Daily BirthdaysGiulietta Masina
Born in San Giorgio di Piano, her parents were Gaetano Masina, a violinist, and Anna Flavia Pasqualin, a schoolteacher. She had three elder siblings: Eugenia, and the twins Mario and Maria. Masina initially studied literature, but later turned to acting; while attending university in Rome, she joined a drama ensemble and later signed on with the Ateneo Theatre Group.
By 1943 Masina was gaining notice as a radio actress, and had been cast as Pallina in Cico e Pallina, a radio serial about a young married couple, written by Fellini. Soon afterwards, on October 30, 1943, she and Fellini were married. Several months after their marriage, Masina fell down a flight of stairs and suffered a miscarriage. Then, on March 222 1945, Pierfederico (nicknamed Federichino) was born but died just a month later on April 24.
Masina's first screen credit was the 1948 film Without Pity, opposite John Kitzmiller. She went on landing roles in a number of films, and in 1957 she won the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival for her portrayal of the title role in Nights of Cabiria — a prostitute who endures life's tragedies with innocence and resilience.
Her death from cancer, at the age of seventy-three, occurred just months after her husband's death. They are buried together at Rimini cemetery; the Fellini's tomb is marked by a sail-shaped monument, the work of sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro.
Giulietta Masina Facts
| Birth Name | Giulia Anna Masina |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Birthday | February 22, 1921 |
| Sign | Pisces |
| Birthplace | Giorgio di Piano, Italy |
| Date of death | March 23, 1994 (age 73) |