PROFESSIONS
Actor
SOMETIMES CREDITED AS
BIOGRAPHY
The official story was that Italian actress Elsa Martinelli was discovered for movies when Kirk Douglas spotted her on a 1954 magazine cover. Actually, Martinelli had been playing bits in Italian films since 1950, and had been a professional model since her early teens. Her first and only screen appearance while under contract to Douglas' Bryna Productions was The Indian....
Expand Full Bio

The official story was that Italian actress Elsa Martinelli was discovered for movies when Kirk Douglas spotted her on a 1954 magazine cover. Actually, Martinelli had been playing bits in Italian films since 1950, and had been a professional model since her early teens. Her first and only screen appearance while under contract to Douglas' Bryna Productions was The Indian Fighter (1955). The film should have made her a star, but (at least according to Douglas) Martinelli exercised nothing but bad judgment thereafter, taking parts that exploited her physical attributes but allowed her acting skills to atrophy. Finally, Douglas threw in the towel, telling Martinelli that she'd have to pay him to work for Bryna again. With such notable exceptions as Orson Welles' The Trial, Martinelli never had a part as good as her Native American heroine in Indian Fighter. She retired from filmmaking in the mid-1980s, making an unheralded return appearance in the inconsequential all-star comedy Once Upon a Crime. Elsa Martinelli is the mother of actress Cristiana Mancinelli.

~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Collapse Full Bio


Rovi Data Solutions, Inc.
- Portions of Content Provided by Rovi Data Solutions © 2009 Rovi Data Solutions, Inc.

Advertisement

Recently Worked With...

Wolfgang Reichmann
The Trial
Released: Jun. 23, 2000

Benedetto Fanna
Once Upon a Crime
Released: Mar. 6, 1992

Miguel Bose
Garofano Rosso
Released: Mar. 25, 1976

Renaud Verley
Les Chemins de Katmandou
Released: May. 26, 1970

Luc Merenda
OSS 117 Prend Des Vacances
Released: Feb. 4, 1970


Fan Sites

Elsa Martinelli Fansites

No fan sites available. Create the first!
Are you the #1 Elsa Martinelli Fan? Sign Up To Create A Website Here.

Top 5 Celebrities

Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
August 29, 1958
Gary, IN

Jenna Jameson at the L.A. Premiere of 'Zombie Strippers' held at The Landmark Theatre. Los Angeles, CA - 04-15-08
Jenna Jameson
N/A

Angelina Jolie at the Orange British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) 2009 - Arrivals. London, England - 02/08/09
Angelina Jolie
June 04, 1975
Los Angeles, CA

Megan Fox up close at 'Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen' UK premiere
Megan Fox
May 16, 1986
Tennessee

Robert Pattinson on the set of 'Remember Me' - New York City, NY - 06/15/09
Robert Pattinson
May 13, 1986
London, England