Stefania Sandrelli (born 5 June 1946) is an Italian actress, famous for her many roles in the ''

commedia all'Italiana Commedia all'italiana (, pl. Commedie all'italiana, "Comedy in the Italian way") or Italian-style comedy is an Italian film genre born in Italy in the 1950s and developed in the 1960s and 1970s. It is widely considered to have started with Ma ...

'', starting from the 1960s. She was 14 years old when she starred in ''

Divorce Italian Style ''Divorce Italian Style'' ( it, Divorzio all'italiana) is a 1961 Italian dark comedy film directed by Pietro Germi. The screenplay is by Germi, Ennio De Concini, Alfredo Giannetti, and Agenore Incrocci, based on Giovanni Arpino's novel '' Un de ...

'' as Angela, the cousin and love interest of Ferdinando, played by Marcello Mastroianni.

Early life

Sandrelli was born in

Viareggio Viareggio () is a city and ''comune'' in northern Tuscany, Italy, on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea. With a population of over 62,000, it is the second largest city within the province of Lucca, after Lucca. It is known as a seaside resort as ...

, Tuscany, into a middle-class family, the daughter of Florida and Otello Sandrelli (who died when she was eight years old), owners of a

pension A pension (, from Latin ''pensiō'', "payment") is a fund into which a sum of money is added during an employee's employment years and from which payments are drawn to support the person's retirement from work in the form of periodic payments ...

in Viareggio. As a girl, Sandrelli studied ballet and learned to play the accordion. Sandrelli had a brother, Sergio, seven years older, who had a successful music career and died in 2013.

Career

In 1960, Sandrelli won the Miss Cinema Viareggio beauty contest, then she was the cover girl of the magazine '' Le Ore'', and had the first opportunities to make films, appearing, among others, in

Luciano Salce Luciano Salce (25 September 1922 – 17 December 1989) was an Italian film director, comedian, tv host, producer, actor and lyricist. His 1962 film ''Le pillole di Ercole'' was shown as part of a retrospective on Italian comedy at the 67th Ve ...

's '' Il federale''. Her film career was launched by

Pietro Germi Pietro Germi (; 14 September 1914 – 5 December 1974) was an Italian film director, screenwriter, and actor, noted for his development of the neorealist and commedia all'Italiana genres. His 1961 film '' Divorce Italian Style'' earned him a ...

with ''

'' (1961); later, she worked three more times with Germi, in '' Seduced and Abandoned'' (1963), ''

L'immorale ''L'immorale'' is a 1967 Italian comedy film directed by Pietro Germi. It was entered into the 1967 Cannes Film Festival The 20th Cannes Film Festival was held from 27 April to 12 May 1967. The Grand Prix du Festival International du Film w ...

'' (1967) and ''

Alfredo, Alfredo ''Alfredo, Alfredo'' is a 1972 Italian award-winning comedy film co-written and directed by Pietro Germi. Plot The film, told mostly in flashback, tells the story of a timid bank clerk (Dustin Hoffman) living in Ascoli Piceno (Italian town l ...

'' (1970). Stefania-Sandrelli-1963

Sandrelli became in a short time a protagonist of the

commedia all'italiana Commedia all'italiana (, pl. Commedie all'italiana, "Comedy in the Italian way") or Italian-style comedy is an Italian film genre born in Italy in the 1950s and developed in the 1960s and 1970s. It is widely considered to have started with Ma ...

, appearing, among others, in

Antonio Pietrangeli Antonio Pietrangeli (19 January 191912 July 1968) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He was a major practitioner of the Commedia all'italiana genre. Biography Pietrangeli was born in Rome. He started in the film industry by writing m ...

's '' Io la conoscevo bene'',

Mario Monicelli Mario Alberto Ettore Monicelli (; 16 May 1915 – 29 November 2010) was an Italian film director and screenwriter and one of the masters of the ''Commedia all'Italiana'' (Comedy Italian style). He was nominated six times for an Oscar, and was aw ...

's ''

Brancaleone alle crociate ''Brancaleone at the Crusades'' ( it, Brancaleone alle Crociate) is an Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli and released in 1970, the sequel to ''L'armata Brancaleone''. Plot The film starts where ''L'armata Brancaleone'' has ended. ...

'' and

Ettore Scola Ettore Scola (; 10 May 1931 – 19 January 2016) was an Italian screenwriter and film director. He received a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film in 1978 for his film '' A Special Day'' and over the course of his film career was nominated for fiv ...

's ''

C'eravamo tanto amati ''We All Loved Each Other So Much'' ( it, C'eravamo tanto amati) is a 1974 Italian comedy-drama film directed by Ettore Scola and written by Scola and the famous screenwriter duo of Age & Scarpelli. It stars Stefania Sandrelli, Vittorio Gassman, Ni ...

''. She also starred in several

Bernardo Bertolucci Bernardo Bertolucci (; 16 March 1941 – 26 November 2018) was an Italian film director and screenwriter with a career that spanned 50 years. Considered one of the greatest directors in Italian cinema, Bertolucci's work achieved international ...

's drama films, including ''

The Conformist ''The Conformist'' (''Il conformista'') is a novel by Alberto Moravia published in 1951, which details the life and desire for normality of a government official during Italy's fascist period. It is also known for the 1970 film adaptation by B ...

'' (1970) and ''

1900 As of March 1 ( O.S. February 17), when the Julian calendar acknowledged a leap day and the Gregorian calendar did not, the Julian calendar fell one day further behind, bringing the difference to 13 days until February 28 ( O.S. February 15), ...

'' (1976), and in several French productions. In 1980, she won the

Nastro d'Argento The Nastro d'Argento, also known by its translated name Silver Ribbon, is an Italian film award awarded each year since 1946 by the Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists (Italian: ''Sindacato Nazionale Giornalisti Cinematografici Italian ...

for Best Supporting Actress thanks to her performance in

's '' La terrazza''. In 1983, she relaunched her career with the

Tinto Brass Giovanni "Tinto" Brass (born 26 March 1933) is an Italian film director and screenwriter. In the 1960s and 1970s, he directed many critically acclaimed avant-garde films of various genres. Today, he is mainly known for his later work in the ero ...

' erotic film '' The Key''; following the success of the film she then acted in a series of successful erotic films. On 10 September 2005, she received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the

62nd Venice International Film Festival The 62nd annual Venice International Film Festival opened on 31 August 2005 with Tsui Hark's '' Seven Swords'' and closed on 10 September 2005 with a screening of Peter Ho-sun Chan's musical '' Perhaps Love''. The lineups were announced by the f ...

. On 11 May 2012, she received the title of Chevalier (Knight) of the

Ordre des Arts et des Lettres The ''Ordre des Arts et des Lettres'' (Order of Arts and Letters) is an order Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system ...

Personal life

Sandrelli had a long relationship with Italian singer-songwriter Gino Paoli. Their daughter Amanda Sandrelli, born in 1964, is also an actress.

Selected filmography

* 1961: ''Gioventù di notte'' - her first role * 1961: '' The Fascist'' (''Il federale'') * 1961: ''

'' (''Divorzio all'italiana'') * 1963: '' Il Fornaretto di Venezia'' * 1963: ''

La bella di Lodi ''La bella di Lodi'' is a 1963 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Missiroli. It is based on the novel with the same name written by Alberto Arbasino. In 2008 it was restored and shown as part of the retrospective "Questi fantasmi: Cinema itali ...

'' * 1964: '' Seduced and Abandoned'' (''Sedotta e abbandonata'') * 1965: '' I Knew Her Well'' (''Io la conoscevo bene'') * 1966: '' Tender Scoundrel'' (''Tendre Voyou'') * 1967: ''

'' * 1968: '' Partner'' * 1969: '' L'amante di Gramigna'' * 1970: ''

'' * 1970: '' Brancaleone at the Crusades'' (''Brancaleone alle Crociate'') * 1970: ''

'' (''Il conformista'') * 1972: '' Devil in the Brain'' (''Il diavolo nel cervello'') * 1974: '' Somewhere Beyond Love'' (''Delitto d'amore'') * 1974: '' We All Loved Each Other So Much'' (''C'eravamo tanto amati'') * 1976: ''

'' (''Novecento'') * 1976: '' Death Rite'' (''Les magiciens'') * 1976: '' Strange Occasion'' (''Quelle strane occasioni'') * 1976: '' Police Python 357'' * 1979: ''

Traffic Jam Traffic congestion is a condition in transport that is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. Traffic congestion on urban road networks has increased substantially since the 1950s. When traffic d ...

'' (''L'Ingorgo: Una storia impossibile'') * 1979: ''

Where Are You Going on Holiday? ''Where Are You Going on Holiday'', also known as ''Dove vai in vacanza?'', is a 1978 Italian anthology comedy film directed by Mauro Bolognini, Luciano Salce and Alberto Sordi. Plot The film is divided into three episodes. ''Sarò tutta per ...

'' (''Dove vai in vacanza?'') * 1980: '' La terrazza'' * 1980: ' * 1981: ''

My Darling, My Dearest ''My Darling, My Dearest'' ( it, Bello mio, bellezza mia) is a 1981 Italian comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style tr ...

'' (''Bello mio, bellezza mia'') * 1981: '' La disubbidienza'' * 1982: '' Eccezzziunale... veramente'' * 1983: '' Vacanze di Natale'' * 1983: '' The Key'' (''La chiave'') * 1984: '' Secrets Secrets'' (''Segreti segreti'') * 1985: '' Mamma Ebe'' * 1985: '' D'Annunzio'' * 1986: '' The American Bride'' (''La sposa americana'') * 1987: '' Let's Hope It's a Girl'' (''Speriamo che sia femmina'') * 1987: '' The Family'' (''La famiglia'') * 1987: '' The Gold Rimmed Glasses'' (''Gli occhiali d'oro'') * 1987: ' (''Noyade interdite'') * 1987: '' Secondo Ponzio Pilato'' * 1988: ''

Mignon Has Come to Stay ''Mignon è partita'' (literally ''Mignon Has Left'', internationally released as ''Mignon Has Come to Stay'') is a 1988 Italian drama film directed by Francesca Archibugi. The film won five David di Donatello awards for Best New Director, Bes ...

'' (''Mignon è partita'') * 1988: '' The Sleazy Uncle'' (''Lo zio indegno'') * 1988: ''

Stradivari Antonio Stradivari (, also , ; – 18 December 1737) was an Italian luthier and a craftsman of string instruments such as violins, cellos, guitars, violas and harps. The Latinized form of his surname, ''Stradivarius'', as well as the colloqu ...

'' * 1989: '' The Little Devil'' (''Il piccolo diavolo'') * 1990: '' Dark Illness'' (''Il male oscuro'') * 1990: ''

The African Woman ''The African Woman'' (german: Die Rückkehr, it, L'africana, also known as ''The Woman from Africa'') is a 1990 West German-Italian-French romance-drama film directed by Margarethe von Trotta. It was entered into the main competition at the 47t ...

'' * 1990: ''

Traces of an Amorous Life ''Traces of an Amorous Life'' ( it, Tracce di vita amorosa) is a 1990 Italian romance-drama film directed by Peter Del Monte. It entered the competition at the 47th Venice International Film Festival. Cast * Luciano Bartoli as the boss * Va ...

'' (''Tracce di vita amorosa'') * 1992: ''

Jamón Jamón ''Jamón'' (, pl. ''jamones'') is a kind of dry-cured ham produced in Spain. It is one of the most globally recognized food items of Spanish cuisine. It is also regularly a component of tapas. Most ''jamón'' is commonly called ''jamón serran ...

'' * 1994: '' Of Love and Shadows'' * 1994: '' With Closed Eyes'' (''Con gli occhi chiusi'') * 1995: '' Palermo - Milan One Way'' * 1996: '' Stealing Beauty'' * 1996: '' The Nymph'' (''Ninfa plebea'') * 1998: '' The Dinner'' (''La cena'') * 1998: ''

We'll Really Hurt You ''We'll Really Hurt You'' ( it, Le faremo tanto male) is a 1998 Italian comedy film written and directed by Pino Quartullo. Plot Cast * Pino Quartullo as Marco * Ricky Memphis as Ruggero * Stefania Sandrelli as Federica Birki * Anna ...

'' (''Le faremo tanto male'') * 1998: ''

Marriages Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

'' (''Matrimoni'') * 2001: ''

The Last Kiss "Last Kiss" is a 1961 romantic love song by Wayne Cochran, covered by J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers, Canada's Wednesday, Pearl Jam, and others. Last Kiss or The Last Kiss may also refer to: Film * ''The Last Kiss'' (1931 film), a British Ind ...

'' (''L'ultimo bacio'') * 2002: '' Sons and Daughters'' (''Figli/Hijos'') * 2003: '' A Talking Picture'' (''Um Filme Falado'') * 2003: ''

People of Rome ''People of Rome'' ( it, Gente di Roma) is a 2003 Italian comedy mockumentary film directed by Ettore Scola. It is close to Federico Fellini's ''Roma''. The film is dedicated to Alberto Sordi, whom Scola had wanted to cast as a nobleman in the ...

'' (''Gente di Roma'') * 2003: '' Life as It Comes'' (''La vita come viene'') * 2010: '' The Woman of My Dreams'' * 2010: ''

The First Beautiful Thing ''The First Beautiful Thing'' ( it, La prima cosa bella) is a 2010 Italian drama film directed by Paolo Virzì, produced by Medusa Film, Motorino Amaranto and Indiana Production, released in Italy on 15 January 2010. The film stars Micaela Rama ...

'' (''La prima cosa bella'') * 2010: '' The Passion'' (''La passione'')

References

External links