Anna Maria Pier Angeli

Discovered as a teenager by Russian director Leonide Moguy, Sardinian-born actress Pier Angeli made her film bow in 1949's Tomorrow is Too Late. The waif-like actress was signed by MGM in 1951, where she was seen in such films as Teresa (1951) and Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956). For several years, MGM made public announcements that Pier would star in a film adaptation of W.H. Hudson's mystical novel Green Mansions; the studio went to the extreme of sending out photographs of Ms. Angeli dressed as the novel's Rima the Bird Girl. But when time came to film Green Mansions in 1959 Pier had long since left the MGM fold, and the role went to Audrey Hepburn. Pier was briefly married to singer Vic Damone. She died of a barbiturate overdose at the age of 39. Pier Angeli was the twin sister of actress Marisa Pavan.

~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide