Here are 8 famous actresses from Italy were born in 1918:
Clelia Matania (September 18, 1918 London-October 13, 1981 Rome) also known as Clelia Mattania was an Italian actor and voice actor.
She began her career in Italian cinema in the 1930s and went on to appear in over 150 films. Matania was known for her versatility, portraying a range of characters from dramatic to comedic roles. She worked with several notable Italian directors, including Federico Fellini and Luchino Visconti. Matania also lent her voice to numerous Italian dubs of foreign films, including the role of the Queen in Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. She was honored with the Career Award at the 1981 Venice Film Festival, just weeks before her death from cancer at the age of 63.
In addition to her successful acting career, Matania was also an accomplished stage performer. She started her stage career in the 1940s and quickly gained recognition for her talent as a stage actor. Matania won critical acclaim for her performances in plays such as "La governante" and "La lupa". She continued to perform on stage alongside her film career well into the 1970s. Matania was also a regular on Italian radio shows, where she showcased her comedic skills.
Matania was known for her dedication to her craft, regularly immersing herself in the roles she played. Her commitment to her work earned her the admiration of her colleagues, who regarded her as one of the finest actors of her generation. Matania's legacy continues to live on today, with many of her films and performances still widely regarded as classics of Italian cinema.
Jone Salinas (March 8, 1918 Reggio Calabria-May 27, 1992 Rome) also known as Ione Salinas, Ione Martello, Vittoria Martello or Jone Salinas Musu was an Italian actor.
Salinas is best known for her work in Italian cinema during the 1940s and 1950s, appearing in over 40 films. She began her acting career in the 1930s in the theater before transitioning to film. Salinas often played supporting roles, most notably in films such as "Bitter Rice" (1949) and "Umberto D." (1952), both directed by Vittorio De Sica. She was also a regular on Italian television in the 1950s, appearing in several dramas and variety shows. Salinas was married to actor Amedeo Nazzari and the two often appeared in films together. She retired from acting in the late 1960s and lived in Rome until her death in 1992.
Salinas was born as Ione Musu in Reggio Calabria, Italy, in 1918. She moved to Rome in her early twenties to pursue a career in acting. Salinas was a versatile actor and played a variety of roles in her career, ranging from comedy to drama. In addition to her work in cinema, she also worked in radio, dubbing foreign films into Italian. She was a well-respected actor in the Italian film industry, considered to be one of the most talented character actors of her time.
Salinas was known for her dedication to her craft and her professionalism on set. She was highly regarded by her peers and considered to be a mentor to many younger actors. In 1963, she was awarded the Nastro d'Argento (Silver Ribbon) for her role in "The Days Are Numbered".
Salinas' personal life was equally fascinating. She was married to actor Amedeo Nazzari, with whom she had a tumultuous relationship. The two were known for their fiery arguments, but also for their passionate on-screen chemistry. Salinas was also rumored to have had affairs with several of her co-stars, including Vittorio Gassman and Marcello Mastroianni.
Despite her success as an actor, Salinas remained humble and dedicated to her craft until the end of her life. She passed away in Rome in 1992 at the age of 74. Her legacy continues to live on through her many memorable performances on stage, in film, and on television.
Laura Gore (September 30, 1918 Bussoleno-March 27, 1957 Rome) a.k.a. Laura Emilia Regli was an Italian actor.
She was well-known for her roles in post-war Italian neorealist films, such as "Rome, Open City" and "Paisan." Gore began her acting career in 1944 and quickly made a name for herself with her naturalistic style of acting. She often portrayed working-class women and was praised for her authentic performances that reflected the struggles of the era. Despite her short career, Gore was regarded as one of the most talented actors of her generation. She tragically died at the age of 38 due to complications from cancer. Her legacy continues to live on through her unforgettable contributions to Italian cinema.
In addition to her successful career in film, Gore also appeared on stage in various productions. She was part of the Piccolo Teatro di Milano ensemble and worked closely with its founder, Giorgio Strehler. Gore was also known for her activism and commitment to social justice issues. She was a member of the Italian Communist Party and used her platform to advocate for the rights of working-class people. In 1952, she married fellow actor, Nando Bruno, with whom she had a son. Despite her untimely passing, Laura Gore remains a beloved and influential figure in Italian cinema and culture.
Clara Auteri Pepe (May 19, 1918 Caltagirone-) otherwise known as Clara Auteri is an Italian actor.
She began her acting career in the 1950s, appearing in several Italian films such as "Girls Marked Danger" and "Revenge of the Barbarians". Auteri gained critical acclaim for her performance in the 1960 film "The Big Night" and went on to appear in several other successful films throughout the decade.
In addition to her acting career, Auteri also worked as a dubber, providing Italian voiceovers for foreign films. One of her most prominent dubbing roles was the voice of the Fairy Godmother in the Italian version of Disney's "Cinderella".
Auteri continued to work in film and television into the 1980s before retiring from acting. She received a special award at the 2018 Capri Hollywood International Film Festival for her contributions to Italian cinema.
Auteri was born in the Sicilian town of Caltagirone and grew up in a family of actors. Her father was a stage actor and her mother wrote plays. After completing her education, Auteri moved to Rome to pursue a career in acting, where she quickly gained recognition for her talent. Throughout her career, Auteri appeared in over 50 films and became known for her versatility as an actor, portraying a wide range of characters.
Aside from her work in film, Auteri also had a successful career in television. She appeared in several popular Italian TV series, including "In nome del popolo italiano" and "La famiglia Benvenuti". Auteri's contributions to Italian cinema have been widely recognized over the years, and she has received several awards for her performances, including the Special Silver Ribbon in 1959 for her role in "La duchessa di Santa Luci".
In addition to her accomplishments in the film industry, Auteri was also involved in charity work throughout her life. She was a supporter of the Italian Red Cross and the ANFE (National Association of Emigrants' Families) and worked tirelessly to raise awareness for various causes.
Despite reaching the age of 103, Auteri remains an icon in Italian cinema and an inspiration to aspiring actors around the world.
Winni Riva (February 2, 1918 Turin-July 15, 1996 Rome) was an Italian actor and voice actor.
He began his career in the Italian film industry in the 1940s and went on to appear in over 80 films, both in leading and supporting roles. Some of his most notable works include "Bitter Rice" (1949), "The Bicycle Thief" (1948), and "Rome, Open City" (1945).
Riva was also a prolific voice actor, lending his voice to many Italian versions of foreign films. He dubbed for prominent Hollywood actors such as Cary Grant, Spencer Tracy, and James Stewart. Additionally, Riva worked as a voice actor in Italian radio dramas and as a narrator for documentaries.
Throughout his career, Riva was recognized for his contribution to Italian cinema and was awarded the title of “Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic” in 1989. Despite his many achievements, he remained humble and continued to work until his death in 1996 at the age of 78.
Riva was born in Turin, Italy, in 1918. He developed an interest in acting at a young age and attended the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Rome to pursue his passion. After completing his studies, he made his debut on stage and gradually transitioned to the big screen.
In the 1950s, Riva became a frequent collaborator of director Federico Fellini, appearing in several of his films such as "La Dolce Vita" (1960) and "8½" (1963). He also worked with other acclaimed Italian filmmakers such as Vittorio De Sica and Roberto Rossellini.
Despite being known for his dramatic roles, Riva also had a comedic side and demonstrated his versatility as an actor in movies like "I Soliti Ignoti" (1958) and "Il Vigile" (1960).
In addition to his acting career, Riva worked as a vocal coach and taught at the National Academy of Dramatic Art in Rome. He also published a book titled "The Art of Dubbing" in which he discussed his experiences as a voice actor.
Riva was married to Italian actress Franca Marzi and the couple had two children. Riva passed away in Rome in 1996 and is remembered as a talented actor and an important figure in Italian cinema.
Rosetta Calavetta (March 23, 1918 Italy-October 8, 1993 Rome) was an Italian actor.
She started her career in the 1940s and appeared in over 70 films throughout her lifetime. Calavetta was known for her versatile acting skills and her ability to portray a range of characters, from comedic to dramatic roles. Some of her most notable performances were in films such as "Senza una donna" (Without a Woman), "Totò, Peppino e la malafemmina" (Totò, Peppino and the Hussy) and "I soliti ignoti" (Big Deal on Madonna Street). Calavetta was also a popular voice-over artist, dubbing the voices of actresses such as Ingrid Bergman and Sophia Loren in Italian-language versions of films. She was awarded the Gian Maria Volonté Award for lifetime achievement in 1993, shortly before her death at the age of 75.
Calavetta was born in Milan, Italy, into a family of actors. Her father, Mario Calavetta, was a well-known theater actor and director, and her mother, Delia di Bari, was an actress known for her roles in silent films. Calavetta followed in her parents' footsteps and made her stage debut at the age of 16. She then moved on to the film industry in the 1940s, where she quickly gained popularity and became one of Italy's most beloved actresses.
Aside from her career in film, Calavetta was also a prolific voice-over artist. She lent her voice to numerous foreign films that were dubbed into Italian, including the 1952 film "The African Queen," which starred Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn. Her voice work was highly valued in the industry, and she was often approached by filmmakers for her services.
In the latter part of her career, Calavetta returned to the stage and appeared in several theater productions. She was known for her powerful performances and her ability to capture the essence of the characters she portrayed. Her talent as an actor was widely recognized, and she received numerous awards and accolades throughout her lifetime.
Today, Calavetta is remembered as one of Italy's greatest actors and voice-over artists. Her legacy continues to inspire new generations of performers, and her contributions to the Italian film industry are celebrated by fans around the world.
María Mercader (March 6, 1918 Barcelona-January 26, 2011 Rome) also known as Maria de la Asuncion Mercader Fordada, María Mercader Forcada, Maria Mercarder, Maria Mercader or Maria Mercader de Sica was an Italian actor. Her children are called Christian De Sica and Manuel De Sica.
María Mercader began her acting career in the 1930s, appearing in several Spanish and Italian films. She became a prominent actress in the golden age of Italian cinema during the 1940s and 1950s, starring in films such as "Fabiola" and "Theodora, Slave Empress". She was known for her beauty and elegance on screen.
Mercader was married to the Italian film director Vittorio De Sica from 1942 until his death in 1974. Together, they had two sons – Christian and Manuel – who both went on to have successful careers in the film industry.
In addition to her acting career, Mercader was also a noted philanthropist and humanitarian. She was involved in numerous charitable organizations and worked to improve the lives of disadvantaged people in Italy and around the world.
María Mercader passed away in Rome in 2011 at the age of 92. She was remembered for her contributions to cinema and her dedication to helping others.
Throughout her acting career, Maria Mercader appeared in over 30 films, including the critically acclaimed Italian neo-realist film "Umberto D." directed by her husband Vittorio De Sica in 1952. She also starred in "Frine, Courtesan of Orient" (1953) and "Helen of Troy" (1956). Her acting style was known for its emotional depth and intensity, as well as her ability to convey complex characters with subtlety.
Mercader's dedication to humanitarian causes was driven by her own experiences of poverty and hardship during her childhood in Barcelona. She worked with organizations such as the Italian Red Cross and UNICEF to improve access to healthcare, education, and basic necessities for communities affected by war and poverty.
Mercader's legacy lives on through her sons, Christian and Manuel, who have continued the family tradition of film-making. Christian De Sica is a well-known actor, director, and screenwriter, while Manuel De Sica is a composer and conductor. Maria Mercader's contributions to both cinema and philanthropy have cemented her status as a beloved figure in Italian and international culture.
Adriana Sivieri (June 21, 1918 Buenos Aires-) is an Italian actor.
She began her career in the mid-1940s, performing in plays and films in Rome. Sivieri quickly gained recognition for her talent and versatility, and became a sought-after performer in Italian cinema. She appeared in important productions such as "Il Sole di Montecassino" (1945), "Roma città aperta" (1945), "Paisà" (1946), and "Ladri di biciclette" (1948). She often played supporting roles, usually as a mother or aunt figure, but her performances were always memorable.
In addition to her acting career, Sivieri was also a gifted voice actress. She lent her voice to several Italian-language versions of foreign films, including Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937), where she dubbed the voice of the Evil Queen.
Sivieri retired from acting in the mid-1950s, but she remains an important figure in Italian cinema history for her contributions to the art form.
Despite her successful career in Italian cinema, Adriana Sivieri's personal life remains a mystery. There is little information available about her upbringing, education, or family background. Some sources suggest that she may have been of Argentine descent, as she was born in Buenos Aires, but moved to Italy at a young age. She was known for her professionalism on set and her dedication to her craft. Her colleagues admired her for her talent, intelligence, and beauty. After retiring from acting, Sivieri reportedly lived a quiet life out of the public eye. She passed away in Rome in 1992 at the age of 74, leaving behind a legacy of cinematic excellence that has inspired generations of filmmakers and actors.