Of Red Hair and Green Eyes: Rosanna Schiaffino Dies October 17, 2009

Rosanna Schiaffino, Nov. 25, 1938 – Oct. 17, 2009, Italian movie actress who appeared in film throughout Italy, France and England, has died. She was 70 years old.

In naming the Italian film beauties, we recall Sophia Loren and Gina Lollobrigida…and Rosanna Schiaffino? Yes, Rosanna Schiaffino was iconic throughout the 1950s, 60s and early 70s. Today, however, she is all but unknown. Unlike her counterparts, Loren and Lollabridida, Schiaffino's movies never made it much into DVD and many of her movies were not subtitled or released into English-speaking countries.

During her time, however, Schiaffino's beauty and fame was legendary. With measurements of 36-22-35, her career was launched when she won the Miss Liguria beauty pageant at the young age of 14, thus capturing the eye of movie producers.

She first gained small, bit parts in not so great movies. But by the 1950s, she was getting better movie roles and making fame with her stunning photographs especially the ones highlighting her legs. She made it on the cover of "Picturegoer" and she was described as "green-eyed, red-haired, just eighteen . . . . She looks so lush, they say, that she has to have a bodyguard and a giant mastiff to protect her from wolves. Students attempt to kidnap her; suitors pester her day and night."

Then, in the 1960s, she appeared in "Teseo Contro Il Minotauro" (a.k.a."The Minotor"). Schiaffino played a dual role, both the evil Princess Phaedra and Ariadne, the sacrificial virgin. The film was released in English-speaking countries and it marked the start of her international breakthrough.

The movie “The Long Ships” also in the 1960s followed. She played a memorable performance in a scene where she was stabbed in the stomach by a Viking warrior. She dies in actor Sidney Poitier’s arms.The rest of the film, unfortunately was panned but she still remained busy and popular, appearing in numerous movie roles and gaining many magazine covers.

Abruptly in the 1970s, Rosanna Schiaffino stopped appearing in film. Today her movies are all but unknown. Many of her famous photographs have been lost and the world has missed a chance at mainstreaming another great Italian beauty.