**Anna Magnani** (Rome, March 7, 1908 – Rome, September 26, 1973) was an Italian actress, universally recognized as one of the most powerful symbols of post-war Italian cinema.

Her film career exploded internationally with her role as Pina in Roberto Rossellini's **"Rome, Open City"** (1945), a foundational film of neorealism, which established her as an icon of a wounded but resilient Italy.

Renowned for her visceral, intense, and unadorned acting style, Magnani excelled in roles of strong, passionate, and often tormented women, courageous mothers, working-class women, or marginal figures who embodied the true essence of the Italian people. Among her most memorable performances are those in Luchino Visconti's **"Bellissima"** (1951) and Pier Paolo Pasolini's **"Mamma Roma"** (1962).

Her extraordinary expressiveness earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress for the Hollywood film **"The Rose Tattoo"** (1955), demonstrating her ability to shine even beyond national borders. Anna Magnani remains an icon of authenticity and interpretive power in the history of cinema.