Happy 75th Birthday Scilla Gabel

Born Gianfranca Gabellini on January 4, 1938 in Rimini, Emilia-Romagna, She studied law at Oxford University before turning to acting. She studied at the National Academy of Dramatic Arst in Rome and made her film debut thanks to Sophia Loren. She was chosen to be Loren’s double in two films: “Boy on a Dolphin” and “Timbuktu” (both 1957). Legend has it that she then underwent two plastic surgery operations to alter her likeness of Loren. Equipped with an aggressive and non-stereotyped beauty, and valid dramatic qualities, she began acting in theater for over twenty years, and became known to the general public for her participation in the television series “Captain Smash”, produced by RAI in 1958. She has since appeared in over 50 films during the 1960s and 1970s, among them, “I fuorilegge del matrimonio” directed by Valentino Orsini, and several movies with Toto. Among her films were two Euro-westerns: “Djurado” (1968) and “Bastard Go and Kill” (1971). Gabel’s last appearance was in the 1984 TV mini-series “Quei 36 gradini”. She married director, actor Piero Schivazappa [1935- ] in 1968. Today we celebrate Scilla Gabel’s 75^th birthday.