Monica Vitti
Italian cinema icon has died
Monica Vitti in the 1979 film “A Perfect Affair”.
© imago images/Everett Collection
Monica Vitti died at the age of 90. The actress shaped the Italian film industry, especially in the 60s and 70s.
Italian actress Monica Vitti died this Wednesday (February 2) at the age of 90, according to her husband Roberto Russo (74). “She conquered generations of Italians with her spirit, her skills and her beauty. She brought Italian cinema respect all over the world,” said Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi (74) according to “La Stampa” about the death of the film star. The Italian Minister of Culture Dario Franceschini (63) said goodbye to the “queen of Italian cinema”.
Born in Rome in 1931, Vitti became known in the 1960s through her collaboration with the directors Michelangelo Antonioni (1912-2007) and Mario Monicelli (1915-2010). In 1954 she made her film debut and celebrated her breakthrough in 1960 with “The Play with Love” (Original: “L’Avventura”). Antonioni also hired her for his films “The Night”, “The Red Desert” and “Love 1962”. In the latter, she stood in front of the camera with Alain Delon (86).
She worked with Monicelli, among other things, in 1968 for the comedy “One doesn’t catch men with pistols”. In 1984 she was awarded a Silver Bear at the Berlinale for her performance in the film “Flirt”. In 1989 her directorial debut “Scandalo segreto” was her last major appearance on the big screen. In 1995 she received the Golden Lion for her life’s work in Venice.