Giovanna Ralli

Biography

Giovanna Ralli, born on January 2, 1935, is a celebrated Italian actress known for her extensive work in stage, film, and television. Hailing from Rome, Ralli embarked on her acting journey as a child, making her debut at the tender age of seven. By thirteen, she had joined Peppino De Filippo's theater company, marking the beginning of an illustrious career. Ralli gained early recognition with her role in the 1950 film "Variety Lights," directed by renowned filmmakers Federico Fellini and Alberto Lattuada.

The mid-1950s saw her first significant film roles, particularly in comedic genres. In 1959, she starred in Roberto Rossellini's acclaimed "General Della Rovere," which won the prestigious Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. Ralli's performance in the following year's "Escape by Night," also directed by Rossellini, earned her the Golden Gate Award for Best Actress at the San Francisco International Film Festival. She was married to Ettore Boschi.

Throughout her career, Ralli received several accolades, including a Nastro d'Argento award for Best Actress for "La fuga" in 1964, and a second Nastro d'Argento for Best Supporting Actress in "We All Loved Each Other So Much" in 1974. In the early 1980s, she shifted her focus predominantly to theater. Ralli was honored with a Flaiano Prize in 1993 and became a Grand Officer of the Italian Republic in 2003. At the 2015 Taormina Film Fest, she announced her retirement from acting while receiving a special recognition for her remarkable contributions to cinema.