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Ah, Laura Antonelli… An icon of Italian cinema, but not only that. Born on November 28, 1941, in Pola, today Pula, in Croatia, she was about one meter seventy tall. Honestly, her journey is far from ordinary and you can feel there were ups, but also some real wounds, whether in her professional or personal life.
She started somewhat by chance, after the war her family settled in Naples, she studied seriously but ended up getting interested in the stage. She was not a child star, no, she took her time, she made her way before becoming that femme fatale we all know.
What always struck me was her ability to cross genres, trends. You know, she wasn’t just the pretty girl of erotic films so popular in the 70s, she also acted under the direction of legendary figures like Visconti or Chabrol. A true chameleon.
Private life? That of a woman who loved deeply. Married first, then companion of Jean-Paul Belmondo, her relationship with him lasted almost a decade. It must have been intense, you can feel it a bit in her roles, she had that thing that grabs you, beyond looks and images.
Who was really Laura Antonelli, star of Italian cinema?
Born Laura Antonaz, she comes from Pola, in Istria, a region now in Croatia. Her life changed after the Second World War, her parents settled in Naples where she grew up surrounded by her brothers. She completed her higher education seriously.
It was in Rome that she first tried teaching, following physical education courses, but she didn’t really have the classic profile, pedagogical, calm. Cinema and television attracted her more, so she dived fully in, even accepting modest or somewhat revealing first roles.
The next step? A must passage through that late 60s erotic cinema, with “La Révolution sexuelle”, “La Vénus à la fourrure” or “Ma femme est un violon”. The breakthrough came with Malicia in 1973, a film signed Salvatore Samperi, which made her an icon and undeniable star of that era.
You cannot talk about her without mentioning her collaborations with big names: Dino Risi, Luigi Comencini, and a certain Luchino Visconti with whom she acted in “L’Innocent”. Not bad for a girl who started quite low, don’t you think?
Laura Antonelli’s career path, successes, and pauses
Her beginnings were rather modest. In 1966, she appeared in L’espion qui venait du surgelé, a film not very remarkable. But she didn’t give up, sometimes in the shadows, sometimes center stage. In the early 70s, her roles became more substantial.
The turning point? The film Malicia. This role of Angela La Barbera, half-angel half-demon, left a mark. The film was a success and she received some awards. It was a time when Italian cinema flirted with the sexual revolution and customs that people wanted to challenge.
She alternated comedies, dramas, and erotic films, and it’s impressive to see how naturally she slipped into each character. A real joy for cinephiles. Later, she starred with Jean-Paul Belmondo in Docteur Popaul.
The late 80s marked a bit of a decline, but in 1991 she resurfaced in Malicia 2000. That would be her last big splash before a fairly clear withdrawal from the big screen, to finish her life away from the spotlight.
A private life that caused talk, between passions and dramas
If you think that’s crazy, wait to hear this: married quite young to an Italian antique dealer, Enrico Piacentini, she divorced to live alongside Jean-Paul Belmondo between 1972 and 1980. The tabloids were obviously all over it. A story that left a mark on people’s minds.
But her existence was not always a smooth ride. The last years were difficult: isolated, she even refused to attend a musical tribute dedicated to her in 2013. She died quietly in 2015, in her house in Ladispoli, near Rome.
A lesser-known detail: she fought legal battles linked to medical complications. A real descent into hell that you wouldn’t suspect when you see her glamorous roles on the big screen.
And then, there is that book released in 2021, written by Philippe Brunel, which reveals a bit more the shadows and complexity of this personality, far from the glitz and the spotlights.
The must-see films and the legacy of Laura Antonelli in Italian cinema
If you want to dive into her world, here is a mini list not to miss:
- 🌟 Malicia (1973) – She is simply unforgettable.
- 🎬 L’Innocent (1976) by Visconti, for the more dramatic side.
- 😏 Docteur Popaul (1972) with Belmondo, a true charm on screen.
- 🌪️ Sexe fou (1973) by Dino Risi, for the humor and spice.
Her passage in French cinema is no legend: her filmography speaks for itself, it’s even surprising. She became a symbol crossing eras, a mix of softness, strength and a sensuality never vulgar.
And to truly grasp her extraordinary destiny, I advise you to take a look at this detailed bio which tells her evolution and struggles with great accuracy.
