Happy 70th Birthday Laura Antonelli

Laura Antonaz was born on November 28, 1941 in Pola, Istria, Italy. Her family was displaced and Laura finished her schooling in Naples graduating from the local ISPEF school. She moved to Rome where she was a physical education teacher for a short period of time. She began making television commercials for Coca Cola which led to small film roles beginning with "Il magnifico cornuto" in 1964. Now known as Laura Antonelli she received her first substantial part in 1969's "Venus in Furs" directed by Massimo Dallamano. In 1971 she reached international recognition appearing in "Il merlo maschio" with Lando Buzzanca when she won Italy’s Silver Ribbon for best actress. As her celebrity status grew she turned away from comedies and began a career in erotic films. In 1991 her career came to a halt when she was convicted of drug charges and sentenced to 3 ½ years in jail as a drug dealer. The sentence was appealed and she was later acquitted of all charges. In 1991 she starred in "Malice 2000" but it was a box-office flop. During the filming she began taking collagen which resulted in a disfiguration of her face. She sued the director and producer saying they forced her to take the injections. She won a court settlement of 30 million lire. This ruling was later overturned when it was found she had an allergic reaction to the treatment and was not forced to take them but did so of her own free will. Her mental condition had deteriorated because of the ongoing trial and she was admitted to a mental hospital. After several appeals Laura was awarded 108,000 euros in 2007. In 2010 actor Lino Banfir made an appeal to then Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and the Minister of Arts and Culture Sandro Bondi for help as Antonelli no longer had the will to live. Laura appeared in only one Euro-western "A Man Called Sledge" as Maria in 1971 opposite James Garner. Today we celebrate the 70^th birthday of Laura Antonelli.