Isa Barzizza

Isa Barzizza (22 November 1929 – 28 May 2023) was an Italian actress whose career spanned over 60 years.

Life and career Early life Born in Sanremo, Barzizza was the daughter of the conductor and composer Pippo Barzizza. She started working in amateur dramatics at very young age, and she made her professional debut while still being a high school student, notably working with the stage companies led by Ruggero Ruggeri, Elsa Merlini and by the brothers Eduardo, Peppino and Titina De Filippo.

Breakout and success Barzizza had her breakout in 1946, when during a visit to her father she was noted by Erminio Macario who chose her for the revue Follie d'Amleto. In a few years she established herself as a star in the revue genre, working several times with Macario, Totò and Wanda Osiris. Following her stage success, Barzizza also started a busy film career in the comedic genre, often teaming with Totò. In 1955, she starred in Valentina, which is considered the first genuine stage musical comedy produced in Italy.

Marriage and semi-retirement In 1953 Barzizza married the screenwriter and director Carlo Alberto Chiesa, and following the birth of their daughter Carlotta she retired from showbusiness. In 1960 the couple were involved in a car accident and Chiesa died shortly after under the knife. Widowed, Barzizza ran a company of dubbing and production of television series. Starting from the mid-1970s she made sporadic appearances in films and on television.

Death Barzizza died on 28 May 2023, at the age of 93.

Selected filmography

The Two Orphans (1947) - Matilde Dove sta Zaza? (1947) - Zazà Fear and Sand (1948) - Patricia Cotten Toto Tours Italy (1948) - Doriana The Firemen of Viggiù (1949) - Toto's conquest Adam and Eve (1949) - Eva Bianchi I'm in the Revue (1950) - Cleo - la kleptomane The Merry Widower (1950) - Lucy The Elusive Twelve (1950) - Teresa Figaro Here, Figaro There (1950) - Rosina Bluebeard's Six Wives (1950) - Lana Ross Milano miliardaria (1951) - Vittorio Pizzigoni Seven Hours of Trouble (1951) - Amelia The Reluctant Magician (1951) - Perla Era lui... sì! sì! (1951) - Grazia Porca miseria (1951) - Jenny Soleri Toto in Color (1952) - La signora del vagone-letto Five Paupers in an Automobile (1952) - Cicci We're Dancing on the Rainbow (1952) - Jeannette Primo premio: Mariarosa (1952) Beauties on Motor Scooters (1952) - Laura Gioventù alla sbarra (1953) - Florence, la canzonettista Siamo tutti inquilini (1953) - Collega di Anna It's Never Too Late (1953) - Rosanna Gennari The Daughter of the Regiment (1953) - Kiki Neapolitan Turk (1953) - Giulietta Viva la rivista! (1953) Canzoni a due voci (1953) - La fidanzata del baritono Gran Varietà (1954) Appassionatamente (1954) - Ortensia Dupré Toto Seeks Peace (1954) - Cousin Nella Caporali Cartouche (1955) - Lucilla Un palco all'opera (1955) I pinguini ci guardano (1956) We All Loved Each Other So Much (1974) - Elena Garofano rosso (1976) Il momento dell'avventura (1983) - Antonia Belli Fiori di zucca (1989) - Clelia Grazie al cielo c'è Totò (1991) 80 mq - Ottantametriquadri (1993) - Mamma di Raffaele (segment "No mamma no") Ardena (1997) - Lea Asini (1999) - Italo's mother Seven Kilometers from Jerusalem (2007) - Elvira Marenghi Una sconfinata giovinezza (2010) Maledimiele (2011) - Nonna Viva l'Italia (2012) - Marisa Mia (2012) Studio illegale (2013) - Zia Emma Guess Who's Coming for Christmas? (2013) - Emma