Monica Vitti, otherwise known as the "queen of Italian cinema" has been separated from life at the age of 90. For 15 years, the actress had been battling Alzheimer's disease.
The death of the 1960s icon was confirmed today by Walter Veltroni, the screenwriter and former mayor of Rome.
"Roberto Russo, her co-author of many years, has asked me to communicate to you that Monica Vitti is no longer among us. I'm doing this grieving, but with a lot of nostalgia for him." - he wrote in Titter.
The star of the films of the 1960s was the lead actress in most films that featured the most legendary screenwriters and directors of the time. She has worked at length with Michelangelo Antonioni, Ettore Scola and Luis Buñuel and among many projects can mention films such as "L'Avventura", "Modesty Blaise", "La Notte", "L'Eclisse", etc., etc. In her roles, irreplaceable cinematic figures such as Alain Delon, Richard Harris, Terence Stamp, Michael Caine and Dirk Bogarde have always accompanied her.
Born with the real name Maria Luisa Ceciarelli in Rome, Monica came from a simple family of very conservative parents. At the age of 18, her parents and brothers emigrated to America for a better life, while she stayed in Italy where she continued her studies and graduated from the National Academy of Dramatic Art in 1953.
"My whole family went to live in America." - She once said during an interview and when asked why she chose to stay alone, she replied:
"I used the absence and void they left me to become an actress. That's how I became Monica Vitti."
Vitti was a stage and television star during the 1950s, but within 10 years, her fame took over the world, returning to Antonioni's muse.
Burimi: The Guardian
