Mariangela Melato honored in new Treccani biographical dictionary

Treccani has included a biographical entry for the late Italian actress Mariangela Melato in its new 'Dizionario biografico e tematico delle donne in Italia'. The entry commemorates the actress, who would have turned 85 today.

Melato is described as a ‘new diva’ who balanced the lightness of a soubrette with the cultural weight of a socially engaged actress. The profile highlights her ability to defy rigid labels, existing between stardom and anti-stardom, and between sensuality and seriousness. Her career is noted as an expression of pragmatic feminism, serving as a symbol of the renewed image of women and an inspiration for younger actresses through her professional and artistic self-realization.

Recognized for her technical and vocal skills, Melato was an experimental performer who sought constant self-exploration. The biography also references her reputation as a ‘sex symbol with a brain’ and notes her early career beginnings in the 1960s, leading to her breakthrough role in the 1969 film ‘Orlando furioso’.