Elsa Martinelli
Currently Active
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1935 — Present
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Personal Info
- Born
- Jan 30, 1935
- Age
- 91
- Birth Place
- Elisa Tia 30 January 1935 Grosseto , Kingdom of Italy
LEGACY & ORIGINS
Elsa Martinelli (born Elisa Tia; 30 January 1935 – 8 July 2017) was an Italian actress and fashion model. Described by The Guardian as a "versatile star of Hollywood’s international years whose work spanned romantic comedies, period epics, and spaghetti Westerns", she went on to star opposite Kirk Douglas, John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, Charlton Heston, and Anthony Quinn, and was directed by André De Toth, Vittorio De Sica, Howard Hawks, and Orson Welles on both sides of the Atlantic.
At the height of her career from the late 1950s into the late 1960s, she approached the popularity and status of top rival "Hollywood Italian imports" Sophia Loren, Gina Lollobrigida, and Claudia Cardinale. Her looks birthed the quip that she was a "kind of Audrey Hepburn with sex appeal". Outside her film career, Martinelli was a member of the glitterati, married to an Italian count, and befriended international celebrities such as Maria Callas, Aristotle Onassis, and Jackie Kennedy.
Elsa Martinelli was born Elisa Tia in Grosseto, Tuscany, and moved to Rome with her family. In 1953, she was discovered by Roberto Capucci, who introduced her to the world of fashion. She became a model and began playing small roles in films, such as Le Rouge et le Noir (1954), but her first important film role came the following year in The Indian Fighter opposite Kirk Douglas, who claimed to have spotted her on a magazine cover and hired her for his production company, Bryna Productions. Douglas subsequently signed her to a two-year/two picture-a-year nonexclusive contract with Bryna Productions in February 1956.
At the height of her career from the late 1950s into the late 1960s, she approached the popularity and status of top rival "Hollywood Italian imports" Sophia Loren, Gina Lollobrigida, and Claudia Cardinale. Her looks birthed the quip that she was a "kind of Audrey Hepburn with sex appeal". Outside her film career, Martinelli was a member of the glitterati, married to an Italian count, and befriended international celebrities such as Maria Callas, Aristotle Onassis, and Jackie Kennedy.
Elsa Martinelli was born Elisa Tia in Grosseto, Tuscany, and moved to Rome with her family. In 1953, she was discovered by Roberto Capucci, who introduced her to the world of fashion. She became a model and began playing small roles in films, such as Le Rouge et le Noir (1954), but her first important film role came the following year in The Indian Fighter opposite Kirk Douglas, who claimed to have spotted her on a magazine cover and hired her for his production company, Bryna Productions. Douglas subsequently signed her to a two-year/two picture-a-year nonexclusive contract with Bryna Productions in February 1956.
Life & Career Details
Elsa Martinelli (born Elisa Tia; 30 January 1935 – 8 July 2017) was an Italian actress and fashion model. Described by The Guardian as a "versatile star of Hollywood’s international years whose work spanned romantic comedies, period epics, and spaghetti Westerns", she went on to star opposite Kirk Douglas, John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, Charlton Heston, and Anthony Quinn, and was directed by André De Toth, Vittorio De Sica, Howard Hawks, and Orson Welles on both sides of the Atlantic.
At the height of her career from the late 1950s into the late 1960s, she approached the popularity and status of top rival "Hollywood Italian imports" Sophia Loren, Gina Lollobrigida, and Claudia Cardinale. Her looks birthed the quip that she was a "kind of Audrey Hepburn with sex appeal". Outside her film career, Martinelli was a member of the glitterati, married to an Italian count, and befriended international celebrities such as Maria Callas, Aristotle Onassis, and Jackie Kennedy.
Elsa Martinelli was born Elisa Tia in Grosseto, Tuscany, and moved to Rome with her family. In 1953, she was discovered by Roberto Capucci, who introduced her to the world of fashion. She became a model and began playing small roles in films, such as Le Rouge et le Noir (1954), but her first important film role came the following year in The Indian Fighter opposite Kirk Douglas, who claimed to have spotted her on a magazine cover and hired her for his production company, Bryna Productions. Douglas subsequently signed her to a two-year/two picture-a-year nonexclusive contract with Bryna Productions in February 1956.
At the height of her career from the late 1950s into the late 1960s, she approached the popularity and status of top rival "Hollywood Italian imports" Sophia Loren, Gina Lollobrigida, and Claudia Cardinale. Her looks birthed the quip that she was a "kind of Audrey Hepburn with sex appeal". Outside her film career, Martinelli was a member of the glitterati, married to an Italian count, and befriended international celebrities such as Maria Callas, Aristotle Onassis, and Jackie Kennedy.
Elsa Martinelli was born Elisa Tia in Grosseto, Tuscany, and moved to Rome with her family. In 1953, she was discovered by Roberto Capucci, who introduced her to the world of fashion. She became a model and began playing small roles in films, such as Le Rouge et le Noir (1954), but her first important film role came the following year in The Indian Fighter opposite Kirk Douglas, who claimed to have spotted her on a magazine cover and hired her for his production company, Bryna Productions. Douglas subsequently signed her to a two-year/two picture-a-year nonexclusive contract with Bryna Productions in February 1956.
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