Laura Betti

Biography

Laura Betti (née Trombetti; 1 May 1927 – 31 July 2004) was an Italian actress known particularly for her work with directors Federico Fellini, Pier Paolo Pasolini and Bernardo Bertolucci. She had a long friendship with Pasolini and made a documentary about him in 2001. Betti became famous for portraying bizarre, grotesque, eccentric, unstable or maniacal roles, like 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, Emilia the servant in Pier Paolo Pasolini's Teorema for which she won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress, and Mildred the protagonist's wife in Mario Bava's Hatchet for the Honeymoon. Born Laura Trombetti in Casalecchio di Reno, near Bologna, she grew up to be interested in singing. She first worked professionally in the arts as a jazz singer and moved to Rome. Betti made her film debut in Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita (1960). In 1963, she became a close friend of the poet and movie director Pier Paolo Pasolini. Under his direction, she proved a wonderful talent and played in seven of his films, …

Movies & TV Shows

1. La Dolce Vita (1960) — Laura
2. 1900 (1976) — Regina
3. Theorem (1968) — Emilia, the Servant
4. A Bay of Blood (1971) — Anna Fossati
5. Oedipus Rex (1967) — Jocasta's Maid (uncredited)
6. Fat Girl (2001) — Fernando's Mother
7. The Canterbury Tales (1972) — The Wife from Bath
8. Slap the Monster on Page One (1972) — Rita Zigai
9. The Beaches of Agnès (2008) — Self (archive footage)
10. Ro.Go.Pa.G. (1963) — Sonia, the 'Diva' (segment "La ricotta")
11. Hatchet for the Honeymoon (1970) — Mildred Harrington
12. The Witches (1967) — Male Tourist (segment "La Terra vista dalla Luna")
13. That Night of Varennes (1982) — Virginia Capacelli
14. Jane B. by Agnès V. (1988) — Lardy
15. Blame it on Paradise (1985) — direttrice
16. The Great Pumpkin (1993) — Aida
17. Caprice Italian Style (1968) — Desdemona
18. In the Name of the Father (1971) — Franco's Mother
19. Allonsanfan (1974) — Esther Imbriani
20. Marx Can Wait (2021) — Irina (archive footage) (uncredited)
21. Private Vices, Public Virtues (1976) — Teresa
22. A Man Called Sledge (1970) — Sister
23. Butterfly on the Shoulder (1978) — Mme Carrabo
24. The Protagonists (1999) — Judge
25. Widow's Walk (1987) — Keli
26. The Woman with Red Boots (1974) — Léonore
27. Escape by Night (1960) — Teresa
28. The Gang (1977) — Felicia
29. Marianna Ucrìa (1997) — Giuseppa
30. Un eroe borghese (1995) — dott.ssa Trebbi
31. Art of Love (1983) — Clio
32. Sweets from a Stranger (1987) — Jolanda
33. What Are the Clouds? (1968) — Desdemona
34. Lovers and Liars (1979) — Laura
35. The Cousin (1974) — Rosalia Scuderi
36. Sonny and Jed (1972) — Betty
37. Class Relations (1984) — Brunelda
38. Mario, Maria and Mario (1993) — Laura
39. The Murri Affair (1974) — Tisa Borghi
40. La ribelle (1993) — Sister Valida

Directed

1. Pier Paolo Pasolini and the Reason of a Dream (2002) — Director
2. Il silenzio è complicità (1976) — Director