Horowitz, Margherita

[Johan Melle]

From the “Annuario degli attori 1977”

Margherita Horowitz, was a great Austrian actress who played supporting roles (many uncredited) in countless Italian films.

Biographical note

She was born in Austria on 9 August 1919. Her birth name was Margarete Horowitz and her mother was Jewish. She started her career as an actress very early, and was only 14 years old when she was discovered and started to play small theater roles in Vienna.

But the growing anti-semitism in Europe in the late 1930s put an end to Margarete's career, and she couldn't get any more work because she was half-Jewish. Desperate for work, the now 18-year-old Margarete heard about opportunities for young singers and dancers in Italy, and decided to go to an audition. The tall, blonde and attractive Margarete impressed on her audition and was given a six-month contract to work on the stage at the Teatro Valle in Rome.

In Rome, she met Renato Trentini, a handsome Italian fascist officer, and the two fell in love with each other. Margarete and Renato quickly got married, and Margarete now changed her name to Margherita Trentini and converted to Roman Catholocism. But the happiness was short-lived because soon World War 2 broke out. Renato started to work as a liaison with the German army. Because of the German occupation of Italy, there was desperate need for translators and a German major offered Margherita a translator job. Terrified that the Nazis would discover that she was half-Jewish, Margherita was too afraid to say no, and she worked with organizing theater performances for the Nazis and translaing their documents and conversations.

Fortunately, the Germans never discovered the truth about Margherita's Jewish heritage and when the war ended in 1945 she could finally feel safe. She divorced Renato, took back her maiden name Horowitz and started to act in the theater again. She also worked as a model, and also started to appear in small movie roles, and can be spotted in many 'generica' parts in the from the 1950s and early 1960s. In the mid 1960s she began to gain more substantial supporting roles, and was a prolific character actress in many, many films, including many credited roles.

In the early 1990s, Margherita retired from acting and then lived quietly outside the limelight, although in 2003 she was interviewed in the Associated Press about her experiences during the war. She died on 19 December 2011 in Vienna, Austria.

This bio for Margherita was made with info found in the aforementioned interview and supplemented by some additional informations supplied here in the forum by Tibor Róbert Szücs in 2014. (Johan Melle)

Filmography

1954

1. Cuore di mamma .... Dancing woman at the nightclub (uncredited)
   
   1955
2. I pappagalli .... Member of the audience at concert (uncredited)
   
   1957
3. A Farewell to Arms .... Nurse (uncredited)
   
   1958
4. Le bellissime gambe di Sabrina .... Spectator at the jewellery show (uncredited)
5. Totò a Parigi .... Train passenger (uncredited)
6. Vento di primavera .... Spectatress at concert (uncredited)
   
   1959
7. Il vedovo .... Party guest (uncredited)
8. La notte brava .... Woman at the bar (uncredited)
9. The Nun's Story .... Nun (uncredited)
   
   1960
10. Adua e le compagne .... Woman with striped suit in the trattoria (uncredited)
11. Crimen .... Maid (uncredited)
12. Gastone .... Audience member at Salone Margherita (uncredited)
13. Il mattatore .... Night club customer (uncredited)
14. Il vigile .... Party guest (uncredited)
15. Letto a tre piazze .... Dancing woman (uncredited)
16. Risate di gioia .... Noblewoman on the balcony (uncredited)
17. Totò, Fabrizi e i giovani d'oggi .... Woman watching TV in bakers shop (uncredited)
    
    1961
18. Fantasmi a Roma .... Journalist (uncredited)
19. I fratelli corsi .... Party guest (uncredited)
20. Il mantenuto .... Woman at funeral procession (uncredited)
    
    1962
21. Venere imperiale .... Woman in dance class (uncredited)
    
    1963
22. Cleopatra .... Roman noblewoman (uncredited)
23. Gli imbroglioni .... Woman in the courtroom (uncredited)
24. Gli onorevoli .... Woman discussing politics (uncredited)
25. Il boom .... Restaurant customer (uncredited)
26. Il gattopardo .... Guest at the ball (uncredited)
27. Omicron .... Gala guest (uncredited)
    
    1964
28. 3 notti d'amore - segment: "La moglie bambina" .... Donatella's mother (uncredited)
29. I due mafiosi .... Airplane passenger (uncredited)
30. I marziani hanno 12 mani .... Party guest (uncredited)
31. Il giovedì .... Kleptomaniac (uncredited)
32. Sedotti e bidonati .... Casino player (uncredited)
33. The Visit .... Maid (uncredited)
    
    1965
34. I tre volti .... Party guest (uncredited)
35. Io uccido, tu uccidi - segment "Giochi acerbi" .... Woman at the memorial service (uncredited)
36. La bugiarda .... Nun (uncredited)
37. La donna di fiori (TV mini-series) - ep. 1 .... Roulette player (uncredited)
38. Sette uomini d'oro .... Bank customer (uncredited)
39. The Agony and the Ecstasy .... Noblewoman at the first showing of the Sistine chapel ceiling (uncredited)
    
    1966
40. 3 colpi di Winchester per Ringo .... Mrs. Carson (credited)
41. Come imparai ad amare le donne .... Nun (uncredited)
42. I criminali della galassia .... Mrs. Fowler (credited as "Margaret Horowitz")
43. Io, io, io... e gli altri .... Woman in church (uncredited)
44. Kriminal .... Casino player (uncredited)
45. La battaglia dei mods .... Miss Tennyson (uncredited)
46. Missione speciale Lady Chaplin .... Woman at the fashion show (uncredited)
47. Sette pistole per i MacGregor .... Annie MacGregor (credited as "Margaret Horowitz")
    
    1967
48. 7 donne per i MacGregor (credited) .... Annie MacGregor (uncredited)
49. I giorni dell'ira .... Gambler (uncredited)
50. Ti ho sposato per allegria .... Lover of Giuliana's father (uncredited)
51. John il bastardo .... Old maid aunt (credited)
52. OK Connery .... The Princess (credited)
    
    1968
53. Buona sera, Mrs. Campbell .... Woman who travels to attend the reunion party for the 293rd Squadron (uncredited)
54. I tre che sconvolsero il West .... Woman in mourning (credited as "Margareth Horowitz)
55. La morte ha fatto l'uovo .... Marco's secretary (credited)
56. Rose rosse per il Führer .... Woman at the embassy party (uncredited)
57. Scusi, facciamo l'amore? .... Woman waiting for the funeral (uncredited)
    
    1969
58. Camille 2000 .... Woman at the opera (uncredited)
59. Metti una sera a cena .... Reporter (uncredited)
    
    1970
60. Il dio chiamato Dorian .... Party guest (uncredited)
61. Lady Barbara .... Party guest (uncredited)
    
    1971
62. All'ultimo minuto (TV series) - ep. 1: "Allarme a bordo" .... Airplane passenger (uncredited)
63. Homo Eroticus (credited but unidentifiable)
64. Il gatto a nove code .... Lori's babysitter (uncredited)
    
    1972
65. ...e poi lo chiamarono il Magnifico .... Stagecoach passenger (uncredited)
66. Avanti! .... Hotel guest (uncredited)
67. Il west ti va stretto, amico... è arrivato Alleluja .... Church camp lady (credited as "Margaret Horowitz")
68. Los amigos .... Mrs. McDonald (credited as "Margherita Trentini")
69. Ludwig .... Woman of the court (uncredited)
70. Questa specie d'amore .... Banquet guest (credited)
71. Sette scialli di seta gialla .... Fashion salon worker (uncredited)
72. La vita, a volte, è molto dura, vero Provvidenza? .... Church woman (uncredited)
    
    1973
73. Anche gli angeli mangiano fagioli .... Gerace's wife (credited)
74. Ci risiamo, vero Provvidenza? .... Diner at café (uncredited)
75. L'ultima neve di primavera .... Mariolina, the maid (credited)
76. Sepolta viva .... Noblewoman at the spring festival (uncredited)
77. Troppo rischio per un uomo solo .... Rudy's maid (credited)
78. Tutti per uno... botte per tutti .... Woman at hoedown (uncredited)
79. Ultimo tango a Zagarol .... Dancer (uncredited)
    
    1974
80. Anna Karenina (TV mini-series) .... Guest at the ball (uncredited)
81. Anno uno .... Journalist (uncredited)
82. Daisy Miller .... Mrs. Walker's guest (uncredited)
83. Donna è bello .... role? (credited)
84. E cominciò il viaggio nella vertigine .... Participant at the Communist Party meeting (uncredited)
85. Fatevi vivi: la polizia non interverrà .... The governess (credited)
86. Gruppo di famiglia in un interno .... Woman in flashback with the professor's mother (credited)
87. Identikit .... Airplane passenger (uncredited)
88. Il profumo della signora in nero .... Signora Lovati (uncredited)
89. Il ritorno di Zanna Bianca .... Woman at the book launch (uncredited)
90. Il sorriso del grande tentatore .... Prince Ottavio's mother (credited)
    
    1975
91. ...a tutte le auto della polizia... .... Antonietta, Icardi's maid (credited)
92. Ah sí? E io lo dico a Zzzorro! .... Wedding guest (uncredited)
93. Attenti al buffone .... Woman at funeral (uncredited)
94. Babysitter - Un maledetto pasticcio .... The housekeeper (uncredited)
95. Fantozzi .... Guest at Catellani's house (uncredited)
96. Le malizie di venere .... Witness at the trial (uncredited)
97. Lezioni private .... Tourist (uncredited)
98. Macchie solari .... American tourist (uncredited)
99. Mahogany .... Woman at fashion show (uncredited)
100. Prima ti suono e poi ti sparo .... Town woman (uncredited)
101. Quel movimento che mi piace tanto .... Party guest (uncredited)
102. Salon Kitty .... Margherita's mother (credited)
     
     1976
103. Cadaveri eccellenti .... Party guest (uncredited)
104. Colpita da improvviso benessere .... Restaurant diner (uncredited)
105. Il trucido e lo sbirro .... Restaurant customer (uncredited)
106. L'innocente .... Gossiping party guest (credited)
107. Languidi baci, perfide carezze .... Party guest (uncredited)
108. Mark il poliziotto spara per primo .... Maria Clerici (uncredited)
109. Milano violenta .... Bank employee (credited)
110. Quelle strane occasioni - segment: ''Italian Superman'' .... Woman at nightclub (uncredited)
111. Quelli della calibro 38 .... Woman at the casino (uncredited)
112. Telefoni bianchi .... Woman outside the cinema (uncredited)
113. Uomini si nasce, poliziotti si muore .... Mona, the hostage (credited)
     
     1977
114. Casanova & co. .... Mother Superior (credited as "Margherita Trentini")
115. Gran bollito .... Dancing woman at the nightclub (uncredited)
116. I nuovi mostri - segment: "L'elogio funebre" .... Woman at the funeral (uncredited)
117. Io ho paura .... Judge Cancedda's sister (uncredited)
118. La svastica nel ventre .... Hanna's mother (credited)
119. La via della droga .... Drug-addicted girl's mother (credited)
120. Pane, burro e marmellata .... Bruno's neighbor (uncredited)
121. Quel giorno il mondo tremerà .... Scotland Yard secretary (uncredited)
122. Suspiria .... Teacher (credited)
     
     1978
123. Il commissario di ferro .... Sergio's neighbor (uncredited)
124. La cage aux folles / Il vizietto .... Madame Deblon's secretary (credited)
125. Tutto suo padre .... Adalgisa, Adolfo's mother (credited)
     
     1979
126. Caro papà .... Airplane passenger (uncredited)
127. Il giocattolo .... Pizzeria diner during the shoot-out (uncredited)
128. La luna .... One of Caterina's fans (uncredited)
129. Letti selvaggi - segment: "Attenzione a quei due" .... Princess at the casino (uncredited)
     
     1980
130. Ciao Marziano .... Party guest (uncredited)
131. La terrazza .... Party guest (credited)
132. Sono fotogenico .... Woman on the train (uncredited)
     
     1981
133. L'isola del gabbiano (TV mini-series) .... Woman at the spa (uncredited)
134. Occhio alla penna .... Woman in the train dining car (uncredited)
135. Pierino il fichissimo .... Woman in the phone booth (uncredited)
136. Pierino medico della S.A.U.B. .... Tourist (uncredited)
137. The Salamander .... Wife of Minister of Defence (uncredited)
     
     1982
138. Dio li fa e poi li accoppia .... Woman in the courtroom (uncredited)
139. Grand Hotel Excelsior .... Hotel guest (uncredited)
140. Morte in Vaticano (credited but unidentifiable)
141. Sogni mostruosamente proibiti .... Party guest (uncredited)
142. Storia d'amore e d'amicizia (TV mini-series) .... Rebecca, woman on the bus (uncredited)
143. Una tranquilla coppia di killer (TV mini-series) .... Woman at the process (uncredited)
144. Vai avanti tu che mi vien da ridere .... Party guest (uncredited)
     
     1983
145. Benvenuta .... Party guest (uncredited)
146. The Lonely Lady .... Woman at the high school awards ceremony (uncredited)
147. Zero in condotta .... Examinator (uncredited)
     
     1984
148. ...e la vita continua (TV mini-series) .... Party guest (uncredited)
149. I due carabinieri .... Wedding guest (uncredited)
     
     1985
150. Assisi underground .... Jewish woman (uncredited)
151. Massimamente folle .... Audience member at the literary awards ceremony (uncredited)
152. Pizza connection .... Party guest (uncredited)
153. Saving Grace .... Nun interpreter (credited)
154. Sono un fenomeno paranormale .... Dinner party guest (uncredited)
     
     1986
155. Detective School Dropouts (Asilo di polizia) …. Woman at confessional (uncredited)
156. Il bi e il ba .... Foreign tourist (uncredited)
157. Quando arriva il giudice (TV series) - ep. 5: "La notte delle stelle" .... Guest at the costume party (uncredited)
     
     1987
158. Roba da ricchi .... Party guest (uncredited)
     
     1989
159. Classe di ferro (TV series) - ep. 4: "La licenza" .... Nun (credited)
160. I ragazzi della 3C (TV series) - ep. 30: "Il sosia di Bruno Sacchi" .... Shop customer (uncredited)
     
     1991
161. Hudson Hawk .... Woman at the auction (uncredited)
162. La condanna .... Lawyer (uncredited)
163. Year of the Gun .... Red Brigade collaborator (uncredited)

Filmography to check

• Addio, mamma! (1967 - credited as "Margaret Horowitz")
• Il prete sposato (1971 - credited as "Margaret Horowitz")
• La stirpe di Caino (1971 - credited)
• Il marito in collegio (1977 - credited)
• Il turno (1984 - credited)
• War and Remembrance (TV mini-series, 1988) .... Mrs. Sacerdote (credited)

Fotoromanzi

1. Sogno: "Nel profondo del cuore" (from September 1962 to early 1963)

[Johan Melle]

Let's begin with a look at some of Margherita's best known film roles from the 1960s and 70s.

I criminali della galassia (1966) - small but credited role as Enzo Fiermonte's wife

Quite a nice role for her as Jean-Louis Trintignant's secretary in La morte ha fatto l'uovo (1968)

Il gatto a nove code (1971) - short uncredited role as the baby-sitter

Anche gli angeli mangiano fagioli (1973) - thanks to TRS for the pic

Briefly seen as a journalist in Anno Uno (1974) - uncredited

Very notable appearance for her as Teresa Ann Savoy's fascist mother in Salon Kitty (1975) - really interesting role for Margherita considering her background

Uncredited (and with a bad wig) as one of the guests at Umberto D'Orsi's house in Fantozzi (1975)

And let's not forget her very memorable role as the hostage in Uomini si nasce, poliziotti si muore (1976). I was very impressed with her work in this film as she really gets roughed up by Franco Citti

Margherita is an employee at the bank in Milano violenta (1976)

And again she gets taken as a hostage

[Johan Melle]

Uncredited again as a woman at the casino in Quelli della calibro 38 (1976)

Also memorable as the desperate mother of a drug-addicted girl in La via della droga (1977)

Comical part for Margherita in the sex comedy Casanova & Co. (1977) - the really surprising thing here is that she is credited as Margherita Trentini - the surname of her ex-husband!

She is visible in a few scenes as one of the teachers in the cult horror movie Suspiria (1977)

Short uncredited role as a woman at the spa in the TV mini series L'isola del gabbiano (1981)

Uncredited role in The Salamander (1981), where she is the wife of the Minister of Defence (played by Andrea Esterhazy)

Uncredited again as one of the Jewish people hiding from the Nazis in The Assisi Underground (1985)

Margherita as a nun in Saving Grace (1985)

And then one of Margherita's final acting roles - a nice little part as hospital nun in the TV series Classe di ferro - episode 4: "La licenza" (1989)

[Johan Melle]

Margherita's earliest known credited roles are from 1966, but prior to that she appeared numerous times in little uncredited roles (often without dialogue).

So far, the earliest known role for Margherita is in I pappagalli (1955) as a woman at the concert - identification by Ghibarian

Another early appearance is as a nurse in A Farewell to Arms (1957), a Hollywood romance shot in Italy - identification and pics by Chickadee

And here a young and glamourous Margherita as a spectatress at concert in Vento di primavera (1958) - identification and pic by Emiliano

Margherita appears 2 times in Totò a Parigi (1958) as train passenger - identification by Ghibarian

Il vedovo (1959) (uncredited) .... Party guest - identification by Ghibarian

Crimen (1960) (uncredited) .... Maid - identification by Ghibarian
Image upgraded here viewtopic.php?f=36&t=141&p=28891#p28891

Il vigile (1960) (uncredited) .... Party guest - identification by Ghibarian

[Johan Melle]

She should appear uncredited in Letto a tre piazze (1960), dancing in the hotel scene - identification by Ghibarian

Margherita as journalist in Fantasmi a Roma (1961) - identification by Ghibarian

Gli imbroglioni (1963) (uncredited) .... Woman in the courtroom - identification by Ghibarian

Margherita (together with Pupita Lea Scuderoni) as a woman discussing politics in Gli onorevoli (1963)

Il boom (1963) (uncredited) .... Restaurant customer - identification by Ghibarian

in I marziani hanno 12 mani (1964). As an austrian woman - identification by TRS

[Johan Melle]

As a kleptomaniac in Il giovedì (1964)

Sedotti e bidonati (1964) (uncredited) .... Casino player - identification by Ghibarian

Io, io, io... e gli altri (1966) (uncredited) .... Woman in church - identification by Ghibarian

Typical casino player role in Kriminal (1966)

A brief part with a little dialogue as an elegant woman at the fashion show in the spy film Missione speciale Lady Chaplin (1966)

On the IMDb it says that Margherita's scenes in OK Connery (1967) were deleted but this is not true. She does appear in the film even though her role is very small. She is a princess who makes some very high bids at an auction but in the end Adolfo Celi wins the bidding.

This should be Margherita (behind Rosita Torosh) as a party guest in Lady Barbara (1970) - identification by Ghibarian

She is also visible in the TV series All'ultimo minuto, episode 1: "Allarme a bordo" (1971) as one of the many airplane passengers - pic and identification by mortimer

Also visible for a few seconds (again as an airplane passenger) in Identikit (1974)

[Johan Melle]

On to a couple of more prominent roles.

3 colpi di Winchester per Ringo (1966), her important credited role as Mama Carson - pic by Carlos

Here her credited role from L'ultima neve di primavera (1973) - pic by Ciavazzaro

Los Amigos (1973) as Sra. McDonald - pic by Carlos

Margherita's credited little role in Il sorriso del grande tentatore (1974)

The big sunglasses makes it a little difficult to see but I am very sure that this is Margherita as one of the American tourists in Macchie solari (1975)

Another tourist role, though a much raunchier one - here's Margherita as one of the old tourist ladies who take pictures of the naked Leopoldo Trieste in Lezioni private (1975)

Margherita have a great little uncredited role from the cult movie Le malizie di venere (1975)
as a witness at the trial schocked by the life of Laura Antonelli and his lover! - identification by Ciavazzaro

[Johan Melle]

And we continue on with an assortment of tiny Margherita roles from the 1970s

She is also credited for Homo eroticus (1971). I don't know if I've missed her or if she is not in the movie.
Btw I've seen a 109 mins version of the movie - post by Ghibarian

Questa specie d'amore (1972) .... Invited to the banquet - pic by Emiliano

Margherita also has a little uncredited role as a woman of the court in Visconti's Ludwig (1972)

Margherita dancing in Ultimo tango a Zagarol (1973) - pic by Emiliano

As a diner at a cafe in Ci risiamo, vero Provvidenza? (1973) - pic by Carlos

She also appears briefly as a woman at the book launch in Il ritorno di Zanna Bianca (1974)

And here uncredited as a woman at the funeral in Attenti al buffone (1975) - identification by Ciavazzaro

Il trucido e lo sbirro (1976) (uncredited) .... Restaurant customer - identification by mortimer

Quelle strane occasioni - segment: ''Italian Superman'' (1976) (uncredited) .... Night club customer - identification by Ghibarian

Letti selvaggi - segment 'Attenzione a quei due' (1979) (uncredited) .... Princess at casino - identification by Ghibarian

Wonderful close-up in Sono fotogenico (1980) as a woman on the train

[Johan Melle]

And here an assortment of tiny 1980s roles.

Margherita uncredited as a party guest in Ciao Marziano (1980) - identification & pic by Ciavazzaro

Pierino il fichissimo (1981) (uncredited) .... Woman in the phone booth - identification by Ghibarian

Dio li fa e poi li accoppia (1982) (uncredited) .... Woman in the courtroom - identification by Ghibarian

Sogni mostruosamente proibiti (1982) (uncredited) .... Party guest - identification by Ghibarian

Una tranquilla coppia di killer (1982) (TV mini series) woman at the process - identification and pic by dusso

Sono un fenomeno paranormale (1985) (uncredited) .... Dinner party guest - identification by Ghibarian

Il bi e il ba (1986) (uncredited) .... Foreign tourist - identification by Ghibarian

Margherita uncredited as a party guest in the TV series Quando arriva il giudice (1986), episode "La notte delle stelle"

And here is another television appearance for Margherita. She appears (uncredited) in the cult TV series I ragazzi della 3C, in the episode "Il sosia di Bruno Sacchi" (1989), where she plays a shop customer who gets angry when Fabrizio Bracconeri tries to cut in front of her in the line

Margherita's last known appearance - in La condanna (1991) as a lawyer - identification by mortimer

[Johan Melle]

Okay, Margherita's topic is now restored and I've added back pictures whereever I've been able to. And now it's time for some more roles as I've taken the time to get pictures from several known roles we never had any pics of, plus I've discovered a few new ones.

Let's start with Margherita's small but credited and important role in La svastica nel ventre (1977) as the mother of Hanna (Sirpa Lane)

The other roles are quite minor, starting with an uncredited part in 3 notti d'amore (1964) in the segment "La moglie bambina" as Donatella's mother

Margherita can be glimpsed briefly in the giallo Sette scialli di seta gialla (1972) as a woman working at the fashion studio (uncredited of course)

She also has a credited but microscopic role in Visconti's Gruppo di famiglia in un interno (1974)

According to the IMDb, she plays a maid but this is wrong! She only appears in the flashback scene featuring Dominique Sanda as the mother of professor, but I don't know what she's supposed to be. Sanda's mother? Or friend? Relative? I don't know...


She's also credited in Visconti's L'innocente (1976) and has a slightly bigger role this time as a gossiping party guest

Also credited in another famous film: La cage aux folles a.k.a. Il vizietto (1978) as a secretary

Margherita really worked with a lot of the important directors. Here uncredited in Bertolucci's La luna (1979) as one the many admirers of Jill Clayburgh