Lina Romay

Rosa María Almirall Martínez (25 June 1954 – 15 February 2012), known by the stage name Lina Romay, was a Spanish actress and filmmaker. She often appeared in films directed by her long-time companion, and later husband, Jesús Franco. She appeared in approximately 109 Franco films made over a 30-year period, from 1973 to 2010. She sometimes used the pseudonyms Candy Coster and Lulu Laverne.

Early life Romay was born Rosa María Almirall Martínez in Barcelona on June 25, 1954. She attended high school at Lope de Vega between 1964 to 1970. After graduating high school, she enrolled in the Massana Art School, where she met and married actor/photographer Ramon Ardid (aka Raymond Hardy). She began acting in amateur stage productions. She also used the stage names, Candy Coster and Lulu Laverne, stating, "I'm Lina Romay when I have brown hair, Candy Coster when I have blonde hair, and Lulu Laveme when I have red hair."

She acted in over a hundred feature films, most directed by Franco. A self-confessed exhibitionist, but she also appeared in many of his horror, comedy, and action/adventure films as well. Among the better known of her horror films are The Bare Breasted Countess (1973), Barbed Wire Dolls (1975) and Jack the Ripper (1976). Ardid co-starred with her in several of Franco's films until he realized she was having an affair with him in 1975. The divorce of Romay and Ardid was finalized in 1978, and Ardid stopped working with Franco after 1980.

Although Romay was listed in the credits of several of Franco's films as a co-director, actor Antonio Mayans stated in a 2019 interview that Franco used to credit her in that manner for business reasons, and that she never actually co-directed any of the films. However, she contributed occasional plot ideas and assisted in the editing room.

Personal life and death Romay was a polyglot, speaking Spanish, Catalan, French, Portuguese, Italian, and English. She died from cancer at the age of 57 on 15 February 2012 in Málaga, Spain. Franco died a little over a year later, in April 2013.

Selected filmography Feature films

+ Short films Title Shooting Year Release Year Credited as Notes Director Screenwriter1982 Credited as Rosa M. Almiral1982 Credited as Rosa M. Almiral