Lianella Carell

Lianella Carell (6 May 1927 – 22 December 2000) was an Italian film actress and screenwriter. She appeared in 18 films between 1948 and 1958. She is best known for playing Maria Ricci, the wife of the protagonist in the 1948 film Bicycle Thieves, which was also her acting debut.

Career Originally a writer, playwright and journalist, Carell knew Vittorio De Sica during an interview she made for a radio program; at the time De Sica was looking for a non-professional cast for Bicycle Thieves, and particularly for the female lead. The role of Maria gave Carell critical acclaim, and brought her several main roles for about a decade. Dissatisfied with her career, she eventually retired from acting in 1958 to focus on a career as a screenwriter and television writer.

Filmography Acting credits Year Title Role Notes1948 Bicycle Thieves Maria 1950 Welcome, Reverend! Anna 1951 The Forbidden Christ 1951 The Counterfeiters Lucia 1952 A Woman Has Killed Anna 1952 Viva il cinema! Gertrude Edelweiss 1952 Ragazze da marito Gina Mazzillo 1953 Viva la rivista! 1954 Genoese Dragnet Gianna, moglie di Michele 1954 Cose da pazzi Diomora Guidi 1954 Desiderio 'e sole Mary 1954 Letter from Naples Laura Conforto 1954 The Gold of Naples Carolina Petrillo (segment "Il guappo")1954 A Free Woman Solange 1955 Accadde al penitenziario 1955 Il piccolo vetraio madre di Piero 1958 Pezzo, capopezzo e capitano Mrs. Sciacciabratta 1958 Gli zitelloni Carmen

Screenplays Love and Troubles , directed by Angelo Dorigo (1958) Me, Me, Me... and the Others, directed by Alessandro Blasetti (1965) Bandits in Rome, directed by Alberto De Martino (1968) Carnal Circuit, directed by Alberto De Martino (1969) Scandal in the Family, directed by Bruno Gaburro (1974)