You probably remember her bursting onto the screen in 1963, all fiery red hair and kinetic energy, singing "Bye Bye Birdie" with a ferocity that made parents nervous and teenagers obsessed. People called her the female Elvis. Honestly, looking back at that footage now, it’s easy to see why. But fast forward more than sixty years, and the conversation has shifted. Most folks wonder what Ann-Margret now is actually up to, or if she’s finally tucked away in a quiet retirement in Benedict Canyon.
The short answer? Not even close.
At 84, Ann-Margret isn't just "still around." She's remarkably active, though her pace has changed from the 1960s whirlwind. You won't find her on a film set every week like she was during the Viva Las Vegas days, but she hasn't lost that "speed" she’s always talked about. In fact, just a few days ago in January 2026, she was making headlines again for reminiscing about her early days on the set of Pocketful of Miracles and how Bette Davis basically acted as her onset mother.
The Lavender Harley and the Need for Speed
One thing people get wrong about aging in Hollywood is the assumption that everyone eventually wants a rocking chair. Not this woman. If you ever happen to be driving through the hills of Los Angeles and see a lavender Harley-Davidson with white daisies painted on the fenders, that’s her.
She’s been very open about her love for motorcycles, even after a pretty scary accident in 2000 that left her with broken ribs and a fractured shoulder. Most people would have sold the bike. Ann-Margret? She got right back on. She famously told People that "speed" keeps her going—clarifying immediately, with a laugh, "not the drug!"
📖 Related: Joshua Jackson and Katie Holmes: What Really Happened Between the Dawson’s Creek Stars
It’s that specific brand of grit that defines Ann-Margret now. It’s not just about staying famous; it’s about a refusal to let the calendar dictate what she can and can’t do. She still lives in the same $9 million Beverly Hills mansion she shared with her late husband, Roger Smith, for over half a century. Roger passed away in 2017, and while she’s admitted that the loss was devastating, she hasn't let it turn her into a recluse.
Why she’s still popping up on your TV
If you’ve been paying attention to the guest lists of major charity events or niche fan conventions lately, you’ve probably seen her name. In mid-2025, she made a rare TV appearance at the Lead with Love 6 telethon for Project Angel Food. She sat down with Eric McCormack, and the two of them riffed on her legendary dance moves.
When he asked her where those moves came from, she didn't give some rehearsed, PR-friendly answer. She just laughed and said, "My heart and my seat."
She’s also become a bit of a staple on the fan convention circuit. In 2025, she headlined panels at Planet Comicon in Kansas City and Steel City Con. It’s a side of her career some people find surprising. Why would a two-time Oscar nominee spend her weekend at a comic book convention? Because she genuinely loves the fans. She’ll sit there for an hour, telling stories about working with John Wayne or how she lied about her age to get her first singing gig at 16.
👉 See also: Joseph Herbert Jr. Explained: Why Jo Koy’s Son Is More Than Just a Punchline
The Music Never Really Stopped
A lot of fans missed it, but she actually dropped a rock album in 2023. It wasn’t some quiet, acoustic "twilight of my career" record either. It featured collaborations with Pete Townshend and Pat Boone. She was 82 years old and still recording classic rock covers with more soul than people half her age.
- Her Voice: It’s deeper now, sure, but it still has that signature rasp.
- The Energy: She still performs in concert occasionally, though they are much more selective engagements.
- The Aesthetic: She hasn't abandoned the red hair or the glamour. At a recent appearance at the Daytime Beauty Awards in late 2025, she showed up in a vibrant outfit that proved she still knows how to own a red carpet.
There’s also the looming biopic. Lindsay Lohan has been attached to a project about Ann-Margret’s life for a couple of years now. While Hollywood development can move at a snail's pace, Ann-Margret has been involved in ensuring the story is told correctly. She’s protective of her legacy, and rightfully so.
Facing the "Concerning" Headlines
You’ve probably seen the clickbait. YouTube videos and gossip blogs occasionally post titles like "Ann-Margret’s Current Life is Highly Concerning." Usually, these are just recycled stories about her aging or the fact that she lives alone since Roger died.
But talk to anyone who has actually interviewed her recently—like Andrew Hopf from Interview Magazine—and they’ll tell you she’s "electric." She’s sharp, she’s funny, and she’s remarkably self-aware. She knows she’s an icon of a bygone era, but she doesn't live in the past. She acknowledges that she was "always sad" or "crying" during the filming of A Streetcar Named Desire in 1984 because the role was so heavy, but she talks about it with the clinical detachment of a professional who survived the work.
✨ Don't miss: John Belushi Death Pictures: What Really Happened at the Chateau Marmont
Ann-Margret now represents a very specific kind of Hollywood survival. She didn't burn out, and she didn't fade away into bitterness. She just... kept going.
Practical ways to follow her legacy today
If you want to catch up with what she’s doing or see her work with fresh eyes, here are a few things you can actually do:
- Watch "Queen Bees" (2021): This is her most recent major film role. She plays Margot, and it’s a great look at her modern acting style—warm, funny, and still very much a screen presence.
- Check out her album "Born to Be Wild": It’s available on most streaming platforms. It’s the 2023 release where she covers rock classics.
- Keep an eye on the Swedish Club events: She was recently honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award in Seattle. She often supports Swedish-American cultural organizations, reflecting her roots as an immigrant from Stockholm.
- Look for the "Lead with Love" clips: Her recent 2025 interview with Eric McCormack is floating around on social media and YouTube. It’s the best way to see her current energy and wit in real-time.
She might not be doing the 180-degree splits on top of a piano anymore, but Ann-Margret is still very much the star she always was. She’s just doing it on her own terms now, usually from the seat of a lavender Harley.