Ann-Margret Says ‘Speed’ Keeps Her Going at Age 82: ‘Not the Drug!’ (Exclusive)

At 82, actress and singer Ann-Margret isn’t slowing down — in fact, she’d like to go a little faster.

“I love speed,” says the Viva Las Vegas and Bye, Bye Birdie actress. “Not the drug.” 

She means actual miles per hour. Speaking with PEOPLE at the Women’s Image Network’s 25th Women’s Image Awards at the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills on Wednesday, the avid motorcyclist says she “of course” still rides her Harley Davidson.  

“It's lavender and it's got white daisies all over it,” she says. “There's flowers on the back fender and on the front fender. I love the speed.”

On Wednesday, however, she took a little time to slow down and reflect on her life as she accepted WIN’s Living Legend Award.

“I am so blessed. I just can't believe all the things that have happened to me. I never expected it. Never,” she continues.

Born Ann-Margret Olsson in Sweden in 1941, the future performer moved to the U.S. as a child with her parents. She took dance lessons early on, and proved she had a knack for entertaining.

“I remember wanting to be in show business all my life,” she says. “And I remember one day I said to mother and daddy, ‘I want to talk to you. It's a very, very important thing for me and I want to get into show business.’” The Olssons were supportive. 

By day, Ann-Margret studied speech at Northwestern University; by night, she performed club gigs with her jazz combo The Suttletones. 

After making her way out west to Las Vegas and Los Angeles, Ann-Margret (who by then dropped her last name) was discovered by famed comedian George Burns, who gave her a spot in his Las Vegas holiday show at the Sahara.

She was a hit, and Hollywood soon came calling. Her role in 1963’s Bye, Bye Birdie made her a star before she costarred with Elvis Presley (her one time paramour) in the next year’s Viva Las Vegas.

Philanthropist Wallis Annenberg, who presented Ann-Margret with the Living Legend Award, touched on the star’s achievements in her speech.

“Legend means you haven't just shared a screen with Elvis Presley, Jack Nicholson, and Jack Lemon, you've dominated it. And it's not their performances people are talking about decades later, it's yours. With five Golden Globes, an Emmy, and two Oscar nominations to prove it,” she said.

“Legend means that even though you shared a screen with some of the sexiest and most eligible men of the last century, you keep your life private, discreet, all your own,” she continued. “No wonder Hedda Hopper once called you Hollywood's new Garbo. No wonder your proudest achievement is your 50-year marriage to your extraordinary and dearly departed husband, Roger Smith, in Hollywood no less, where a five-year marriage is beating the odds.”

Later in the speech, Annenberg made a reference to Ann-Margret’s age. 

"When you reach your 80s, people want to dip you in bronze and stick you on a shelf somewhere, legend or not,” she said. “But why gather dust on a shelf when you are still young and vital, and ready to rock?”

“Why go gently into the night when you can ride your lavender Harley until sunrise and be your own damn woman?” she continued. “ If it were up to me, the word legend in the Oxford English Dictionary would be accompanied by a picture of our honoree.”

The Women's Image Network is dedicated to "promoting dimensional female media images which advance the value of women and girls," according to its website.