Little Known Spaghetti Western Actors ~ Anna Arena

 [These daily posts will cover little known actors or people that have appeared in more recent films and TV series. Various degrees of information that I was able to find will be given and anything that you can add would be appreciated.]

Ada Anna Arena was born in Quiliano, Liguria, Italy on June 21, 1919. Anna began her acting career at a very young age, as a stage actress in local companies; in 1941 she made her entry into films, playing a small role in “C'è un fantasma nel castello”, by director Giorgio Simonelli. While participating in a large number of films, Arena’s career was relegated to second tier films as a minor character actress.

The only exception was her participation, but still in a secondary role, in “Il bell'Antonio”, directed by Mauro Bolognini in 1960 and based on the novel by Vitaliano Brancati, whose screenplay was also worked on by Pier Paolo Pasolini.

As a side note, the well-known actor Maurizio Arena (born Maurizio Di Lorenzo) chose his pseudonym in tribute to the actress, who he was romantically linked for a few years, despite the strong difference in their age.

Anna appeared in only one Euro-western: “The Dream of Zorro” (1951) as a washer woman.

Anna Arena died in Jesolo, Veneto, Italy on August 19, 1974. She was only 55.

ARENA, Anna (aka Anna Innes Arena) (Ada Anna Arena) [6/21/1919, Quiliano, Liguria, Italy – 8/19/1974, Jesolo, Veneto, Italy] – theater, film actress.

The Dream of Zorro – 1951 (washerwoman)