**Lillian Gish (1893-1993)** was an American actress, icon, and pioneer of the silent film era. Her career is inextricably linked to director D.W. Griffith, for whom she starred in masterpieces such as *Nascita di una nazione* (The Birth of a Nation, 1915), *Giglio infranto* (Broken Blossoms, 1919), and *Orfane della tempesta* (Orphans of the Storm, 1921).

Gish is renowned for embodying female characters of great vulnerability, innocence, and inner strength, often victims of adversity, portrayed with an emotional depth and realism surprising for the era. Her refined and subtle style made her a model for film acting. She successfully transitioned to sound film, continuing to act in memorable roles into old age, such as in *La morte corre sul fiume* (The Night of the Hunter, 1955) and *Le balene d'agosto* (The Whales of August, 1987). She is considered one of the greatest actresses in the history of cinema.