Serena Grandi (born 23 March 1958, in
Bologna
Bologna (, , ; egl, label= Emilian, Bulåggna ; lat, Bononia) is the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy. It is the seventh most populous city in Italy with about 400,000 inhabitants and 150 different nat ...
) is an Italian actress, famous as an
icon
An icon () is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, in the cultures of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Catholic churches. They are not simply artworks; "an icon is a sacred image used in religious devotion". The most ...
and
sex symbol
A sex symbol or icon is a person or character widely considered sexually attractive.Pam Cook, "The trouble with sex: Diana Dors and the Blonde bombshell phenomenon", In: Bruce Babinigton (ed.), ''British Stars and Stardom: From Alma Taylor to ...
in
Italian cinema
The cinema of Italy (, ) comprises the films made within Italy or by Italian directors. Since its beginning, Italian cinema has influenced film movements worldwide. Italy is one of the birthplaces of art cinema and the stylistic aspect of film ha ...
of the 1980s and 1990s. Known for her
junoesque body and voluptuous measurements, she was considered one of the main
pin-up
A pin-up model (known as a pin-up girl for a female and less commonly male pin-up for a male) is a model whose mass-produced pictures see widespread appeal as part of popular culture. Pin-up models were variously glamour models, fashion models ...
girls of Italy. Some films credited her as Vanessa Steiger. Horror film buffs know her for her two gory opuses, ''
Antropophagus
''Antropophagus'' (also known as ''Anthropophagus: The Beast'', ''The Savage Island'', and ''The Grim Reaper'') is a 1980 Italian horror film directed by Joe D'Amato and co-written by D'Amato and George Eastman, who starred in the film as a canni ...
'' (1980) and ''
Delirium
Delirium (also known as acute confusional state) is an organically caused decline from a previous baseline of mental function that develops over a short period of time, typically hours to days. Delirium is a syndrome encompassing disturbances in ...
'' (1987).
Biography
Serena Grandi is the stage name for Serena Faggioli, born in
Bologna
Bologna (, , ; egl, label= Emilian, Bulåggna ; lat, Bononia) is the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy. It is the seventh most populous city in Italy with about 400,000 inhabitants and 150 different nat ...
. She graduated in
computer programming
Computer programming is the process of performing a particular computation (or more generally, accomplishing a specific computing result), usually by designing and building an executable computer program. Programming involves tasks such as ana ...
and was first employed in a scientific analysis laboratory.
[ She started her acting career in 1980, playing a supporting role in the comedy film ''La Compagna di viaggio'' by ]Ferdinando Baldi
Ferdinando Baldi (19 May 1917 – 12 September 2007) was an Italian film director and screenwriter.
Biography
Baldi was born in Cava de' Tirreni, Salerno, on 19 May 1917. His early film work began in Italy in the early 1950s with films su ...
.
In the same year, Grandi played the role of Maggie in the controversial film ''Antropophagus
''Antropophagus'' (also known as ''Anthropophagus: The Beast'', ''The Savage Island'', and ''The Grim Reaper'') is a 1980 Italian horror film directed by Joe D'Amato and co-written by D'Amato and George Eastman, who starred in the film as a canni ...
'', directed by Joe D'Amato
Aristide Massaccesi (15 December 1936 – 23 January 1999), known professionally as Joe D'Amato, was an Italian film director, producer, cinematographer, and screenwriter who worked in many genres (westerns, decamerotici, peplum, war films, ...
. This film is well known among horror movie fans for its extreme gore sequences. After several minor roles, she took the title role in 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 er ...
' '' Miranda'', which gave her the status of sex symbol in her native Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
and set the path for her stardom.[
Through the 1980s, Grandi made nearly 20 films, mainly appearing in "]Commedie sexy all'italiana
The commedia sexy all'italiana (, lit. "sex comedy Italian style"), also known as commedia scollacciata or commedia erotica all'italiana, is a subgenre of Italian ''commedia all'italiana'' film genre.
Style
''Commedia sexy'' is characterized typ ...
" and erotic films, but also starring in sword epics such as ''The Adventures of Hercules
''The Adventures of Hercules'' ( it, Le avventure dell'incredibile Ercole) is the 1985 sequel to the 1983 film ''Hercules''. It was written and directed by Luigi Cozzi and has bodybuilder-turned-actor Lou Ferrigno reprising his role as the title ...
'' and in some horror films. In 1987 Lamberto Bava
Lamberto Bava (born 3 April 1944) is an Italian film director. Born in Rome, Bava began working as an assistant director for his director father Mario Bava. Lamberto co-directed the 1979 television film ''La Venere d'Ille'' with his father and in ...
gave her the role of Gloria in his film ''Delirium
Delirium (also known as acute confusional state) is an organically caused decline from a previous baseline of mental function that develops over a short period of time, typically hours to days. Delirium is a syndrome encompassing disturbances in ...
''. In 1991 she married the antiquarian Beppe Ercole, 20 years her senior, with whom she had a son Edoardo; the couple divorced in 1998.[
In the 1990s, Grandi started to back away from the spotlight; during this time she focused her career on television series.][
In 2003-2004 Grandi spent 157 days under house arrest, accused of having sold a few grams of cocaine. The case was later dismissed.][
In 2006, Grandi was a candidate in the list of Azione Sociale, a right-leaning party led by ]Alessandra Mussolini
Alessandra is a female given name of Italian origin, meaning ''defender of men''. It is the Italian form of the female given name Alexandra and the female form of the male given name Alessandro.
Alessandra may refer to:
* Alessandra Ambrosio (bo ...
, but she was not elected.[ The same year she published her first novel, ''L’amante del federale''.][ In 2008, after a break of ten years, she returned to acting.][
In 2017 Grandi competed in ]Grande Fratello VIP
''Grande Fratello VIP'' is the celebrity version of ''Grande Fratello'', the Italian version of the reality television franchise '' Big Brother''.https://mediasetitalia.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Mediaset-2021-New-Season-Highlights-Rev_Sep-8_. ...
, the Italian adaptation of Celebrity Big Brother
''Big Brother VIP'', is an adaptation of the '' Big Brother'' reality television series. It is the celebrity version of its parent franchise ''Big Brother'', the celebrity version airs in several countries, however, the housemates or houseguest ...
.
Filmography
Films
Television
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grandi, Serena
1958 births
Living people
Actors from Bologna
Italian film actresses
Italian television actresses
Italian stage actresses
Italian female models