Here are 8 famous actresses from Italy were born in 1926:
Franca Marzi (August 18, 1926 Rome-March 6, 1989 Cinisello Balsamo) otherwise known as Frana Marzi, Francesca Mars or Francesca Marsi was an Italian actor.
Franca Marzi began her career in acting in the 1940s as a stage actress in Rome. She made her film debut in 1946 with the movie "Roma città libera" directed by Marcello Pagliero. Throughout her career, Marzi appeared in over 60 films mostly in supporting roles. Some of her notable films include "Big Deal on Madonna Street" (1958), "The Sweet Life" (1960) and "The Leopard" (1963). She was also a regular collaborator with Italian director Federico Fellini, appearing in five of his movies including "La Dolce Vita" (1960) and "8½" (1963).
Marzi was known for her distinctive voice and her ability to portray strong and complex characters. She was often cast as the femme fatale or the villain, but she also showcased her comedic skills in some of her films. Marzi was a versatile actor who worked with some of the most renowned directors of Italian cinema. She was awarded the Grolla d'oro for Best Supporting Actress in 1973 for her performance in "Sbatti il mostro in prima pagina".
Marzi passed away on March 6, 1989, in Cinisello Balsamo, Italy, at the age of 62 due to lung cancer. Despite her relatively short career, Franca Marzi remains a celebrated actor of Italian cinema.
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Linda Sini (February 3, 1926 Vercelli-) a.k.a. Lynn Shane, Virginia Field, Ermelinda Siniscalchi or Ermelinda Siniscalchi di Venosa is an Italian actor.
Linda Sini began her acting career in Italy in the 1940s, appearing in several films directed by Mario Soldati and Alberto Lattuada, among others. In the 1950s, she moved to the United States and changed her name to Lynn Shane, working as a character actress in Hollywood films and television shows. She appeared in the films "Kiss Me Deadly" (1955) and "A Face in the Crowd" (1957), as well as episodes of "Gunsmoke" and "Perry Mason". Later in her career, she worked on Italian television and continued to act in Italian films, often under the name Ermelinda Siniscalchi or Ermelinda Siniscalchi di Venosa. Sini was awarded the title of Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 1986 for her contributions to Italian culture.
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Elena Varzi (December 21, 1926 Rome-September 1, 2014 Sperlonga) also known as Elena Varzì was an Italian actor. Her children are called Eleonora Vallone, Saverio Vallone and Arabella Vallone.
Elena Varzi began her career in the 1940s and appeared in over 50 films throughout her career. She was a popular leading lady in Italian cinema during the 1950s and 1960s, often starring alongside famous actors such as Marcello Mastroianni and Vittorio Gassman. Some of her notable films include "The Bicycle Thief" (1948), "Wolves' Liar" (1956), and "The Angel Wore Red" (1960).
Aside from acting, Varzi was also a talented painter and sculptor. She exhibited her artwork in various galleries throughout Italy and even won an award for her sculpture in 1969.
Varzi was married to the Italian actor Raf Vallone from 1952 until his death in 2002. The couple had three children together. Towards the end of her life, Varzi lived in the seaside town of Sperlonga, where she passed away in 2014 at the age of 87.
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Jole Fierro (November 22, 1926 Salerno-March 27, 1988 Rome) also known as Iole Fierro was an Italian actor. She had one child, Annalisa Foà.
Joel Fierro began her acting career in the early 1950s and appeared in over 70 films throughout her career. She was known for her versatile acting skills and her ability to portray various characters on screen. Some of her iconic films include "Nights of Cabiria" (1957), "Leoni al sole" (1961), and "La Pattuglia dei Sapori" (1979).
Apart from films, Jole Fierro also appeared on television shows and theatre productions. She was a regular on the popular Italian TV series "Il commissario Maigret" in the 1960s.
Jole Fierro was awarded the Silver Ribbon for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the film "Leoni al sole" in 1962. She passed away in Rome at the age of 61 due to a heart attack.
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Rossella Falk (November 10, 1926 Rome-May 5, 2013 Rome) a.k.a. Rosella Falk, Rossella Falzacappa, Antonia Falzacappa or Rosa Antonia Falzacappa was an Italian actor.
Born in Rome, Italy, Rossella Falk began her acting career in the 1950s and quickly gained recognition for her talent. She starred in numerous films throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including Luchino Visconti's "Rocco and His Brothers" and "The Leopard" and Bernardo Bertolucci's "The Conformist". She also had a successful career on stage and appeared in several television series.
Known for her intense and emotionally charged performances, Falk was often cast in dramatic roles that allowed her to showcase her range as an actor. She was also a fluent speaker of several languages and was able to get work in both Italian and international productions.
In addition to her acting career, Falk was also a political activist and a supporter of left-wing causes. She was involved in the Italian Communist Party and was passionate about fighting for social justice.
Falk passed away in May 2013 in Rome, Italy, at the age of 86. Her legacy as a talented and versatile actor continues to be celebrated today.
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Katie Boyle (May 29, 1926 Florence-) otherwise known as Caterina Irene Elena Maria Imperiali di Francavilla, Lady Saunders, Catherine Boyle, Caterina Irene Elena Maria Imperiali de Principi di Francavilla, Catherine Boyl or Catherine Carleton is an Italian presenter and actor.
Boyle was born in Florence, Italy to an aristocratic family, and was raised in the United Kingdom. She started her career in show business as a model and appeared in a number of fashion magazines. She then moved on to television and became one of the most recognizable presenters in the UK in the 1950s and 1960s. She was the presenter of the Eurovision Song Contest four times (1960, 1963, 1968 and 1974) and hosted a number of other shows, including the Miss World pageant.
Aside from her presenting career, Boyle also acted in a number of movies and television shows, including the James Bond film "From Russia with Love" (1963). She was also involved in charity work and was made a Dame Commander of the Order of St. Gregory the Great in recognition of her philanthropic efforts.
Boyle passed away in March 2018 at the age of 91. Despite her passing, her legacy as a talented and beloved presenter and actress lives on.
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Rossana Martini (January 1, 1926 Empoli-February 2, 1988 Trieste) a.k.a. Rossana Krisman or Rosanna Martini was an Italian actor and model.
She began her career in the entertainment industry as a model and then transitioned to acting. Martini starred in several Italian films, including "La Dolce Vita" and "Il Sorpasso," where she played minor roles. However, she gained widespread recognition for her performance in the 1965 film "Io la conoscevo bene" (I Knew Her Well), directed by Antonio Pietrangeli.
Martini also appeared on Italian television, most notably in the popular TV series "Le avventure di Laura Storm" (The Adventures of Laura Storm). She was regarded as one of the most beautiful actresses of her time and was often featured in fashion and lifestyle magazines.
In addition to her acting career, Martini was a talented painter and sculptor. She exhibited her artwork in several exhibitions throughout Italy during the 1950s and 1960s.
Martini died in Trieste in 1988 at the age of 62. Despite only having a brief acting career, she left a lasting impact on Italian cinema with her beauty and talent.
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Yvonne Sanson (January 1, 1926 Thessaloniki-July 23, 2003 Bologna) a.k.a. Ivonne Sanson was an Italian actor. Her child is called Gianna Sanson.
Yvonne Sanson was born in Thessaloniki, Greece to an Italian father and a Greek mother. She began her acting career in the early 1940s and became well-known for her performances in Italian films such as "Ossessione" and "La lupa". She also appeared in international productions like "Les amants de Montparnasse" and "Carmen Jones".
Throughout her career, Yvonne Sanson worked with notable directors such as Michelangelo Antonioni and Luchino Visconti. She won the Best Actress award at the Venice Film Festival in 1949 for her performance in "La roccia incantata".
In addition to her film work, Yvonne Sanson also worked in theater and television. She retired from acting in the 1970s and spent her later years in Bologna, Italy. She passed away in 2003 at the age of 77.
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