Clelia Matania (28 March 1918 – 14 October 1981) was an Italian film and voice actress.

Life and career

Born in London, the daughter of the Capri-born naturalized Briton painter Fortunino Matania (best known as Saturnino), Matania attended the

Royal Academy of Dramatic Art The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA; ) is a drama school in London, England, that provides vocational conservatoire training for theatre, film, television, and radio. It is based in the Bloomsbury area of Central London, close to the Sen ...

and also followed courses of ballet, singing and music. When the family returned to Italy, she entered the company of the Arts Theater directed by

Anton Giulio Bragaglia __NOTOC__ Anton Giulio Bragaglia (11 February 1890 – 15 July 1960) was a pioneer in Italian Futurist Futurists (also known as futurologists, prospectivists, foresight practitioners and horizon scanners) are people whose specialty ...

. In the second half of the thirties and during the war she was one of the most popular and requested young actresses of prose in Italy, then, from 1942, she also starred with some success in several revues. Her stage activity include works with

Totò Antonio Griffo Focas Flavio Angelo Ducas Comneno Porfirogenito Gagliardi de Curtis di Bisanzio (15 February 1898 – 15 April 1967), best known by his stage name Totò (), or simply as Antonio de Curtis, and nicknamed ''il Principe della risata ...

Eduardo De Filippo Eduardo De Filippo (; 24 May 1900 – 31 October 1984), also known simply as ''Eduardo'', was an Italian actor, director, screenwriter and playwright, best known for his Neapolitan works ''Filumena Marturano'' and '' Napoli Milionaria''. Consid ...

and the musical comedy ''Enrico '61'' that she also represented in England, first in

Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...

and then in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, also participating in a Royal Performance in the presence of the Royal Family. Her film career mainly consists of supporting roles as a character actress; due to her perfect knowledge of English, Matania was also often required for the international productions set in Italy. She was also a very active voice actress. Matania was married to painter Guido Odierna.

Selected filmography

*'' Melody of My Heart'' (1936) *'' Night Ride'' (1937) - Lucia Spinelli *'' Departure'' (1938) - Lolò - la dattilografa *''Inventiamo l'amore'' (1938) - Elsa * ''

The Sons of the Marquis Lucera ''The Sons of the Marquis Lucera'' (Italian: ''I figli del marchese Lucera'') is a 1939 Italian comedy film directed by Amleto Palermi and starring Armando Falconi, Caterina Boratto and Sergio Tofano. It is based on a play of the same name by Gh ...

'' (1939) - Soave *''

Naples Will Never Die ''Naples Will Never Die'' (Italian: ''Napoli che non muore'') is a 1939 Italian comedy film directed by Amleto Palermi and starring Fosco Giachetti, Marie Glory and Paola Barbara.Liehm p.22 A young French tourist on holiday in Naples meets and fa ...

'' (1939) - Rosinella * '' Father For a Night'' (1939) - Luisa *''Follie del secolo'' (1939) - Margot, la cameriera *''

The Silent Partner ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' (1939) *''La compagnia della teppa'' (1941) - Carolina Agudio *''

First Love First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1). First or 1st may also refer to: *World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement Arts and media Music * 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and rec ...

'' (1941) - Silvia Redi *''La fuggitiva'' (1941) - Lia Coppi *'' Honeymoon'' (1941) - Anna *''Se io fossi onesto'' (1942) - Paola Englesh, loro figlia *'' A che servono questi quattrini?'' (1942) - Rachelina *''Perdizione'' (1942) *''

After Casanova's Fashion ''After Casanova's Fashion'' (Italian: ''Casanova farebbe così!'') is a 1942 Italian comedy film directed by Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia and starring Eduardo De Filippo, Peppino De Filippo, and Clelia Matania.Moliterno p.48 It was shot at the Cine ...

'' (1942) - Maria Grazia *''Notte di fiamme'' (1942) *''Sempre più difficile'' (1943) - Cristina Turrisi *''L'ippocampo'' (1945) - Francesca *'' Romulus and the Sabines'' (1945) - Rosina *''Il marito povero'' (1946) - Giulia * '' Farewell, My Beautiful Naples'' (1946) - Yvonne de Fleurette *''L'isola del sogno'' (1947) - Carla, la soubrette *''Giudicatemi!'' (1948) * ''

Eleven Men and a Ball ''Eleven Men and a Ball'' (Italian: ''11 uomini e un pallone'') is a 1948 Italian sports comedy film directed by Giorgio Simonelli and starring Carlo Dapporto, Carlo Campanini and Clelia Matania.Chiti & Poppi p.385 The film's sets were designed b ...

'' (1948) - Clelia *'' Alarm Bells'' (1949) - Bianca *''

Angelo tra la folla ''Angelo tra la folla'' ("Angel in the Crowd") is a 1950 Italian film directed by Leonardo de Mitri. The protagonist of the film is Angelo Maggio, the first Afro-Italian child actor to establish himself in post-war Italian cinema, after the expe ...

'' (1950) * ''

The Transporter ''The Transporter'' (French: ''Le Transporteur'') is a 2002 action-thriller film directed by Corey Yuen and Louis Leterrier (who is credited as artistic director on the film), and written by Luc Besson, who was inspired by BMW Films' ''The Hir ...

'' (1950) - Dolores Garcia *'' Strano appuntamento'' (1950) *''

Love and Blood ''Love and Blood'' ( it, Amore e sangue) is a 1951 Italian-German action melodrama film directed by Marino Girolami and starring Maria Montez in one of her last roles.

'' (1951) - Gabriella *''

Shadows Over Naples ''Shadows Over Naples'' (german: Schatten über Neapel) is a 1951 German-Italian crime film directed by Hans Wolff and starring Maria Montez, Massimo Serato, and Hans Söhnker. A separate Italian version ''Love and Blood ''Love and Blood'' ...

'' (1951) - Gabriela *''

Seven Hours of Trouble ''Seven Hours of Trouble'' (Italian: ''Sette ore di guai'') is a 1951 Italian comedy film directed by Vittorio Metz and Marcello Marchesi and starring Totò, Isa Barzizza and Carlo Campanini.Goble p.958 Plot Toto De Pasquale (Toto) is the holder ...

'' (1951) - Angelina - moglie di Totò *''

Quo Vadis ''Quō vādis?'' (, ) is a Latin phrase meaning "Where are you marching?". It is also commonly translated as "Where are you going?" or, poetically, "Whither goest thou?" The phrase originates from the Christian tradition regarding Saint Pete ...

'' (1951) - Parmenida (uncredited) *'' Stasera sciopero'' (1951) - Marta *'' Never Take No for an Answer'' (1951) - Mrs. Strotti *''

Cento piccole mamme ''Cento piccole mamme'' (t.l. ''One Hundred Littles Mums'') is a 1952 Italian melodrama film directed by Giulio Morelli and Léonide Moguy. Cast * William Tubbs as Prof. Martino Prosperi * Lia Amanda as Anna * Clelia Matania as director Sampi ...

'' (1952) - La direttrice Sampieri *''

Toto and the Women ''Toto and the Women'' ( it, Totò e le donne) is a 1952 Italian film directed by Mario Monicelli and Steno. Plot The cloth retailer Philip (Totò) is no longer able to stand his possessive and tyrannical wife (Ave Ninchi) who claims a higher ...

'' (1952) - La cameriera *''

I morti non pagano tasse ''I Morti non pagano tasse'' is a 1952 Italian comedy film by Sergio Grieco. Cast * Tino Scotti: Marco Vecchietti / Giovanni Rossi * Titina De Filippo: Geltrude * Carlo Campanini: Il sindaco * Clelia Matania: La signora Vecchietti * Arold ...

'' (1952) - La signora Vecchietti *''

Terminal Station A train station, railway station, railroad station or depot is a railway facility where trains stop to load or unload passengers, freight or both. It generally consists of at least one platform, one track and a station building providing su ...

'' (1953) - Mother of annoying children (uncredited) *'' Man, Beast and Virtue'' (1953) - Grazia *''

Easy Years ''Easy Years'' ( it, Anni facili) is a 1953 drama film directed by Luigi Zampa and starring Nino Taranto. Cast *Nino Taranto as Professor Luigi De Francesco *Clelia Matania as Rosina, his wife *Giovanna Ralli as Teresa, his daughter *Gino Buzz ...

'' (1953) - Rosina De Francesco *''

Cavallina storna ''Cavallina storna'' (i.e. "Dappled Mare") is a 1953 Italian historical melodrama film directed by Giulio Morelli and starring Gino Cervi. It is loosely based on several autobiographical poems ("La cavalla storna", "X agosto", "Un ricordo", and ...

'' (1953) * '' The Beach'' (1954) - Albertocchi's Wife *''

Guai ai vinti ''Guai ai vinti'' (''Woe to the Vanquished Ones'') is a 1954 Italian melodrama film directed by Raffaello Matarazzo. It is based on the novel ''Vae Victis'' by Annie Vivanti. Plot During the First World War the Italian front at Caporetto is ...

'' (1954) -Teresa *''

Neapolitan Carousel ''Neapolitan Carousel'' ( it, Carosello napoletano) is a 1954 Italian comedy film directed by Ettore Giannini and starring Léonide Massine, Achille Millo and Agostino Salvietti. It was entered into the 1954 Cannes Film Festival, winning its '' ...

'' (1955) *''

Les Hussards ''Les Hussards'' ( en, Cavalrymen), is a French comedy film from 1955, directed by Alex Joffé, written by Gabriel Arout, starring Bernard Blier, Giovanna Ralli, Bourvil, and with Georges Wilson, Virna Lisi, Louis de Funès playing supporting ...

'' (1955) - Mme Luppi *'' I pinguini ci guardano'' (1956) - (voice) *''

I giorni più belli ''I giorni più belli'' ( ''The Best Days'' or ''The Most Beautiful Days'') is a 1956 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Mattoli and starring Franco Interlenghi. Cast * Franco Interlenghi * Vittorio De Sica * Mario Carotenuto * Valeria Mori ...

'' (1956) - La signora Valentini *''

War and Peace ''War and Peace'' (russian: Война и мир, translit=Voyna i mir; pre-reform Russian: ; ) is a literary work by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy that mixes fictional narrative with chapters on history and philosophy. It was first published ...

'' (1956) - Mademoiselle Geoges (uncredited) *''

Difendo il mio amore ''Difendo il mio amore'' is a 1956 Italian film. It stars actor Gabriele Ferzetti. Plot As part of a story, a reporter goes to meet Elisa, a young woman he met a few years ago on a trial on which she was finally exonerated. Cast *Gabriele Fer ...

'' (1956) - Emma *''

Wives and Obscurities ''Wives and Obscurities'' (Italian:''Moglie e buoi...'') is a 1956 Italian comedy film directed by Leonardo De Mitri and starring Gino Cervi, Walter Chiari and Enrico Viarisio Enrico Viarisio (3 December 1897 – 1 November 1967) was an Italian ...

'' (1956) - Signora Zanarini *''

Roland the Mighty ''Roland the Mighty'' ( it, Orlando e i Paladini di Francia) is a 1956 Italian film directed by Pietro Francisci. about the Battle of Roncevaux Pass in AD 778, where Roland, a knight in the service of Charlemagne was killed while defending the re ...

'' (1956) - La nutrice *''

The Monte Carlo Story ''The Monte Carlo Story'' is a 1956 Italian comedy-drama film production made by Titanus and distributed by United Artists. Samuel A. Taylor directed, and also wrote the screenplay based on a story by Marcello Girosi and Dino Risi. Marcello Gi ...

'' (1956) - Sophia *''Mamma sconosciuta'' (1956) - Giuliana *''Cantando sotto le stelle'' (1956) - Fernando Pezzetti *''

Seven Hills of Rome The seven hills of Rome ( la, Septem colles/montes Romae, it, Sette colli di Roma ) east of the river Tiber form the geographical heart of Rome, within the walls of the city. Hills The seven hills are: * Aventine Hill (Latin: ''Collis Aventi ...

'' (1957) - Beatrice *'' A Farewell to Arms'' (1957) - Hairdresser (uncredited) *''Napoli, sole mio!'' (1958) - Margherita *''

Anna of Brooklyn ''Anna of Brooklyn'' ( it, Anna di Brooklyn) is a 1958 French-Italian comedy film directed by Vittorio De Sica and and starring Gina Lollobrigida, De Sica and Amedeo Nazzari. It was shot at the Cinecittà Studios in Rome. The film's sets were d ...

'' (1958) - Camillina *''La Fortuna Con L'effe Maiuscola'' (1959) *''Il Medico Dei Pazzi'' (1959) *''Rapina al quartiere Ovest'' (1960) *''

La garçonnière ''La garçonnière'' ("The bachelor apartment") is a 1960 Italian romance-drama film written and directed by Giuseppe De Santis. Plot A building constructor repeatedly betrays his wife in an apartment he rented in a popular neighborhood. She paw ...

'' (1960) - Angelina *''

The Wastrel ''The Wastrel'' ( it, Il relitto) is a 1961 Italian-Cypriot drama film directed by Michael Cacoyannis and starring Ellie Lambeti. It was entered into the 1961 Cannes Film Festival. Cast * Ellie Lambeti as Mrs. Bell * Van Heflin as Duncan Bell * ...

'' (1961) - Betsy *''

Five Golden Hours ''Five Golden Hours'' is a 1961 Italian-British comedy film directed by Mario Zampi and written by Hans Wilhelm, starring Ernie Kovacs, Cyd Charisse and George Sanders, and featuring Dennis Price and John Le Mesurier. Plot Aldo Bondi (Kovacs) ...

'' (1961) - Rosalia *''

Il carabiniere a cavallo ''Il carabiniere a cavallo'' is a 1962 Italian comedy film directed by Carlo Lizzani. Plot A couple of women nomads in Rome steal a horse named Rutilio. The horse belongs to a mounted ''carabiniere'', a member of the Italian national police force ...

'' (1961) - La madre di Letizia *''Nefertiti, Queen of the Nile'' (1961) - Penaba *'' Pecado de amor'' (1961) - Sirvienta de Magda *''

Escapade in Florence ''Escapade in Florence'' is a two-part episode of the ''Disneyland'' television show which was released theatrically in some countries. Walt Disney described it as a "two-part teenage comedy adventure" which was "international in flavor". The show ...

'' (1962, TV Series) - Aunt Gisella *''

The Battle of the Villa Fiorita ''The Battle of the Villa Fiorita'' is a 1965 British drama film, based on the 1963 novel by Rumer Godden, directed by Delmer Daves. It stars Maureen O'Hara and Rossano Brazzi. This was the last film for Delmer Daves who, two years earlier, wr ...

'' (1965) - Celestina *''

Perdono "Perdono" (also released under the title "Xdono"; ) is a 2001 song recorded by Italian singer Tiziano Ferro. Released on May 12, 2001, it was the singer's debut single and the lead single from his album '' Rosso Relativo'', which was released f ...

'' (1966) - Adelina *'' Nessuno mi può giudicare'' (1966) - Adelina *''

Chimera Chimera, Chimaera, or Chimaira (Greek for " she-goat") originally referred to: * Chimera (mythology), a fire-breathing monster of Ancient Lycia said to combine parts from multiple animals * Mount Chimaera, a fire-spewing region of Lycia or Cilici ...

'' (1968) - Lina - the maid *''

Barbagia Barbagia (; sc, Barbàgia or ) is a geographical, cultural and natural region of inner Sardinia, contained for the most part in the province of Nuoro and Ogliastra and located alongside the Gennargentu massif. The name comes from Cicero, wh ...

'' (1969) - Graziano's Mother *''

The Secret of Santa Vittoria ''The Secret of Santa Vittoria'' is a 1969 American war film distributed by United Artists. It was produced and directed by Stanley Kramer and co-produced by George Glass from a screenplay by Ben Maddow and William Rose. It was based on the be ...

'' (1969) *''

Just Before Nightfall ''Just Before Nightfall'' (french: Juste avant la nuit) is a 1971 crime drama film written and directed by Claude Chabrol, based on the 1951 novel ''The Thin Line'' by Edward Atiyah. Audran won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role ...

'' (1971) - Mme Masson *'' Bequest to the Nation'' (1973) - Francesca *''

Don't Look Now ''Don't Look Now'' ( it, A Venezia... un Dicembre rosso shocking, lit=In Venice... a shocking red December) is a 1973 English-language film in the thriller genre directed by Nicolas Roeg, adapted from the 1971 short story by Daphne du Mauri ...

'' (1973) - Wendy *'' Le farò da padre'' (1974) - Elisa *''

Vergine e di nome Maria ''Vergine e di nome Maria'' (''Virgin and Called Mary'') is a 1975 Italian comedy-drama film directed by Sergio Nasca. A few days after its first release it was confiscated for contempt of religion; it was subsequently re-edited and redistributed ...

'' (1975) - Anna, madre di Maria *'' Wanted: Babysitter'' (1975) - Old neighbour *''

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) - La madre di Peppe *''Bim Bum Bam'' (1981)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Matania, Clelia 1918 births 1981 deaths Italian film actresses Italian stage actresses British film actresses British stage actresses British emigrants to Italy 20th-century Italian actresses Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art Actresses from London People of Campanian descent 20th-century English women 20th-century English people