Regina Bianchi

1. Overview

Regina Bianchi (January 1, 1921 - April 5, 2013) was a prominent Italian stage and film actress. Throughout her extensive career, she made significant contributions to Italian theater and cinema, earning recognition for her versatile performances. Her notable accolades include two Nastro d'Argento awards for Best Supporting Actress.

2. Early Life and Background

Born in Lecce, Italy, on January 1, 1921, Regina Bianchi was originally named Regina D'Antigny. She came from a family deeply involved in the performing arts, as both her parents were professional theater actors. During a period marked by fascist policies and a strong aversion to foreign cultures, Bianchi was compelled to change her surname. To comply with these regulations, she adopted "Bianchi," the surname of her paternal grandmother.

3. Career Beginnings

Bianchi embarked on her theatrical career at the age of 16, joining the esteemed stage company led by Raffaele Viviani. In the same year, she made her stage debut in the comedy play Campagna napoletana, where she took on the leading role of Reginella. Her entry into the film industry followed shortly thereafter. In 1939, she starred in the drama film Il ponte di vetro (also known as Bridge of Glass). It was on the set of this film that she met and became engaged to the director Goffredo Alessandrini. Their partnership, both personal and professional, lasted for over 20 years.

4. Later Career and Major Roles

After a brief hiatus from acting, during which she announced her retirement in 1944, Regina Bianchi made a significant return to the stage in 1959. This comeback was marked by her acclaimed performance in the title role of Eduardo De Filippo's renowned play Filumena Marturano.

Her later career saw her take on numerous significant roles in both film and television. She earned critical acclaim and received two Nastro d'Argento awards for Best Supporting Actress. The first was in 1963 for her role in Nanni Loy's The Four Days of Naples, a film depicting the uprising in Naples during World War II. Her second Nastro d'Argento came in 1996 for her performance in Leone Pompucci's Camerieri. Bianchi also appeared as Anna, the mother of Mary, in Franco Zeffirelli's widely recognized television miniseries Jesus of Nazareth in 1977. Other notable film appearances include His Days Are Numbered (1962), Kaos (1984), and Law of Courage (1994).

5. Awards and Honors

Regina Bianchi's distinguished career was recognized with several prestigious awards and honors. She was a two-time recipient of the Nastro d'Argento for Best Supporting Actress, winning in 1963 for The Four Days of Naples and again in 1996 for Camerieri. In 1996, in recognition of her significant artistic merits and contributions to Italian culture, she was awarded the high honor of Grand Officer of the Italian Republic.

6. Filmography

7. Death

Regina Bianchi passed away on April 5, 2013, at the age of 92. She died peacefully at her home in Rome, leaving behind a significant legacy in the world of Italian stage and film.