Anna Arena was a small-part actress, active in Italian films from at least the early 1940's to mid-1960's.
Wikipedia says she was born Anna Ines Arena on 21st May 1919 in Quiliano, Italy, while IMDb says she was born Ada Anna Arena on June 21st 1919, also in Quiliano. Cineguida 1956 gives her birthplace as Genova. In other words nothing can be relied upon, though at least her year of birth seems agreed.
Wikipedia says she was somehow romantically involved with actor Maurizio Arena, 14 years her junior, who chose his artistic name in homage to her. While not impossible, this does sound rather unlikely.
She reportedly started out as a theatre actress at a young age and came to cinema after answering a newspaper ad in 1941. Her film career lasted from 1942 until 1964, mostly in small supporting roles. Since a number of her roles were uncredited and her filmography is rather sparse in places, then it could be possible there will be some undocumented roles to be found.
All sources seem agreed that Anna died in Jesolo, Italy on August 19th 1974, aged 55.
- Birthplace: Genova.
- Height: 1,70 m.
- Foreign languages: French, English.
- Radio.
- Television.
- Prose and revue theater.
- Abode: Rome, in via Arbia, 7.
- Bengasi .... Prostitute (uncredited)
1943 - Cortocircuito .... Secretary of Isidoro Storch (uncredited)
1944 - Aeroporto .... role unknown (credited)
- Carmen .... The Beauty (credited)
1948 - Fantasmi del mare .... Adele (credited)
1950 - 47 morto che parla .... Party guest (uncredited)
1951 - Auguri e figli maschi .... Boarding house landlady (uncredited)
- Bellezze a Capri .... Assunta (credited)
1952 - È arrivato l'accordatore .... Friend of Signora Narducci (credited)
- Il sogno di Zorro .... Barmaid (uncredited)
- Vacanze col gangster .... Woman at the beach (credited - role unconfirmed)
1953 - Canzoni a due voci .... role unknown (credited)
- In amore si pecca in due .... role unknown (poster credit)
- La lupa .... Giovanna Vasilicò (credited)
- La nave delle donne maledette .... Prisoner (credited)
- Siamo tutti inquilini .... Woman at the house viewing (uncredited)
1954 - Pane, amore e gelosia .... Woman beside Carotenuto at the second dinner (uncredited)
- Piscatore 'e Pusilleco .... Prisoner (credited)
1955 - L'orfana del ghetto .... role unknown (poster credit)
- La rossa .... Rosa (credited)
1959 - La legge .... Anna (credited)
- La scimitarra del saraceno .... Zaira (credited)
1960 - Il bell'Antonio .... Signora Puglisi (credited)
1961 - Le avventure di Mary Read .... Stagecoach passenger robbed by Mary (credited)
1964 - Ercole contro Roma .... Fenicia (credited)
- Sansone contro il corsaro nero .... Agatha (credited)
- Don Giovanni (1942) ANICA
- Gelosia (1942) ANICA as Agata Casaccio
- L'ultimo addio (1942) ANICA
- Senza una donna (1943) ANICA as Anna
- L'ippocampo (1945) IMDb
- Quo Vadis (1951) IMDb. I haven't previously found Anna, but I will be making a topic for this film in the near future, so will keep a close eye out for her then.
- I cavalieri dell'illusione (1954) ANICA
- In amore si pecca in due (1954) ANICA
- L'ippocampo (1954) IMDb
- Tua per la vita (1955) ANICA
- Controvento (2000) ANICA. Anna's appearance here would be highly unlikely, particularly if her date of death is correct.
1. Dante Lazzaro. Cineguida 1956. |