LO
Liana Orfei
ActorBorn January 7, 1937 (89 years)
Liana Orfei (San Giovanni in Persiceto, June 6, 1937). Belonging to the famous Orfei circus dynasty, Liana is a multifaceted figure in Italian entertainment, capable of successfully ranging between circus, cinema, theater, and television.
Active on the big screen primarily between the 1950s and 70s, she acted in approximately forty films, working with masters of the caliber of Federico Fellini (in the documentary The Clowns), Orson Welles, Mario Monicelli, and Dino Risi. Her versatility led her to perform in highly diverse genres, from commedia all'italiana to Westerns, and even horror and science fiction. In television, her participation in the musical television drama Scaramouche (1965) is well-remembered.
She made her debut in the ring at just two years old as a clown (under the name Lacrima). In 1960, together with her brothers Nando and Rinaldo, she founded her own circus characterized by colossal and innovative productions, such as "Circorama" and the "Circus of the Thousand and One Nights"—the latter born from an idea by Fellini with costumes by Oscar winner Danilo Donati. In 1984, to respond to the industry's crisis, she founded the Golden Circus, an international festival that remains a reference point for circus arts today.
In the theatrical field, she collaborated with distinguished names such as Eduardo De Filippo and Emma Gramatica, returning to the stage even in more recent years (in 2005 with the musical Se il tempo fosse un gambero). She was also a singer and entrepreneur: in the 1980s, she founded the theme park Divertimondo in Rimini, inspired by the emerging major amusement parks.
Active on the big screen primarily between the 1950s and 70s, she acted in approximately forty films, working with masters of the caliber of Federico Fellini (in the documentary The Clowns), Orson Welles, Mario Monicelli, and Dino Risi. Her versatility led her to perform in highly diverse genres, from commedia all'italiana to Westerns, and even horror and science fiction. In television, her participation in the musical television drama Scaramouche (1965) is well-remembered.
She made her debut in the ring at just two years old as a clown (under the name Lacrima). In 1960, together with her brothers Nando and Rinaldo, she founded her own circus characterized by colossal and innovative productions, such as "Circorama" and the "Circus of the Thousand and One Nights"—the latter born from an idea by Fellini with costumes by Oscar winner Danilo Donati. In 1984, to respond to the industry's crisis, she founded the Golden Circus, an international festival that remains a reference point for circus arts today.
In the theatrical field, she collaborated with distinguished names such as Eduardo De Filippo and Emma Gramatica, returning to the stage even in more recent years (in 2005 with the musical Se il tempo fosse un gambero). She was also a singer and entrepreneur: in the 1980s, she founded the theme park Divertimondo in Rimini, inspired by the emerging major amusement parks.
Known For
Filmography
| 1970 | The Clowns · as Circus Performer |
| 1970 | Fortunata and Jacinta · as Jacinta |
| 1969 | Come, quando, perché · as Seamstress |
| 1968 | ¡Cómo sois las mujeres! · as Julia |
| 1968 | The Prophet · as Albertina |
| 1967 | Django Kills Softly · as Linda |
| 1966 | The Devil in Love · as Olimpia |
| 1966 | Diamonds Are a Man's Best Friend · as Veronica Turner |
| 1966 | I nostri mariti · as Attilia |
| 1966 | |
| 1966 | Les combinards · as Liliana |
| 1965 | 002 operazione Luna · as L'agente Russa Falsa Infermiera |
| 1965 | Scaramouche (TV Series) · as Irina Papandrei |
| 1965 | Casanova 70 · as Lion Tamer |
| 1964 | Za-bum (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1963 | Hercules, Samson and Ulysses · as Dalila - Philistine Queen |
| 1963 | Le motorizzate · as Cacace's Defence Counsel (segment "il Vigile Ignoto") |
| 1963 | |
| 1962 | The Avenger · as Camilla, Queen Of The Vulga |
| 1962 | Damon and Pythias · as Adriana |
| 1962 | Duello nella Sila · as Maruzza |
| 1961 | Rage of the Buccaneers · as Luana |
| 1961 | The Giant of Metropolis · as Queen Taxen |
| 1961 | Hercules in the Valley of Woe · as Dejanira |
| 1961 | Queen of the Nile · as Merith |
| 1961 | The Tartars · as Helga |
| 1960 | Pirates of the Coast · as Anna Del Peru |
| 1960 | Mill of the Stone Women · as Annelore |
| 1960 | Knight of 100 Faces · as Zuela |
| 1960 | |
| 1960 | La Dolce Vita · as (uncredited) |
| 1960 | Terror of the Red Mask · as Jolanda |
| 1959 | Tipi da spiaggia · as Magalì |
| 1959 | Guardatele ma non toccatele · as Allison |