Rome, SAug 1, 2004–Laura Betti, an Italian actress who worked with top film directors including Pier Paolo Pasolini, Federico Fellini and Bernardo BertolucciBernardo Bertolucci, died in Rome July 31 of a heart attack. She was 70.
Born Laura Trombetti in the city of Bologna, she started her career as a jazz singer before her acting debut in Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita” in 1960.
Betti appeared in Bertolucci’s “Last Tango in Paris” and “1900.” The actress was remembered particularly for her long friendship with Pasolini. She appeared in seven of his films, including “Teorema.”
After Pasolini was slain on a beach near Rome in 1975, Betti dedicated herself to preserving his memory and life’s work, which included poetry as well as film. In 2001, she made a well-received documentary about Pasolini.
Rest in peace, Laura. You’ll always occupy a special place in my heart, having seen you in “Teorema,” a film that left vast impression on me.
