Elsa Martinelli dead: Italian actress passes away aged 82

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Elsa Martinelli has passed away at the age of 82

The film star and former fashion model – who starred alongside Kirk Douglas in The Indian Fighter back in 1955 – is said to have died in Rome today, but further details are yet to be released.

Elsa – who was also known for her role in Le Rouge Et Le Noir in 1954 – was born in Grosseto, Tuscany, before she moved to Rome with her family in 1953, where she was discovered by Roberto Capucci who introduced her to the world of fashion.

The beauty quickly became a model and began playing small roles in films, with her first important role being in The Indian Fighter with Kirk; who claimed to have spotted her on a magazine cover and hired her for his production company, Bryna Productions.

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Tributes have been pouring in for the much-loved actress

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Elsa died in Rome today

In 1956 she won the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the 6th Berlin International Film Festival for playing the title role in Mario Monicelli's Donatella.

From the mid-1950s through the late 1960s, Elsa divided her time between Europe and the United States, appearing in films such as Four Girls in Town (1957), Manuela (1957), Prisoner of the Volga (1959), Hatari! (1962), The Pigeon That Took Rome (1962), The Trial (1962) and The V.I.P.s (1963).

She later went on to star in Rampage (1963), Woman Times Seven (1967), and Candy (1968).

Since the late 1960s, she has worked in Europe in mostly foreign language productions.

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Elsa has starred in numerous movies and TV shows throughout the years

Elsa’s last English language role was as Carla the Agent in 1992's Once Upon a Crime. Her most recent appearance was in the 2005 European television series Orgoglio as the Duchessa di Monteforte.

Since the tragic news emerged online, tributes have begun pouring in for the beloved star.

One person posted: “RIP Elsa Martinelli (1935-2017) great actress and elegant woman.”

Another Italian fan shared: “Ciao Elsa Martinelli 1935-2017 RIP #ElsaMartinelli.”

Original Article