Silvana Mangano, a renowned Italian film actress, was born on April 21, 1930. She emerged as one of the prominent figures of the neorealist movement, which gave rise to a new generation of thespians in the post-war era. With her captivating on-screen presence, she became a sex symbol of the 1950s and 1960s, earning widespread recognition and acclaim.
Throughout her illustrious career, Mangano won numerous awards, including the prestigious David di Donatello for Best Actress three times - for her outstanding performances in The Verona Trial (1963),The Witches (1967),and The Scientific Cardplayer (1973) - and the Nastro d'Argento for Best Actress twice.
Born into poverty during World War II, Mangano's early life was marked by hardship. However, she persevered and developed a passion for dance, which led her to pursue a career as a model. Her success in the beauty pageant circuit, particularly her win at the Miss Rome competition in 1946, opened doors to the film industry.
Mangano's breakthrough role came in the 1949 film Bitter Rice, which catapulted her to stardom. She went on to collaborate with some of the most acclaimed directors of her time, including Pier Paolo Pasolini, Luchino Visconti, Alberto Lattuada, and Vittorio De Sica. Her remarkable career spanned decades, with notable appearances in David Lynch's Dune (1984) and Nikita Mikhalkov's Dark Eyes (1987) well into her 50s.
In her personal life, Mangano was married to international film producer Dino De Laurentiis, with whom she had four children, including the talented Veronica De Laurentiis and Raffaella De Laurentiis.
