Trivia

For ten years (1957-1967) she was the muse and the companion of director Michelangelo Antonioni.

Lived with Roberto Russo for 27 years before marrying him.

Had Alzheimer's disease and hadn't been seen in public for the last 15 years.

Refused to ever be photographed in profile.

Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1974

Sometimes referred to as "the queen of Italian cinema.".

She was born Maria Luisa Ceciarelli in Rome, the third child and only daughter of Angelo and Adele (Vittilia) Ceciarelli. She shortened her mother's maiden name to use as her own stage name.

Festival tribute at the Créteil International Women's Film Festival, France. (1993)

Became best known as the enigmatic, ambivalent heroine of Michelangelo Antonioni's movies in the 1960s, beginning with L'Avventura. Antonioni had previously directed her on the stage.

Trained as an actress at Rome's National Academy of Dramatic Arts, graduating in 1963.

After Antonioni ended their relationship in 1967, Vitti reinvented herself as a leading comedienne in films like The Girl with a Pistol (1968) and The Pizza Triangle (1970).