Farewell to Lea Massari, the discreet diva of Italian cinema

A discreet diva until the end. Even the funeral was reserved, for a few, a private ceremony, a burial without too much fanfare in the chapel of Sutri. In the style of one of the most discreet actresses of Italian cinema. Anna Maria Massetani , better known as Lea Massari died at 91 and, as the Messaggero reports, in silence.

Talent equal to her beauty, tumultuous, surly, surprising. Sometimes she showed up on set with a rifle because, before repudiating it and becoming an animal rights activist and vegetarian, she was passionate about hunting and loved to show that she shot better than Men.

She began her career with Mario Monicelli , it was 1954. Monicelli was literally struck by her, he offered her the role of the rebellious and passionate Agnese in "Proibito". And from that moment on, cinema fell in love with this enigmatic and fascinating Roman. She worked with kings, with Sergio Leone in "The Colossus of Rhodes" and Dino Risi in "A Difficult Life", alongside giants such as Alberto Sordi, Silvana Mangano, Vittorio Gassman.

Unforgettable in the theater, she is the first Rosetta in Rugantino by Garinei and Giovannini. Sublime charm, a classy actress, fascinating, deep and dark, she also greatly intrigues French cinema and begins to work with Trintignant, Serrault, Belmondo.

The most beautiful character of her career, the incestuous Clara, the mother of “Soffio al cuore”. And the real success begins: “L'uomo che non sepu tacere” (1972) and “Un battito d'ali dopo la strage” (1973), “La prima notte di quiete” (1972), alongside Alain Delon and Alida Valli. Up to the Nastro d'argento for best supporting actress received for the extraordinary Luisa Levi in ​​“Christ Stopped at Eboli” by maestro Rosi. She soon decides to leave TV and cinema, retires to private life in Sardinia with her husband and the animals she loves. She divorces and returns to Rome and disappears from the scene. It is difficult for her to give interviews, appearances, walk-ons. She remains silent and on tiptoe she has gone away.