Adriana Asti

Adriana Asti (30 April 1931 – 31 July 2025) was a prolific Italian actress whose career spanned seven decades across stage, screen, and voice work. Born in Milan, she first appeared on film in Dino Risi’s short Buio in sala (shot in 1948) while still a teenager, marking the beginning of a remarkable trajectory that would see her collaborate with some of Italy’s most celebrated directors. Her theatrical debut came in 1951 with Plautus’ Miles Gloriosus for the Bolzano stock company, and she quickly earned critical acclaim for her turn in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible under Luchino Visconti, who subsequently cast her in the landmark films Rocco and His Brothers (1960) and Ludwig (1972). Asti’s stage repertoire was equally impressive, featuring leading roles in George Bernard Shaw’s Saint Joan, Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days, and Carlo Goldoni’s The Mistress of the Inn, showcasing her versatility and deep commitment to the craft.

Beyond her early successes, Asti continued to enrich Italian and international cinema, appearing in Pier Paolo Pasolini’s Accattone (1961) and Caprice Italian Style (1968), Bernardo Bertolucci’s Before the Revolution (1964), and Luis Buñuel’s The Phantom of Liberty (1974). She earned the SIAE prize in 1990 and the prestigious Duse prize in 1993, affirming her status as a celebrated performer. In 1999 she wrote and starred in the one‑woman show Alcohol, and in 2000 she headlined the French production Ferdinand. Her later film work included roles in The Best of Youth (2003), Pasolini (2014), and Diary of a Chambermaid (2015). Adriana Asti’s enduring legacy is marked by her profound impact on Italian theatre and film, a career defined by artistic daring, emotional depth, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.