Mariangela Melato

Mariangela Caterina Melato (; 19 September 1941 – 11 January 2013), sometimes billed as Maria Angela Melato, was an Italian actress. She is most remembered for her roles in films of director Lina Wertmüller, including The Seduction of Mimi, Love and Anarchy (1973), and Swept Away (1974). Her roles in English-language films include the 1980 science fiction film Flash Gordon,

Career In the early 1960s, she entered the stage company of Fantasio Piccoli in Bolzano, giving her first performances in 1963 in plays like Binario cieco by , Our Town by Thornton Wilder and O di uno o di niente by Luigi Pirandello. After her engagement with Fo's company ended, she left Milan again, working with directors such as , Damiano Damiani and Giovanni Poli. Subsequent roles followed in Nino Manfredi's Between Miracles (1971), Elio Petri's The Working Class Goes to Heaven (1971) and Vittorio De Sica's Lo chiameremo Andrea (1972). and Carlo Bertolazzi's El nost Milan in 1979, the latter directed by Giorgio Strehler. Melato and Lina Wertmüller eventually reunited for the filming of Summer Night (1986), a variation on Swept Away. Notable theatre appearances of this decade include Euripides' Medea (1986) and William Gibson's The Miracle Worker (1988), both directed by .

She died from pancreatic cancer in Rome on 11 January 2013, at age 71.

Selected filmography

Thomas e gli indemoniati (1970) – Zoe Let's Have a Riot (1970) Invasion (1970) – Valentina Io non scappo... fuggo (1970) The Swinging Confessors (1970) – Prostitute Basta guardarla (1971) – Marisa do Sol Between Miracles (1971) – Maestrina The Working Class Goes to Heaven (1971) – Lidia Cometogether (1971) Incontro (1971) The Sicilian Checkmate (1972) – Rosaria Licata The Seduction of Mimi (1972) – Fiorella Meneghini Execution Squad (1972) – Sandra Lo chiameremo Andrea (1972) – Maria Antonazzi Il generale dorme in piedi (1972) – Lola Pigna Love and Anarchy (1973) – Salomè Nada (1974) – Veronique Cash Moses the Lawgiver (1974) – La fille du maire Policewoman (1974) – Giovanna 'Gianna' Abbastanzi Swept Away (1974) – Raffaella Pavone Lanzetti Par le sang des autres (1974) Faccia di spia (1975) – Tania Di che segno sei? (1975) – Marietta 'Claquette' The Guernica Tree (1975) – Vandale Eye of the Cat (1975) – Giulia Todo modo (1976) – Giacinta Caro Michele (1976) – Mara Castorelli Beach House (1977) – Giulia The Cat (1977) – Ofelia Pegoraro La presidentessa (1977) – Yvette Jolifleur Saxofone (1978) – Fiorenza To Forget Venice (1979) – Anna I giorni cantati (1979) – Angela Oggetti smarriti (1979) – Marta Flash Gordon (1980) – Kala In the Pope's Eye (1980) – Unchosen actress Help Me Dream (1981) – Francesca So Fine (1981) – Lira Tomorrow We Dance (1982) – Mariangela The Good Soldier (1982) – Marta My Darling, My Dearest (1982) – Armida Petomaniac (1983) – Catherine Dumurier Secrets Secrets (1985) – Giuliana, the judge My Dearest Son (1986) – Stefania Summer Night (1986) – Fulvia Bolk Dancers (1987) – Contessa Mortacci (1988) – Jolanda The End Is Known (1993) – Elena Malva Dirty Linen (1999) – Cinzia A Respectable Man (1999) – Anna Tortora Probably Love (2001) – Mariangela Melato Love Returns (2004) – Federica Vieni via con me (2005) – Maria Grande

Awards (selected) Melato received numerous stage and film awards.

David di Donatello Award: 1972: Special David 1975: David di Donatello for Best Actress for Policewoman 1977: David di Donatello for Best Actress for Caro Michele 1978: David di Donatello for Best Actress for The Cat 1981: David di Donatello for Best Actress for Help Me Dream 1984: Special Plaque

Nastro d'Argento Award for Best Leading Actress: 1972: The Working Class Goes to Heaven 1973: The Seduction of Mimi 1977: Caro Michele 1979: To Forget Venice 1981: Help Me Dream