his own acting career to manage hers, not just professionally, but personally. With his steady support, Ann-Margret broke out of the “sex symbol” mold, earning serious recognition in films like Carnal Knowledge.

Life didn’t go easy on them. In 1972, a near-fatal fall left Ann-Margret in critical condition. Roger, in a dramatic and desperate act of love, flew a plane—without permission—to get her the emergency surgery she needed.

Later, in 1980, the couple’s roles reversed when Roger was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, later worsened by Parkinson’s. Ann-Margret stepped back from the spotlight to become his full-time caregiver, standing by his side until his death in 2017.

They never had children of their own—something she has quietly called her one deep regret—but she embraced Roger’s three children as her own and found fulfillment in that role.

Now in her 80s, Ann-Margret reflects not just on a life of fame, but on a love that endured everything Hollywood could throw at it. “We loved each other,” she says simply. “And we were always in each other’s corner.”

Their story isn’t just about stardom—it’s about devotion, resilience, and the kind of partnership that’s rare anywhere, especially in showbiz.