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.
Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1974
Refused to ever be photographed in profile.
Festival tribute at the Créteil International Women's Film
Festival, France. (1993)
Sometimes referred to as "the queen of Italian cinema.".
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.
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.
Trained as an actress at Rome's National Academy of Dramatic Arts, graduating in 1963.