Florinda Bolkan

Florinda Bolkan (born Florinda Soares Bulcão; 15 February 1941) is a retired Brazilian actress and model. She is best known for her acting work in Italy, where she twice won the David di Donatello for Best Actress, for The Anonymous Venetian and Dear Parents (1973).

Early life Bolkan was born Florinda Soares Bulcão in Uruburetama. Her father José Pedro Soares Bulcão, commonly known as , was a renowned journalist and politician. She lived in Fortaleza and Rio de Janeiro until she moved to the United States. A former flight inspector for Brazilian international carrier Varig, she became fluent in English, Italian and French.

Career

During the 1960s, Bolkan worked as a model in the United States. After being introduced to Italian Countess Marina Cicogna, who would become her long-time partner, she moved to Italy in 1968, where she made her film debut with a small part in the all-star sex comedy Candy (1968). Cicogna later introduced her to director Luchino Visconti, who cast her in The Damned.

She worked in more than forty films, mainly in Italy. She was directed by Vittorio de Sica in A Brief Vacation. Under Elio Petri's direction, she made Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion, which won both the 1970 Palme d'Or and the 1971 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Enrico Maria Salerno directed her in The Anonymous Venetian, which earned her first David di Donatello Award. She worked with Jean-Louis Trintignant, John Cassavetes, and Annie Girardot.

She acted in two giallo films directed by Lucio Fulci, A Lizard in a Woman's Skin and Don't Torture a Duckling.

Bolkan acted alongside Kirk Douglas in the 1972 Italian film, The Master Touch.

Bolkan has won the David di Donatello award three times. She won the David di Donatello for the 1973 film Dear Parents.

She appeared in 19 episodes of the Italian crime drama television series La piovra.

In 2000, Bolkan debuted as director in the Brazilian film . Besides directing, she also plays a major character in the film. She continues to act in European films, mostly Italian films.

Personal life Bolkan is bisexual. For 20 years, Bolkan was the life partner of film producer Countess Marina Cicogna. She was an alleged lover of John F. Kennedy. Helmut Berger writes in his autobiography Ich that he and Bolkan had an affair. At various times, she was also romantically-linked to Ryan O'Neal, Richard Burton, Porfirio Rubirosa, and Samuel Wainer.

Model Sônia Ribeiro, Bolkan's sister, married Willy Bogner Jr. in 1972.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes Candy Lolita The Damned Olga A Complicated Girl Greta Special David di Donatello Award Metti, una sera a cena Nina Machine Gun McCain Joni Amado Le voleur de crimes Florinda Detective Belli Vera Fontana 1970 Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion Augusta Terzi Mafia Connection Rossana Sciortino The Anonymous Venetian Valeria David di Donatello Award for Best Actress Una stagione all'inferno Gennet 1971 The Last Valley Erica A Lizard in a Woman's Skin Carol Hammond Incontro Claudia Ridolfi 1972 Le droit d'aimer Helena Don't Torture a Duckling Maciara The Master Touch Anna 1973 Dear Parents Giulia Bonanni David di Donatello Award for Best Actress A Brief Vacation Clara Mataro Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress New York Film Critics Circle Awards (2nd Place) 1974 Love at the Top Flora Danieli Flavia the Heretic Flavia Gaetani 1975 Footprints on the Moon Alice Cespi Royal Flash Lola Montez The Day That Shook the World Sophie Chotek A Common Sense of Modesty Loredana Davoli 1978 Walpurga The Last House on the Beach Sister Cristina Manaos Manuela Aranda Habibi, amor mío 1983 Acqua e sapone Wilma Walsh Legati da tenera amicizia Adelaide The Trap Hélène 1988 Some Girls Mrs. D'Arc Prisoner of Rio Stella Portaritratto per signora Millions Margherita Delitto passionale Julia Yancheva L'ombre du pharaon Bela Donna Mãe Ana Eleonora Also writer, producer & director Nominated – Golden Kikito Award for Best Film Cattive inclinazioni Mirta Valenti Magari Olga

Television Year Title Role Notes The Word Angela Monti Miniseries La piovra Olga Camastra 19 episodes 1986 Affari di famiglia Lina Benetti Television film A Rainha da Vida Antônia Fidalgo / Jurema Matos La trappola Mademoiselle Ardel Bianca di Falco Missione d'amore Helena 1993 Cherchez la femme Giovanna Bellocchi La voyageuse du soir La baronne L'ombra abitata Mme Labronsky Alice auf der Flucht Elisabetta Mancini Miniseries Kalantan Television film Un bacio nel buio Aldina Incantesimo Corinne Grasso La notte breve Magistrato Television film

Awards and nominations Year Institution Award / Category Work Result 1969 David di Donatello Awards Golden Plate 1971 David di Donatello Award for Best Actress 1973 1975 New York Film Critics Circle Awards New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress Una breve vacanza Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress 2000 Gramado Film Festival Golden Kikito Award for Best Film 2002 Roseto First Work Festival Career Rose