Alma Franca Maria Norsa (31 July 1920 – 9 August 2020), known professionally as Franca Valeri, was an Italian

actress An actor (masculine/gender-neutral), or actress (feminine), is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. ...

author In legal discourse, an author is the creator of an original work that has been published, whether that work exists in written, graphic, visual, or recorded form. The act of creating such a work is referred to as authorship. Therefore, a sculpt ...

, and

screenwriter A screenwriter (also called scriptwriter, scribe, or scenarist) is a person who practices the craft of writing for visual mass media, known as screenwriting. These can include short films, feature-length films, television programs, television ...

Life and career

Born in

Milan Milan ( , , ; ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the List of cities in Italy, second-most-populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of nea ...

as Alma Franca Maria Norsa, she managed to survive

the Holocaust The Holocaust (), known in Hebrew language, Hebrew as the (), was the genocide of History of the Jews in Europe, European Jews during World War II. From 1941 to 1945, Nazi Germany and Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy ...

in Milan with her non-Jewish mother due to a fake I.D. which purported her to be the illegitimate daughter of a gentleman from

Pavia Pavia ( , ; ; ; ; ) is a town and comune of south-western Lombardy, in Northern Italy, south of Milan on the lower Ticino (river), Ticino near its confluence with the Po (river), Po. It has a population of c. 73,086. The city was a major polit ...

. Her Jewish father and brother were able to flee to Switzerland. As her father did not want her to become an actress, Norsa adopted the

stage name A stage name or professional name is a pseudonym used by performers, authors, and entertainers—such as actors, comedians, singers, and musicians. The equivalent concept among writers is called a ''nom de plume'' (pen name). Some performers ...

Valeri in the 1950s as suggested by a friend of hers who was reading a book by French critic and poet

Paul Valéry Ambroise Paul Toussaint Jules Valéry (; 30 October 1871 – 20 July 1945) was a French poet, essayist, and philosopher. In addition to his poetry and fiction (drama and dialogues), his interests included aphorisms on art, history, letters, m ...

. Valeri started her career on stage in 1947, and in 1949 she co-founded the Teatro dei Gobbi, along with

Luciano Salce Luciano Salce (25 September 1922 – 17 December 1989) was an Italian film director, comedian, television host, producer, actor and lyricist. His 1962 film ''Le pillole di Ercole'' was shown as part of a retrospective on Italian comedy at the ...

and her future husband

Vittorio Caprioli Vittorio Caprioli (15 August 1921 – 2 October 1989) was an Italian actor, film director and screenwriter. He appeared in 109 films between 1946 and 1990, mostly in French productions. Biography Caprioli was born in Naples. Having graduated fr ...

. On the radio, she created and played the characters of La signorina Snob (Mrs. Snob), Cesira la manicure and Sora Cecioni. She co-starred in such films as '' A Hero of Our Times'' (1955), ''

The Sign of Venus ''The Sign of Venus'' () is a 1955 Italian comedy film directed by Dino Risi and starring Sophia Loren. It was entered into the 1955 Cannes Film Festival. Plot The story revolves around an attractive woman named Agnese (Loren) who has many suit ...

'' (of which she co-wrote both the story and the screenplay), and ''

Il vedovo ''Il Vedovo'' (The Widower) is a 1959 in film, 1959 Italy, Italian comedy film directed by Dino Risi. Plot Alberto Nardi (Alberto Sordi) is a Rome, Roman businessman who fancies himself a man of great capabilities, but whose factory (producing ...

'', as well as others. She often wrote her scenes in the films in which she appeared. Among the major films she co-wrote, '' Parigi o cara'' (1962) is a rare case where the story is focused on her role only. In the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, she frequently worked for the Italian television. She starred in '' Studio Uno'', ''Le divine'' and ''Sabato Sera''. In the 1980s and early 1990s, she starred in a series of commercials for

Pandoro ''Pandoro'' () is an Italian sweet bread, most popular around Christmas and New Year. Typically a product of the city of Verona, Veneto, ''pandoro'' traditionally has an eight-pointed shape. It is often dusted with vanilla scented icing sug ...

Melegatti, which were well received and stretched over a number of years (''Pandoro'' being a seasonal product tied to the

Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a Religion, religious and Culture, cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by coun ...

holidays). During the 2005–06 theatrical season, she performed her own monologue, ''La Vedova di Socrate'' ("Socrate's Widow"), and '' Les Bonnes'', by

Jean Genet Jean Genet (; ; – ) was a French novelist, playwright, poet, essayist, and political activist. In his early life he was a vagabond and petty criminal, but he later became a writer and playwright. His major works include the novels '' The Th ...

. In January 2008 she played the role of Solange in ''Les Bonnes'' at Milan's Piccolo Teatro. On 8 May 2020, Valeri received an Honorary David di Donatello Award. Franca Valeri 2011

Valeri died on 9 August 2020, nine days after turning 100.

Filmography

Actress

Cinema

*''

Variety Lights ''Variety Lights'' () is a 1951 Cinema of Italy, Italian romance film, romantic drama film produced, directed and written by Federico Fellini and Alberto Lattuada and starring Peppino De Filippo, Carla Del Poggio, and Giulietta Masina. The film ...

'' (1951) – Mitzy, Hungarian designer *'' The Two Sergeants'' (1951) *''

Toto in Color ''Toto in Color'' (Italian: ''Totò a colori'') is a 1952 Italian comedy film, the first Italian color film shot with the Ferraniacolor system. It was directed by Steno and starred the comic actor Totò. In 2008, the film was included on the Ita ...

'' (1952) – Giulia Sofia *''Solo per te Lucia'' (1952) *'' It Happened in the Park'' (1953) – Elvira (segment ''Concorso di bellezza'') *'' Questi fantasmi'' (1954) *''

Le signorine dello 04 ''Le signorine dello 04'' (''The ladies of the 04'') is a 1955 Italian romantic comedy-drama film directed by Gianni Franciolini. Cast *Antonella Lualdi: Maria Teresa Landolfi *Antonio Cifariello: Amleto * Giovanna Ralli: Bruna *Roberto Risso: ...

'' (1955) – Carla, shift manager *''

'' (1955) – Cesira *'' The Letters Page'' (1955) – Lady Eva *'' The Bigamist'' (1956) – Isolina Fornaciari *'' A Hero of Our Times'' (1957) – De Ritis' widow *'' Husbands in the City'' (1957) – Olivetti *'' The Love Specialist'' (1958) – countess Bernardi *'' Non perdiamo la testa'' (1959) – Beatrice *'' Il moralista'' (1959) – Virginia *'' You're on Your Own'' (1959) – Marisa 'Siberia' *''

'' (1959) - Elvira Almiraghi *''

Rocco and His Brothers ''Rocco and His Brothers'' () is a 1960 drama film directed by Luchino Visconti and starring Alain Delon, Annie Girardot, Renato Salvatori, Katina Paxinou, Roger Hanin, Paolo Stoppa, and Claudia Cardinale in one of her early roles. Set in 1 ...

'' (1960) – widow (uncredited) *'' Mariti in pericolo'' (1960) – Gina *'' Crimen'' (1960) – Giovanna Filonzi *'' Leoni al sole'' (1961) – Giulia *''

I motorizzati ''I motorizzati'' is a 1962 Italian anthology comedy film directed by Camillo Mastrocinque, consisting of five segments all sharing cars as main theme. Cast *Ugo Tognazzi as Achille Pestani * Nino Manfredi as Nino Borsetti * Franco Franchi ...

'' (1962) – Velia *'' Parigi o cara'' (1962) – Delia Nesti *'' Le motorizzate'' (1963) *''

The Shortest Day ''The Shortest Day'' () is a 1963 Italian comedy film. It is a parody of the war movie '' The Longest Day'' and stars the popular duo Franco and Ciccio in the leading roles. Dozens of other well-known actors, from both European and American cinem ...

'' (1963) *''

Gli onorevoli ''Gli onorevoli'' is a 1963 Italian anthology comedy film directed by Sergio Corbucci. Simple plot The film is composed of several small stories that have to do with the votes of politicians in Italy in the sixties. A senior sharpshooter decides ...

'' (1963) – Bianca Sereni *'' I cuori infranti'' (1963) – Fatma Angioj (segment ''La manina di Fatma'') *'' I maniaci'' (1964) – wife (segment ''Il pezzo antico'') *'' Me, Me, Me... and the Others'' (1966) – journalist *'' La ragazza del bersagliere'' (1967) – Bice Marinetti *'' Listen, Let's Make Love'' (1968) – Diraghi *''

Basta guardarla ''Basta guardarla'' (''Just Look at Her'') is a 1970 Italian comedy film directed by Luciano Salce. Plot Enrichetta, a young peasant girl who lives in the village of Copparola di Sotto, Ciociaria, joins the avanspettacolo company of Silver Boy ...

'' (1970) – Pola Prima *'' Nel giorno del Signore'' (1970) – Anticoli's widow *'' Hector the Mighty'' (1972) – Cassandra *'' The Last Italian Tango'' (1974) – (playing the role of a) film director *'' Poker in Bed'' (1974) – Giulia Nascimbeni *''

L'Italia s'è rotta ''L'Italia s'è rotta'' ("Italy is broken") is a 1976 Italian comedy film directed by Steno. Plot The two Sicilian Peppe Truzzoliti and Antonio Mancuso decide, after a misadventure with some mafia drug dealers, to leave the cold and racist Tu ...

'' (1976) *'' Come ti rapisco il pupo'' (1976) – Dada *'' La Bidonata'' (1977) – Giovanna Bronchi *''Grazie tante – Arrivederci'' (1977) – lady on the bus *'' Tanto va la gatta al lardo...'' (1978) – Maria *''It's Not Me, It's Him'' (1980) – Carla Weiss *''

Love in First Class ''Un amore in prima classe'' (internationally released as ''Love in First Class'') is a 1980 Italian romantic comedy film directed by Salvatore Samperi. Cast * Enrico Montesano: Carmelo * Sylvia Kristel: Beatrice * Lorenzo Aiello: Malcol ...

'' (1980) – Mrs. Della Rosa *'' I Don't Understand You Anymore'' (1980) – Maritza *'' Paulo Roberto Cotechiño centravanti di sfondamento'' (1983) – countess *'' Tosca e le altre due'' (2003) – Emilia *''Alberto il grande'' (2013) – Herself

Television

* '' La cantatrice calva'', directed by

José Quaglio José Quaglio, real name Giuseppe Quaglio (28 February 1926 – 8 January 2007), was an Italian actor and theater director. He has performed in some 50 films in Italy and has directed four. He acted in a dozen films in France. Filmography Ac ...

(1967) * '' Felicita Colombo'', directed by Antonello Falqui (1968) - TV series * '' Le donne balorde'', written and played by Valeri, directed by Giacomo Colli (1970) - TV series * '' Sì, vendetta...'', directed by Mario Ferrero (1974) - TV series * '' Nel mondo di Alice'', directed by Guido Stagnaro (1974) - TV series * ''Le avventure della villeggiatura'', directed by Mario Missiroli (1974) * '' Il barone e il servitore'', directed by Davide Montemurri (1978) - TV series * '' La strana coppia'', stage direction by Valeri; television direction by Roberto Russo (1989) - play and TV series * '' Papà prende moglie'', directed by Nini Salerno (1993) - TV series * '' Norma e Felice'', directed by Giorgio Vignali (1995) - TV series * '' Caro maestro'', directed by Rossella Izzo (1996-1997) - TV series * '' Come quando fuori piove'', directed by

Mario Monicelli Mario Alberto Ettore Monicelli (; 16 May 1915 – 29 November 2010) was an Italian film director and screenwriter, one of the masters of the ''commedia all'italiana'' ("Italian-style comedy"). He was nominated six times for an Academy Awards, Os ...

(2000) - TV series * '' Linda e il brigadiere'', directed by Gianfrancesco Lazotti and Alberto Simone (2000) - TV series * '' Non tutto è risolto'' - television film (2014)

Screenwriter

*''

'', directed by

Dino Risi Dino Risi (23 December 1916 – 7 June 2008) was an Italian film director. With Mario Monicelli, Luigi Comencini, Nanni Loy, and Ettore Scola, he was one of the masters of ''commedia all'italiana''. Biography Risi was born in Milan. He had an ...

(1955) *'' Leoni al sole'', directed by

(1961) *'' Parigi o cara'', directed by Vittorio Caprioli (1962) *'' Listen, Let's Make Love'', directed by Vittorio Caprioli (1967) *'' Sì, vendetta...'', directed by Mario Ferrero (1974) - TV series * '' Tosca e altre due'', directed by Giorgio Ferrara (2003)

Books

* ** * ** * * * ** * * * * * * * * * * * *

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Valeri, Franca 1920 births 2020 deaths Actresses from Milan Writers from Milan Italian screenwriters Italian film actresses Italian stage actresses Italian radio personalities Italian television actresses 20th-century Italian actresses 21st-century Italian actresses Ciak d'oro winners David di Donatello winners Italian women centenarians 20th-century Italian Jews Jewish centenarians