Farewell to a European star
Lea Massari, one of the greatest Italian actresses and a reference in European cinema, died at the age of 91 at her home in Rome earlier this week. With a career that spanned theater, television, and mainly cinema, Massari stood out in major productions and marked generations of film enthusiasts alongside names such as Alain Delon, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Michel Piccoli, and Omar Sharif. Discreet, she was praised by critics and audiences alike but avoided the spotlight in recent decades, remaining away from the public eye since her retirement over 30 years ago.
How did Lea Massari start her career?
Born Anna Maria Massatani on June 30, 1933, she adopted the artistic name Lea in honor of her fiancé Leo, who died shortly before their wedding. The daughter of an engineer, she spent her childhood between Spain, France, and Switzerland, accompanying her father’s work. She studied architecture and worked as a model until she was introduced to cinema by Piero Gherardi, the costume designer (“La Dolce Vita,” “8½”) and a family friend.
Unforgettable roles in the 1960s
The debut occurred in “Forbidden” (1955), directed by Mario Monicelli, in the role of a young Sardinian village girl. The lead role came in the following film, “Dreams in a Drawer” (1957), directed by Renato Castellani. However, cinematic recognition came in the following decade, starting with “L’Avventura” (1960), a classic that inaugurated Michelangelo Antonioni’s existential cinema.
One of the most influential films in the history of modern cinema, “L’Avventura” brought Massari to the role of Anna, whose sudden and mysterious disappearance during a boat trip serves as the starting point for Antonioni’s innovative narrative. The film revolutionized cinematic language and projected the actress internationally.
Next, she starred in the epic “The Colossus of Rhodes” (1961), Sergio Leone’s debut, and received a special David di Donatello award for “A Difficult Life” (1961), directed by Dino Risi, where she played Elena, the wife of an anti-fascist intellectual portrayed by Alberto Sordi. She also auditioned for the female lead role in “8½” (1963), directed by Federico Fellini, but claimed that Piero Gherardi, preferring Anouk Aimée, sabotaged her chance with an “absurd” costume.
The French phase of the 1970s
Clara’s other important role was in “Lacombe, Lucien” (1971) by Louis Malle, which marked her transition to French cinema as it was Oscar-nominated and discussed for its bold approach to the relationship between a mother and her teenage son, played by Benoît Ferreux.
Next, she went on to star in a series of films with the leading men of French cinema. She was Alain Delon’s wife in “A Primeira Noite de Tranquilidade” (1972), a drama about an improper relationship between a teacher and student, directed by Valerio Zurlini. She co-starred with Jean-Louis Trintignant in “O Homem que Surgiu de Repente” (1979), directed by René Clément. She also acted alongside Jean-Paul Belmondo in the crime film “Medo Sobre a Cidade” (1975), directed by Henri Verneuil, about the hunt for a serial killer.
Last works
In the late 1970s, Lea Massari was in “Meetings with Anna” (1978), directed by Chantal Akerman, a reference in European auteur cinema, portraying one of the memorable characters encountered by the protagonist throughout her journey. Following this, she joined the cast of “Christ Stopped at Eboli” (1979), directed by Francesco Rosi, an adaptation of Carlo Levi’s book about political exile in southern Italy. This further solidified her presence in prestigious international productions and collaborations with major filmmakers on the continent.
Starting from the mid-1970s, Lea Massari began to dedicate herself more frequently to television, driven by her leading role in the miniseries “Anna Karenina” (1974), where she portrayed the title character in an adaptation of Tolstoy’s classic. After establishing herself in various television productions, she concluded her artistic career in “Viagem de Amor” (1990), a film in which she lived a romantic story alongside Omar Sharif, making her farewell to audiovisual media with one last prominent role.
Massari was married to Carlo Bianchini, a former pilot for Alitalia, from 1963 until they separated in 2004. They did not have any children. After leaving the stage, she became an activist for animal rights and against hunting.