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Silvana Mangano

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Silvana Mangano was a prominent Italian film actress.

Riso amaro (1949) Silvana Mangano
Riso amaro (1949) Silvana Mangano

She was part of a generation of performers linked to the neorealist movement. This movement shaped Italian cinema after World War II. Mangano became a major female star during the 1950s and 1960s. Many people recognized her as a significant cultural icon of that era. Her career spanned several decades and included many different types of roles.

Her path to stardom began with disciplined training and early competitions. She trained as a dancer for seven years. To support herself, she worked as a professional model. In 1946, at age 16, she won the Miss Rome beauty pageant. This victory led to her first film role in a movie by Mario Costa. A year later, she competed in the Miss Italia contest. This specific contest served as a springboard for many future stars, including Lucia Bosé and Gina Lollobrigida.

Silvana Mangano 1956
Silvana Mangano 1956

Mangano's rise to international fame was driven by specific performances. Her role in the 1949 film Bitter Rice, directed by Giuseppe De Santis, brought her great success. This success led her to sign a contract with Lux Film in 1949. She also formed early connections in the industry through a relationship with actor Marcello Mastroianni. While she did not reach the same level of international fame as Sophia Loren, she remained a favorite star for decades. She worked with several highly notable directors throughout her career.

Her filmography includes collaborations with many masters of Italian cinema. She worked four times with director Pier Paolo Pasolini. She also collaborated four times with director Luchino Visconti. Other important directors she worked with included Alberto Lattuada and Vittorio De Sica. In 1967, she played the lead in the anthology film The Witches. This film featured segments directed by Pasolini, Visconti, De Sica, and Mauro Bolognini. Her acting career continued into her 50s with roles in films like Dune and Dark Eyes.

Silvana Mangano 1974
Silvana Mangano 1974

Mangano received significant critical acclaim for her acting skill. She won the David di Donatello for Best Actress three times. These wins were for The Verona Trial in 1963, The Witches in 1967, and The Scientific Cardplayer in 1972. Additionally, she won the Nastro d'Argento, or Silver Ribbon, for Best Actress twice. She also received several nominations for supporting roles later in her career. Her final film role was in the movie Dark Eyes, which earned her a Nastro d'Argento nomination.

Her personal life was closely tied to the film industry. In 1949, she married the international film producer Dino De Laurentiis. The couple had four children: Veronica, Raffaella, Francesca, and Federico. Her daughter, Giada De Laurentiis, has become a well-known host on the Food Network. The family remained influential in film production, as daughter Raffaella co-produced the film Dune in 1984. Mangano and De Laurentiis eventually separated in 1983 and began divorce proceedings in 1988.

Riso amaro (1949) Silvana Mangano
Riso amaro (1949) Silvana Mangano

Mangano's life ended following a period of serious illness. She underwent surgery on December 4, 1989, which left her in a coma. She died of lung cancer in Madrid, Spain, on December 16, 1989. She is buried in a cemetery in Pawling, near New York City. She lies next to her son Federico and her brother Roy Rocco Mangano. To honor her lasting impact on Italian culture, the city of Rome named a street in the Valleranello district after her.

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File:Riso amaro (1949) Silvana Mangano.jpg
Riso amaro (1949) Silvana Mangano.jpg
File:Silvana Mangano 1956.jpg
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File:Silvana Mangano 1974.jpg
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