Elsa Martinelli (born Elisa Tia; 30 January 1935 – 8 July 2017) was an Italian actress and

fashion model A model is a person with a role either to promote, display or advertise commercial products (notably fashion clothing in fashion shows) or to serve as a visual aid for people who are creating works of art or to pose for photography. Thoug ...

Life and career

Born Elisa Tia in

Grosseto Grosseto () is a city and ''comune'' in the central Italian region of Tuscany, the capital of the Province of Grosseto. The city lies from the Tyrrhenian Sea, in the Maremma, at the centre of an alluvial plain on the Ombrone river. It is the ...

Tuscany it, Toscano (man) it, Toscana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = Citizenship , demographics1_footnotes = , demographics1_title1 = Italian , demogra ...

, she moved to Rome with her family. In 1953, she was discovered by

Roberto Capucci Roberto Capucci (born December 2, 1930 in Rome) is an Italian fashion designer. Biography Capucci attended art school at Accademia di Belle Arti, where he studied with the artists Mazzacurati, Avenali, and Libero De Libero. In 1950, he opened ...

who introduced her to the world of fashion. She became a model and began playing small roles in films. She appeared in

Claude Autant-Lara Claude Autant-Lara (; 5 August 1901 – 5 February 2000) was a French film director and later Member of the European Parliament (MEP). Biography Born at Luzarches in Val-d'Oise, Autant-Lara was educated in France and at London's Mill Hill Sc ...

's ''

Le Rouge et le Noir ''Le Rouge et le Noir'' (; meaning ''The Red and the Black'') is a historical psychological fiction, psychological novel in two volumes by Stendhal, published in 1830. It chronicles the attempts of a provincial young man to rise socially beyond ...

'' (1954), but her first important film role came the following year with ''

The Indian Fighter ''The Indian Fighter'' is a 1955 American CinemaScope and Technicolor Western (genre), Western film directed by Andre de Toth and based upon an original story by Robert L. Richards. The film was the first of star Kirk Douglas's Bryna Production ...

'' opposite Kirk Douglas, who claimed to have spotted her on a magazine cover and hired her for his production company,

Bryna Productions Bryna Productions (later renamed The Bryna Company) is an American independent film and television production company established by actor Kirk Douglas in 1949. The company also produced a handful of films through its subsidiaries, Michael Produ ...

. Douglas subsequently signed her to a two pictures a year for two years non-exclusive contract with Bryna Productions in February 1956. She was loaned out from Bryna Productions to

Universal-International Pictures Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...

in March 1956 for the film ''

Four Girls in Town ''Four Girls in Town'' is a 1957 American CinemaScope Technicolor drama film, directed by Jack Sher, about four girls trying to be movie stars. Plot When the leading lady drops out of a new film to be shot in New Orleans, studio head James Manni ...

''. In 1956, she won the

Silver Bear for Best Actress The Silver Bear for Best Actress (german: Silberner Bär/Beste Darstellerin) was an award presented at the Berlin International Film Festival from 1956 to 2020. It was given to an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance and was chos ...

at the

6th Berlin International Film Festival The 6th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 22 June to 3 July 1956. The FIAPF granted the festival the "A status" during this year, which was previously only reserved for Cannes and Venice. The awards for the first time, we ...

for playing the title role in Mario Monicelli's '' Donatella''. From the mid-1950s through the late 1960s, she divided her time between

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...

and the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

, appearing in films such as ''

'' (1957) with

Julie Adams Julie Adams (born Betty May Adams; October 17, 1926 – February 3, 2019) was an American actress, billed as Julia Adams toward the beginning of her career, primarily known for her numerous television guest roles. She starred in a number of ...

, '' Manuela'' (1957) with

Trevor Howard Trevor Wallace Howard-Smith (29 September 1913 – 7 January 1988) was an English stage, film, and television actor. After varied work in the theatre, he achieved star status with his role in the film ''Brief Encounter'' (1945), followed by ''T ...

, ''

Prisoner of the Volga ''Prisoner of the Volga'' is a 1959 adventure film starring John Derek. He plays an officer in the time of the Tsar who is sentenced to Siberia.John Derek, ''

Hatari! ''Hatari!'' (, Swahili for "Danger!") is a 1962 American adventure romantic comedy film starring John Wayne as the leader of a group of professional game catchers in Africa.McCarthy, Todd. ''Howard Hawks: the grey fox of Hollywood'', New York, G ...

'' (1962) with John Wayne, ''

The Pigeon That Took Rome ''The Pigeon That Took Rome'' is a 1962 American comedy war film directed and written by Melville Shavelson and starring Charlton Heston. The film is set in the Italian Campaign of World War II and was based on the 1961 novel ''The Easter Dinner' ...

'' (1962) with Charlton Heston, ''

The Trial ''The Trial'' (german: Der Process, link=no, previously , and ) is a novel written by Franz Kafka in 1914 and 1915 and published posthumously on 26 April 1925. One of his best known works, it tells the story of Josef K., a man arrested and p ...

'' (1962) directed by

Orson Welles George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter, known for his innovative work in film, radio and theatre. He is considered to be among the greatest and most influential f ...

, '' The V.I.P.s'' (1963) with Elizabeth Taylor and

Richard Burton Richard Burton (; born Richard Walter Jenkins Jr.; 10 November 1925 – 5 August 1984) was a Welsh actor. Noted for his baritone voice, Burton established himself as a formidable Shakespearean actor in the 1950s, and he gave a memorable pe ...

, '' Rampage'' (1963) with

Robert Mitchum Robert Charles Durman Mitchum (August 6, 1917 – July 1, 1997) was an American actor. He rose to prominence with an Academy Award nomination for the Best Supporting Actor for ''The Story of G.I. Joe'' (1945), followed by his starring in ...

, ''

Woman Times Seven ''Woman Times Seven'' ( it, Sette volte donna) is a 1967 sex comedy anthology film directed by Vittorio De Sica. It consists of seven segments, all starring Shirley MacLaine, most of which deal with aspects of adultery. Plot ''Paulette/Funeral ...

'' (1967) with Shirley MacLaine, and '' Candy'' (1968) with Marlon Brando. From the late 1960s, she worked in Europe in mostly foreign language productions. Her last English language role was as Carla the Agent in '' Once Upon a Crime'' (1992) with

John Candy John Franklin Candy (October 31, 1950 – March 4, 1994) was a Canadian actor and comedian known mainly for his work in Hollywood films. Candy rose to fame in the 1970s as a member of the Toronto branch of the Second City and its '' SCTV'' seri ...

. Her final acting appearance was in the 2005 European television series '' Orgoglio'' as the Duchessa di Monteforte.

Personal life

Martinelli was first married to Count Franco Mancinelli Scotti di San Vito, by whom she had a daughter, Cristiana Mancinelli (born 1958), also an actress. In 1968, she married the ''

Paris Match ''Paris Match'' () is a French-language weekly news magazine. It covers major national and international news along with celebrity lifestyle features. History and profile A sports news magazine, ''Match l'intran'' (a play on '' L'Intransigeant ...

'' photographer and 1970s furniture designer,

Willy Rizzo Willy Rizzo (22 October 1928 – 25 February 2013) was an Italian photographer and designer. Publications *''Starsociety'', editor Schirmer Mosel, 1994 *''Mes stars : L'Album secret de Willy Rizzo'', text of Jean-Pierre de Lucovich, editor Fili ...

Death

Martinelli died of cancer in Rome on 8 July 2017, at the age of 82.

Filmography

Charles Boyer Elsa Martinelli The Rogues

* ''

The Red and the Black ''Le Rouge et le Noir'' (; meaning ''The Red and the Black'') is a historical psychological novel in two volumes by Stendhal, published in 1830. It chronicles the attempts of a provincial young man to rise socially beyond his modest upbringing ...

'' (1954) (uncredited) * '' If You Won a Hundred Million'' (1954) as Anna (segment "L'indossatrice") * ''

'' (1955) as Onahti * ''

Rice Girl ''Rice Girl'' ( it, La risaia) is a 1956 Italian melodrama film directed by Raffaello Matarazzo. Plot Pietro, the owner of a large paddy, recognizes among his young workers Elena, his natural daughter. He then begins to follow her and to prote ...

'' (1956) as Elena Nardi * '' Donatella'' (1956) as Donatella Guiscardi * ''

'' (1957) as Maria Antonelli * '' Manuela'' (1957) as Manuela Hunt * ' (1958) as Lucia * ''

Prisoner of the Volga ''Prisoner of the Volga'' is a 1959 adventure film starring John Derek. He plays an officer in the time of the Tsar who is sentenced to Siberia.Ciao, ciao bambina! ''Ciao, ciao bambina!'' is a 1959 Italian comedy film directed by Sergio Grieco and starring Elsa Martinelli and Antonio Cifariello. It grossed 220 million lire at the Italian box office. Cast * Elsa Martinelli as Diana * Antonio Cifariello a ...

'' (1959) as Diana * ''

Tunis Top Secret ''Tunis Top Secret'' ( it, Tunisi top secret, german: Akte Sahara – streng vertraulich) is a 1959 Italian-German adventure-spy film written and directed by Bruno Paolinelli and starring Elsa Martinelli and Giorgia Moll.U. Tani (31 October 1959 ...

'' (1959) as Kathy Sands * '' Wild Cats on the Beach'' (1959) as Doriana * ''

Bad Girls Don't Cry ''La notte brava'' (internationally released as ''Bad Girls Don't Cry'', ''The Big Night'', ''Night Heat'', and ''On Any Street'') is a 1959 Italian drama film directed by Mauro Bolognini. The film represents the debut of Tomas Milian in the Ita ...

'' (1959) as Anna * '' Call Girls of Rome'' (1960) as Marisa * ''

Blood and Roses ''Blood and Roses'' (french: Et mourir de plaisir, lit=And die of pleasure) is a 1960 erotic horror film directed by Roger Vadim. It is based on the novella ''Carmilla'' (1872) by Irish writer Sheridan Le Fanu, shifting the book's setting in 1 ...

'' (1960) as Georgia Monteverdi * '' Il carro armato dell'8 settembre'' (1960) as Mirella * '' Captain Blood'' (1960) as Gisèle d'Angoulême * ''

Love in Rome ''Un amore a Roma'' (internationally released as ''Love in Rome'') is a 1960 Italian romantic drama film directed by Dino Risi.Paolo D'Agostini, ''Dino Risi'', Editrice Il castoro, 1995 Plot Marcello (Baldwin), a young writer, loves Anna (Demonge ...

'' (1960) as Fulvia * '' The Menace'' (1961) as Lucile * ''

'' (1962) as Anna Maria 'Dallas' D'Allesandro * ''

'' (1962) as Antonella Massimo * '' Pelle viva'' (1962) as Rosaria * ''

'' (1962) as Hilda * '' The V.I.P.s'' (1963) as Gloria Gritti * '' Rampage'' (1963) as Anna * ''

All About Loving ''All About Loving'' (french: De l'amour) is a 1964 French comedy film directed by Jean Aurel and starring Anna Karina. Cast * Anna Karina as Hélène * Elsa Martinelli as Mathilde * Michel Piccoli as Raoul * Jean Sorel as Antoine * Philippe A ...

'' (1964) as Mathilde * ''

Marco the Magnificent ''La Fabuleuse Aventure de Marco Polo'' or ''Marco the Magnificent'' is a 1965 international co-production (Afghanistan, Yugoslavia, Egypt, France, Italy) adventure film directed by Denys de La Patellière and Noël Howard. Raoul Levy committed ...

'' (1965) as The Woman with the Whip * '' Je vous salue, mafia!'' (1965) as Sylvia * '' Diamonds Are Brittle'' (1965) as Juliette * ' (1965) as Sonia * ''

The 10th Victim ''The 10th Victim'' ( it, La decima vittima) is a 1965 science fiction film directed and co-written by Elio Petri, starring Marcello Mastroianni, Ursula Andress, Elsa Martinelli, and Salvo Randone. An international co-production between Italy and ...

'' (1965) as Olga * ''

How I Learned to Love Women ''How I Learned to Love Women'' ( it, Come imparai ad amare le donne, french: Comment j'ai appris à aimer les femmes, german: Das gewisse Etwas der Frauen, also known as ''Love Parade'') is a 1966 Italian-French-German comedy film directed by Lu ...

'' (1966) as Monica the rallye driver * ''

Maroc 7 ''Maroc 7'' is a 1967 British thriller film directed by Gerry O'Hara and starring Gene Barry, Elsa Martinelli, Leslie Phillips and Denholm Elliott. The screenplay concerns an international jewel thief who hatches a plan to go to Morocco and ste ...

'' (1967) as Claudia * ''

The Oldest Profession ''The Oldest Profession'' (french: Le Plus Vieux Métier du monde) is a 1967 internationally co-produced comedy film. It features contributions from six different film directors, each one doing a segment on prostitution through the ages. Plot ...

'' (1967) as Domitilla (segment "Nuits romaines, Les") * ''

'' (1967) as Pretty woman (segment "Super Simone") * ' (1967) as Laureen * ''

Manon 70 ''Manon 70'' is a 1968 drama film directed by Jean Aurel, and starring Catherine Deneuve, Elsa Martinelli, Sami Frey, Robert Webber, Paul Hubschmid and Jean-Claude Brialy. The screenplay by Aurel and Cécil Saint-Laurent is loosely based on the 17 ...

'' (1968) as Annie * '' The Belle Starr Story'' (1968) as

Belle Starr Myra Maybelle Shirley Reed Starr (February 5, 1848 – February 3, 1889), better known as Belle Starr, was an American outlaw who gained national notoriety after her violent death. She associated with the James–Younger Gang and other outlaw ...

* ''

Madigan's Millions ''Madigan's Millions'' ( It: ''Un dollaro per 7 vigliacchi'', Sp: ''El Millón de Madigan'') is a 1968 Italian-Spanish comedy crime film directed by Stanley Prager and produced by Sidney W. Pink. The movie was shot in 1966 but was not released ...

'' (1968) as Vic Shaw * '' Candy'' (1968) as Livia * ''

If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium ''If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium'' is a 1969 American DeLuxe Color romantic comedy film made by Wolper Pictures and released by United Artists. It was directed by Mel Stuart, was filmed on location throughout Europe, and features many came ...

'' (1969) as Maria, Woman on Venetian bridge * ' (1969) as Gilberte de Baer * '' Una sull'altra'' (1969) as Jane Bleeker * ''

The Pleasure Pit ''The Pleasure Pit'' (french: Les Chemins de Katmandou, it, Katmandu, also known as ''Dirty Dolls in Kathmandu'', ''The Road to Katmandu'' and ''Ways of Katmandu'') is a 1969 French-Italian crime film, crime-drama film written and directed by Andr ...

'' (1969) as Martine * '' L'amica'' (1969) as Carla Nervi * ''

OSS 117 Takes a Vacation ''OSS 117 takes a vacation''/''Hot Holidays for OSS 117''/''OSS 117 prend des vacances'' is a French/Brazilian international co-production 1970 spy film directed by Pierre Kalfon who also co-wrote and co-produced the film. It starred Luc Meren ...

'' (1970) as Elsa * ' (1971) as Inés de Suárez * '' The Lion's Share'' (1971) as Annie * ' (1976) as Zobeida * '' I Am an ESP'' (1985) as Carla Razzi * ' (1988) * '' Once Upon a Crime'' (1992) as Carla the Agent

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Martinelli, Elsa 1935 births 2017 deaths 20th-century Italian actresses 21st-century Italian actresses Bryna Productions people Deaths from cancer in Lazio Italian female models Italian film actresses Italian television actresses People from Grosseto Silver Bear for Best Actress winners