Last week, one of the pinnacles of Italian charm and gracefulness left us – I am talking about the beautiful Virna Lisi who died at the age of 78.
Blonde blue eyed Virna had been an iconic figure for Italian TV. I knew her mostly as a beautiful aged older lady, one who had, as they say ‘aged gracefully’, and I admired her as someone who could pull anything off with style and elegance. A ‘real lady’ as opposed to today’s trashy ass-waving cheap dollar-a-boob prima donnas.
I knew her as an older Lady, still a great beauty, but a calm transcendental one, when I heard she had passed a way, I researched her a bit and realized that in her youth, she had been a real bombshell. Sexy, suave and talented. So much so that Paramount Pictures had tried to set her up as the next Marilyn Monroe.
Virna however, wasn’t just a pretty face, and she didn’t want to be known as such. This is why she refused a stellar successful career as Paramount’s leading lady, refused being showed off as a foreign blonde bimbo, left Hollywood at the height of her career, and started dedicating herself to more challenging roles in her Italian native country. After she got married, she left her career behind for a while, only to return to the screen after around 10 years.
Virna Lisi was a jewel, that most rare of finds – an actress who wanted to be known for her talent and not for her appearance. An actress whose main aim was to improve herself and develop her talent by trying out as many diverse roles as possible.
Virna, unfortunately there are very very few like you. We will miss you xxx
Darkly Dreaming Moonsong 