Profile Text
Italian stamp featuring Magnani, printed c. 2008
Date of Birth: 7 March, 1908
Place of Birth: Rome, Lazio, Kingdom of Italy
Date of Death: 26 September, 1973
Place of Death: Rome, Lazio, Italy
Ethnicity: Italian
Anna Magnani was an Italian actress of stage and film. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for The Rose Tattoo (1955). She was the first actress of Italian origin to have won the lead Actress Oscar.
Anna’s biological father, Pietro Del Duce, was from Calabria, Italy, possibly from Tropea, Calabria. Anna’s mother, Marina Magnani, was a tailor from Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. Marina moved to Egypt, where she re-married to a rich Austrian man. Anna had a son with actor Massimo Serato. Her granddaughter is actress Olivia Magnani.
Anna’s maternal grandfather was named Ferdinando Magnani. Ferdinando was a baker.
Anna’s maternal grandmother was named Giovanna Casadio. Anna was raised by her maternal grandmother, who was also from Ravenna.
There are statements and rumors that Anna had Egyptian and/or Jewish ancestry. These claims are unverified.
Sources: http://bologna.repubblica.it
Genealogy of Anna Magnani (focusing on her mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com