Italian actress, considered one of the greatest divas of silent cinema. Born in Taranto in 1890, after a debut in the theatre, she appeared on the big screen in 1911, primarily associating her name with the Turin-based production company Itala Film. Her international acclaim came with her portrayal of Sophonisba in the epic film *Cabiria* (1914), directed by Giovanni Pastrone, a role that established her as an icon of the cinema of her time. Her filmography includes other notable titles such as *L'innocente* (1911), *Il ferro* (1914), and the adaptation of *Hedda Gabler* (1920), films in which she was distinguished by her intense and passionate acting style, in line with the D'Annunzian aesthetic. A symbol of the star system phenomenon, her career slowed with the advent of sound film, leading to her gradual withdrawal from the screen until her death in Brazil in 1941.