Ann-Margret, 85, still rides her Harley-Davidson and credits ‘freedom’

At 85, Ann-Margret still has a need for speed.

The “Bye Bye Birdie” and “Viva Las Vegas” legend is opening her personal archives to fans, partnering with Julien’s Auctions to sell cherished keepsakes, household items and glamorous Bob Mackie-designed costumes beginning June 23.

One of the sale’s crown jewels is her custom 1997 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883 Hugger, adorned with a mauve-and-daisy design and ridden by the star for more than 20 years.

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Ann-Margret is partnering with Julien’s Auctions to open her personal archives to fans, offering an extraordinary collection of memorabilia spanning her legendary career. The auction features cherished keepsakes from iconic movies, such as “Viva Las Vegas,” alongside deeply personal possessions, including one of her prized motorcycles. The auction launches 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 the “speed” and still happily rides today.

Ann-Margret is seen here with a motorcycle, circa 1965. (Darlene Hammond/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

“Back in Sweden, my uncle, my mother’s brother, he had a big motorcycle,” she said. “I watched him, and of course, I asked him if I could ride with him. And I did. And that was it. I had to have one of my own.”

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With zero hesitation, Ann-Margret replied, “nope” when asked whether she was ever scared.

“Isn’t that something?” she said. “I never have been. I love the speed. I try not to go too fast, although I do love the speed. I’m joyful when I get on that bike. I don’t get scared. That’s the problem!”

Ann-Margret starred as Kim MacAfee in the 1963 film “Bye Bye Birdie.” (John Springer Collection/Corbis)

A devoted motorcycle enthusiast since the 1960s, Ann-Margret has spent decades chasing adventure on two wheels, both on set and off. In one of her most iconic images, photographer Douglas Kirkland captured the star in 1971 racing down a Las Vegas highway on a chopper, dressed in a patriotic showgirl ensemble and knee-high boots.

Ann-Margret 1997 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883 Hugger Motorcycle. It’s been ridden by the star for over 20 years. (Julien’s Auctions)

And if the star gets any second glances from no-nonsense bikers, she doesn’t seem to notice.

“I’m so busy making sure that I ride my bike correctly, I don’t notice things like that!” she quipped.

Ann-Margret attends the 2026 Chita Rivera Awards at NYU Skirball Center in New York City on May 18, 2026. (Manny Carabel/Getty Images)

That independent streak extends well beyond the open road. At her house, guests can expect to find a sign that reads, “You can tell a Swede, but you can’t tell her much,” which was put up by her late husband, Roger Smith.

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Ann-Margret’s 1980s novelty Harley-Davidson telephone. (Julien’s Auctions)

“It’s true,” she laughed. “I’m a rebel. And I’m happy. I’m happy with my life. I had 54 great years with Roger. I’m a happy person. And I enjoy my work. It’s not work to me. I’m so deeply appreciative of my fans. I do understand that they understand me. I’m serious about being an entertainer, but again, it’s not work to me. It’s joy.”

Ann-Margret and her husband Roger Smith are seen arriving at the premiere of the movie “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 male backup dancers during a 1975 show, wearing a patriotic burlesque costume. (Edward Roth)

Ann-Margret has never been one to play by the rules. One item up for auction is an ivory-and-orange gown with a low V-neck that she wore in 1963 when she appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” She wore the same ensemble 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 magnificent 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? Yeah, I had a good time.”

Ann-Margret’s 1963 gown was worn on “The Ed Sullivan Show” and to sing to President John F. Kennedy. (Julien’s Auctions)

The memory of performing for Kennedy remains tied to another milestone from that chapter of her life. Ann-Margret described casting her first ballot for Kennedy as one of the many thrills of her life.

Ann-Margret’s 1975 stage-worn “patriotic” bodysuit from her performance at the White House. (Julien’s Auctions)

“I was very excited about voting,” she said. “It will always be a special moment for me. And I love my guys and girls [from the USO]. I surely remember all the trips that I made. They all still mean the world 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 has no qualms about.

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Actress, singer and dancer Ann-Margret poses in a silver and blue beaded dress with a slit to the waist and a purple boa designed by Bob Mackie in Los Angeles, circa 1980. (Harry Langdon/Getty Images)

“Well, if men think I am sexy, then that’s fine,” she beamed. “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 penned by Arnold Schwarzenegger titled “Arnold’s Bodyshaping for Women.” The two starred in the 1979 comedy “The Villain.”

Ann-Margret’s 1979 Arnold Schwarzenegger signed book titled “Arnold’s Bodyshaping for Women.” (Julien’s Auctions)

“The one thing that I can’t really keep [up with Arnold] really is having dinner by 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 are seen in the 1979 Columbia Pictures film “The Villain.” (Pictorial Press LTD)

Like Schwarzenegger, Ann-Margret credits discipline and longevity for helping sustain a decades-long career. She said she remains amazed by the enduring support of her fans, admitting she is “humbled by it all.”

On May 3, 2026, Ann-Margret allowed Sabrina Carpenter to wear this gown, now available at Julien’s Auctions, to Anna Wintour’s pre-Met Gala dinner. Carpenter had it altered in the waist and shoulder areas, as well as hemmed it to a knee-length. It has been restored to its original length. (Aeon/GC Images/Getty Images; Julien’s Auctions)

“I had been working nonstop all through those years, and here I am,” she said. “I still get very nervous before I do something. But it’s excitement. I’m much better about 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 am so into it that I just 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,” she said. “I was always moving. I moved a lot, and I keep on moving. I’m a happy person, especially when I move.”

That outlook has fueled her for decades. Ann-Margret previously told Fox News Digital that it’s no secret her love for Harley-Davidsons has kept her feeling forever young.

Ann-Margret’s motorcycle helmets from the 1990s. (Julien’s Auctions)

“When I was 10 years old, I would ride on the back of [my uncle’s] bike with him,” she recalled at the time. “He would take me to the Norwegian border, and we would go into Norway. There’s no way I could forget that motorcycle.”

Ann-Margret and Elvis Presley ride motor scooters in a scene from the 1964 movie “Viva Las Vegas.” (Screen Archives/Getty Images)

“I’ve got a lot of energy,” she reflected. “It doesn’t come in a bottle. I am just blessed that my mother and father gave me such great energy. And there’s no negativity here. They instilled in me all of these wonderful things that I still carry with me. You don’t whine about things. You just go out and do the things that you love. And I just feel blessed with the life that I’ve been given.”