Laura Betti
Biography
Laura Betti, born Laura Trombetti on May 1, 1927, in Casalecchio di Reno, Emilia-Romagna, Italy, was an Italian actress and singer who died on July 31, 2004, at the age of 77. She became known particularly for her work with directors Federico Fellini, Pier Paolo Pasolini, and Bernardo Bertolucci. Betti became famous for portraying bizarre, grotesque, eccentric, unstable, or maniacal roles. Her notable credits include playing Regina in Bernardo Bertolucci's 1900, Anna the medium in Twitch of the Death Nerve, Giovanna la pazza in Woman Buried Alive, Rita Zigai in Sbatti il mostro in prima pagina, Therese in Private Vices, Public Virtues, and Emilia the servant in Pier Paolo Pasolini's Teorema, a role for which she won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress. She also maintained a long friendship with Pasolini and made a documentary about him in 2001.
Career overview
Laura Betti was born as Laura Trombetti in Casalecchio di Reno, Emilia-Romagna, Italy, on May 1, 1927, and passed away on July 31, 2004. She worked as an Italian actress and singer. Under the name Laura Sarno, she began a career as a jazz singer in the cabarets of the capital, establishing a reputation as an interpreter of wicked songs before making her debut as a theater actress in 1953.
Betti became known particularly for her work with directors Federico Fellini, Pier Paolo Pasolini, and Bernardo Bertolucci. She maintained a long friendship with Pasolini and later made a documentary about him in 2001. Throughout her career, she became famous for portraying bizarre, grotesque, eccentric, unstable, or maniacal roles. Her notable film work includes playing Regina in Bernardo Bertolucci's 1900, Anna the medium in Twitch of the Death Nerve, Giovanna la pazza in Woman Buried Alive, hysterical Rita Zigai in Sbatti il mostro in prima pagina, Therese in Private Vices, Public Virtues, and Emilia the servant in Pier Paolo Pasolini's Teorema. For her performance in Teorema, she won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
95 titles- Maresco / Pasolini (2021) as Self
- Marx Can Wait (2021) as Irina (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Laura's Passion (2011) as Self (archive footage)
- The Beaches of Agnès (2008) as Self (archive footage)
- Pasolini and the Secret Humiliation of Chaucer (2006) as Interviewee
- Fratella e Sorello (2005) as Presidente Del Tribunale
- Raul - Right to Kill (2005) as Usuraia
- Renzo e Lucia (2004) as Madre Superiora
- Renzo e Lucia (2004) as Madre Superiora
- Gli astronomi (2003) as Pavoncella
- Happiness Costs Nothing (2003) as Suora guardiana
- Household Accounts (2003) as Contessa Celi Sanguineti
- Il diario di Matilde Manzoni (2002) as Teresa Manzoni Borri
- Pier Paolo Pasolini and the Reason of a Dream (2002) Director
- Fat Girl (2001) as Fernando's Mother
- Pasolini, el poeta en la playa (2000) as Herself
- Film (2000) Writer
- The Protagonists (1999) as Judge
- Marianna Ucrìa (1997) as Giuseppa
- We Free Kings (1996) as Una delle ragazze del coro
- Un eroe borghese (1995) as dott.ssa Trebbi
- With Closed Eyes (1994) as Beatrice
- The Great Pumpkin (1993) as Aida
- Mario, Maria and Mario (1993) as Laura
- La ribelle (1993) as Sister Valida
- Suffocating Heat (1991) as Laura
- Gallant Ladies (1990) as Catherine de Medicis
- Le rose blu (1990) as La donna con la rosa blu
- The Carpathian Mushroom (1990) as Olympia
- Jane B. by Agnès V. (1988) as Lardy
- I cammelli (1988) as Milena
- Sweets from a Stranger (1987) as Jolanda
- Widow's Walk (1987) as Keli
- Jenatsch (1987) as Mademoiselle von Planta
- Cinecittà Cinecittà (1985) as Caterina Elisabetta Magrevich
- Blame it on Paradise (1985) as direttrice
- Mother Ebe (1985) as Lidia Corradi
- Class Relations (1984) as Brunelda
- The Defective Detective (1984) as Carlotta Batticelli
- Art of Love (1983) as Clio
- That Night of Varennes (1982) as Virginia Capacelli
- The Charterhouse of Parma (1982) as The Vivandière
- Far from Manhattan (1982) as Madame Hanska
- Venise en hiver (1982) as Mme Poli
- The Wings of the Dove (1981) as Zia Maud
- Whoever Says the Truth Shall Die (1981) as Self
- The Little Archimedes (1980) as La signora Bondi
- My Name Is Anna Magnani (1980) as Self
- Lovers and Liars (1979) as Laura
- Einzelzimmer (1979) as Calogera
- The Word (1978) as Maria
- Butterfly on the Shoulder (1978) as Mme Carrabo
- The Gang (1977) as Felicia
- At Night All Cats Are Crazy (1977) as Jacqueline
- The Seagull (1977) as Irina
- 1900 (1976) as Regina
- Private Vices, Public Virtues (1976) as Teresa
- Il silenzio è complicità (1976) Director
- Pier Paolo Pasolini : vivre et encore plus (1976) as Elle-même
- ABCinema (1975) as Self
- The Last Day of School Before Christmas (1975) as Passenger coach
- The Cousin (1974) as Rosalia Scuderi
- Allonsanfan (1974) as Esther Imbriani
- The Murri Affair (1974) as Tisa Borghi
- The Woman with Red Boots (1974) as Léonore
- Woman Buried Alive (1973) as Giovanna la Pazza
- The Return (1973) as Clara
- The Canterbury Tales (1972) as The Wife from Bath
- Sonny and Jed (1972) as Betty
- Slap the Monster on Page One (1972) as Rita Zigai
- A Bay of Blood (1971) as Anna Fossati
- A Bay of Blood (1971) Additional Writing
- In the Name of the Father (1971) as Franco's Mother
- A Man Called Sledge (1970) as Sister
- Hatchet for the Honeymoon (1970) as Mildred Harrington
- Hatchet for the Honeymoon (1970) Screenplay
- Stop the World... I Want to Get Off! (1970)
- Stop the World... I Want to Get Off! (1970) Writer
- Paulina Is Leaving (1969) as Hortense
- RARA (1969)
- Theorem (1968) as Emilia, the Servant
- Caprice Italian Style (1968) as Desdemona
- What Are the Clouds? (1968) as Desdemona
- Orgy (1968) as Donna
- Oedipus Rex (1967) as Jocasta's Maid (uncredited)
- The Witches (1967) as Male Tourist (segment "La Terra vista dalla Luna")
- The Earth As Seen from the Moon (1967) as un turista
- Ro.Go.Pa.G. (1963) as Sonia, the 'Diva' (segment "La ricotta")
- La ricotta (1963)
- Ecco (1963) as Self
- La Dolce Vita (1960) as Laura
- Escape by Night (1960) as Teresa
- Red Lips (1960) as The Painter
- Discorama (1959) as Self
- Noi siamo le colonne (1956) as La cantante annoiata (no acreditado)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Laura Betti best known for?
Laura Betti is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including McMillan & Wife (1971), Fat Girl (2001), The Demon Prince of Momochi House (2024), Class Relations (1984).
When and where was Laura Betti born?
Laura Betti was born on May 1, 1927 in Casalecchio di Reno, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. They passed away on July 31, 2004.
How many credits does Laura Betti have?
Laura Betti has accumulated over 95 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1956 to 2021.
What is Laura Betti's background in cinema and television?
Laura Betti, born Laura Trombetti on May 1, 1927, in Casalecchio di Reno, Emilia-Romagna, Italy, was an Italian actress and singer who died on July 31, 2004, at the age of 77. She became known particularly for her work with directors Federico Fellini, Pier Paolo Pasolini, and Bernardo Bertolucci. Betti became famous fo...
Laura Betti by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- La Dolce Vita (1960) as Laura — aged about 33
- 1900 (1976) as Regina — aged about 49
- Slap the Monster on Page One (1972) as Rita Zigai — aged about 45
- Ro.Go.Pa.G. (1963) as Sonia, the 'Diva' (segment "La ricotta") — aged about 36
- Theorem (1968) as Emilia, the Servant — aged about 41
- Allonsanfan (1974) as Esther Imbriani — aged about 47
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