Rossana Podestà
Encyclopedia
Rossana Podestà is a former Italian
actress.
, where she spent her first years in Tripoli
and later moved to Rome
after World War II
. She still lives in Italy
, in Dubino
(Sondrio province
), together with the famous mountain climber, explorer and journalist
Walter Bonatti
.
, produced by Robert Wise
in 1956. She could not speak English
so she learned her lines by rote with a voice coach. The movie gave Podestà international exposure, and she performed alongside a young Brigitte Bardot
.
Thanks to her starring in the Mexican film Rosanna (film)
, she became very popular in Latin America.
Podestà also worked in the movie Ulisse, directed by Mario Camerini, and in the sixties and seventies she acted in some romantic movies, including Paolo il caldo and Il prete sposato. Her last performance was in 1985's Segreti segreti, directed by Giuseppe Bertolucci.
She married and then divorced movie producer Marco Vicario
.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
actress.
Life
She was born in the Italian colony of LibyaLibya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, where she spent her first years in Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
and later moved to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. She still lives in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, in Dubino
Dubino
Dubino is a comune in the Province of Sondrio in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 80 km northeast of Milan and about 30 km west of Sondrio...
(Sondrio province
Province of Sondrio
The Province of Sondrio is in the Lombardy region of Italy. Its capital is the town of Sondrio.It has an area of 3,212 km², and a total population of 176,856...
), together with the famous mountain climber, explorer and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
Walter Bonatti
Walter Bonatti
Walter Bonatti was an Italian mountain climber. He is noted for a solo climb of a new route on the south-west pillar of the Aiguille du Dru in August 1955 and the first solo winter ascent of the Matterhorn north face in 1965.-Life and career:Bonatti was born in Bergamo...
.
Acting career
Podestà's most memorable role was as Helen in Helen of TroyHelen of Troy (film)
Helen of Troy is a 1956 Warner Bros. epic film, based on Homer's Iliad. It was directed by Robert Wise, from a screenplay by Hugh Gray and John Twist, adapted by Hugh Gray and N. Richard Nash...
, produced by Robert Wise
Robert Wise
Robert Earl Wise was an American sound effects editor, film editor, film producer and director...
in 1956. She could not speak English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
so she learned her lines by rote with a voice coach. The movie gave Podestà international exposure, and she performed alongside a young Brigitte Bardot
Brigitte Bardot
Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot is a French former fashion model, actress, singer and animal rights activist. She was one of the best-known sex-symbols of the 1960s.In her early life, Bardot was an aspiring ballet dancer...
.
Thanks to her starring in the Mexican film Rosanna (film)
Rosanna (film)
Rosanna is a 1953 Mexican drama film directed by Emilio Fernández. It was entered into the 1953 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Rossana Podestà - Rossana* Crox Alvarado - Antonio* Armando Silvestre - José Luis* Guillermo Cramer - Rivera...
, she became very popular in Latin America.
Podestà also worked in the movie Ulisse, directed by Mario Camerini, and in the sixties and seventies she acted in some romantic movies, including Paolo il caldo and Il prete sposato. Her last performance was in 1985's Segreti segreti, directed by Giuseppe Bertolucci.
She married and then divorced movie producer Marco Vicario
Marco Vicario
Marco Vicario is an Italian film actor, screenwriter, film producer and director. He appeared in 23 films between 1950 and 1958. He also wrote for 13 films, produced 12 and directed a further 11.He was born in Rome, Italy.-Selected filmography:...
.
Movies
- 1951: Domani è un altro giorno
- 1952: Il moschettiere fantasma
- 1954: Le ragazze di San Frediano
- 1955: UlyssesUlysses (1955 film)Ulysses is a 1955 adventure film based on Homer's poem Odyssey. The movie was made by director Mario Camerini, who co-wrote the screenplay with writer Franco Brusati, aided by Mario Bava ....
- 1956: Helen of Troy
- 1956: La spada e la croce
- 1960:La furia dei barbari
- 1961: La schiava di Roma
- 1962: Solo contro Roma
- 1962: La freccia d'oro
- 1963: Sodom and Gomorrah
- 1962: La vergine di Norimberga
- 1964: Le ore nude
- 1965: F.B.I. operazione Baalbeck
- 1965: Sette uomini d'oro
- 1971: Homo Eroticus
- 1971: Il prete sposato
- 1974: The Sensual ManThe Sensual ManThe Sensual Man is a 1974 Italian comedy film.It was developed from the novel of the same title, written by Vitaliano Brancati. It was shot in Catania, Sicily and Rome.-Cast:*Giancarlo Giannini: Paolo Castorini*Rossana Podestà: Lilia...
- 1980: Sunday LoversSunday LoversSunday Lovers is a 1980 internationally co-produced romantic comedy film directed by Bryan Forbes, Gene Wilder, Dino Risi and Edouard Molinaro. It starred Roger Moore, Gene Wilder, Priscilla Barnes, Lynn Redgrave, Denholm Elliott and Kathleen Quinlan...
- 1983: HerculesHercules (1983 film)Hercules is a 1983 Italian adventure film written and directed by Luigi Cozzi. The film follows the exploits of Hercules.Part of the adventure finds Hercules battling giant robots brought to life by stop motion animation. The musical score was provided by Pino Donaggio.Despite not being a critical...
- 1985: Segreti, segreti