Loredana Simioli

Loredana Simioli (27 February 1974 – 26 June 2019) was a celebrated Italian actress, comedian and television host whose vibrant personality left a lasting imprint on Neapolitan popular culture. Born and raised in Naples, Italy, she grew up in a family with media ties; her brother Gianni Simioli became a well‑known Radio Marte presenter, exposing her early to the world of broadcasting. Simioli started her performing career in the early 1990s, initially taking minor roles in local theatre before quickly gaining attention for her natural comedic timing. Her breakthrough arrived in 1998 when she joined the regional broadcaster Canale 9 on the beloved program TeleGaribaldi, where she created the memorable character Mariarca, a role that endeared her to a broad audience and cemented her status as a household name in southern Italy. After a successful stint on television throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, she shifted her focus to cinema in the mid‑2000s, appearing in a succession of notable films such as L'amore buio (2009) and Gorbaciof (2010), before attaining international recognition with her performance as Maria in Reality (2012), which was screened at the Cannes Film Festival. She continued to diversify her repertoire with roles in Si accettano miracoli (2014), Perez. (2014), Troppo napoletano (2016) and Nato a Casal di Principe (2017), showcasing her ability to navigate both dramatic and comedic material. In 2017 she was diagnosed with cancer, a battle that lasted two years; during this period she became an outspoken advocate for cancer awareness, launching the courageous campaign "Io non ho vergogna" and even filming a public service video inside Antonio Cardarelli Hospital. Her untimely death on 26 June 2019, at the age of 45, was mourned by fans and colleagues alike, who remembered her infectious humor, fierce dedication to her craft, and the inspiring legacy she left behind.