Silvana Mangano
Biography
Silvana Mangano was an Italian film actress. Born on April 21, 1930, in Rome, Italy, she trained as a dancer and worked as a model before pursuing an acting career. Mangano achieved success in films, including Bitter Rice in 1949. She went on to become a major female star, regarded as a sex symbol in the 1950s and 1960s. Mangano won the David di Donatello for Best Actress three times and the Nastro d'Argento for Best Actress twice. She passed away on December 16, 1989, at the age of 59. Mangano's career spanned multiple films, earning her recognition as a prominent figure in Italian cinema.
Career overview
Silvana Mangano began her career in the entertainment industry after winning a Miss Rome beauty pageant in 1946. This led to her work in films, where she achieved success in Bitter Rice in 1949. Mangano's early success was likely influenced by her background in dance and modeling.
As her career progressed, Mangano became a major female star in the 1950s and 1960s, regarded as a sex symbol during this time. She was part of a generation of actors who emerged from the neorealist movement. Mangano's work in films during this period helped establish her as a prominent actress in Italian cinema.
Throughout her career, Mangano received several awards for her performances. She won the David di Donatello for Best Actress three times, and the Nastro d'Argento for Best Actress twice. These recognitions highlight her talent and dedication to her craft, solidifying her position as a respected and accomplished actress in the Italian film industry.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Proust Palimpsesto: Pastiches e Misturas (2026) as Penelope (archive footage) (uncredited)
- The Most Beautiful Boy in the World (2021) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- We Are Cinema (2021) as Self (archive footage)
- Luchino Visconti: Between Truth and Passion (2016) as Self (archive footage)
- Luchino Visconti: Life as in a Novel (2008) as Self (archive footage)
- Luchino Visconti (2002) as Self (archive footage)
- Dark Eyes (1987) as Elisa
- Dune (1984) as Reverend Mother Ramallo
- Ludwig (1981) as Cosima Von Bülow
- Conversation Piece (1974) as Marquess Bianca Brumonti
- Ludwig (1973) as Cosima von Bülow
- The Scopone Game (1972) as Antonia
- For Love One Dies (1972) as Elena
- The Decameron (1971) as The Madonna (uncredited)
- Death in Venice (1971) as Tadzio's Mother
- Scipio the African (1971) as Emilia
- Theorem (1968) as Lucia, the Mother
- Caprice Italian Style (1968) as Bambinaia / Moglie dell'Automobilista / La Regina
- Oedipus Rex (1967) as Jocasta, Queen of Thebes (and unnamed Italian young mother)
- The Witches (1967) as Gloria / Lady in a Hurry / Assurdina Caì / Nunzia / Giovanna
- The Earth As Seen from the Moon (1967) as Assurdina Caì
- Pardon, Are You for or Against? (1966) as Emanuela
- Me, Me, Me... and the Others (1966) as Silvia
- My Wife (1964) as The wife (segments "L'uccellino", "L'automobile") / Clara (segment "I miei cari") / Eritrea (segment "Eritrea") / Luciana (segment "Luciana")
- The Flying Saucer (1964) as Vittoria
- The Verona Trial (1963) as Edda Ciano
- Barabbas (1961) as Rachel
- The Last Judgment (1961) as Signora Matteoni
- A Difficult Life (1961) as Self
- ...And Suddenly It's Murder! (1960) as Marina
- Five Branded Women (1960) as Jovanka
- The Great War (1959) as Costantina
- Tempest (1958) as Masha
- This Angry Age (1957) as Suzanne Dufresne
- Men and Wolves (1957) as Teresa
- Ulysses (1954) as Circe / Penelope
- Mambo (1954) as Giovanna Masetti
- The Gold of Naples (1954) as Teresa (segment "Teresa")
- Anna (1951) as Anna
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self
- Outlaw Girl (1950) as Mara
- Black Magic (1949) as (uncredited)
- Bitter Rice (1949) as Silvana
- Lure of the Sila (1949) as Rosaria Campolo
- Flesh Will Surrender (1947) as Ballerina alla festa di capodanno (uncredited)
- This Wine of Love (1947) as Adina's girlfriend (uncredited)
- The Last Judgment (1945)