Anna Galiena

Anna Galiena (born 22 December 1949) is an Italian actress, best known to English-speaking audiences for her appearances in Le Mari de la coiffeuse, Jamón jamón, Being Human and Senso '45.

Career

She was born in a family that appreciated art, but discouraged the pursuit of artistic careers. When she was 19 she left home and her University studies and moved to Ciociaria with a group of friends to act on stage. In 1974 she left Italy, too and lived in Toronto for a few years, before flying to New York in the late ‘70s to try her luck at acting. After her first audition she landed the leading role in an Off-Broadway production of “Romeo and Juliet”. In New York she trained at Actors' Studios and worked on stage: she played Nina in The Seagull appeared in Richard III with the American Shakespeare Company, shared the stage with Michael Moriarty while performing Uncle Vanya at The Public Theater and took part in The chain, the playwriting debut of Elia Kazan. In 1984 she moved back to Italy where she continued to work on stage playing the role of Natasha in Three Sisters directed by Otomar Krejca at the Teatro Stabile di Genova. She also briefly worked on television and made over a dozen films, both in Italy and France, before her role in 1990's Le Mari de la coiffeuse brought her to international attention. She went on to appear in Bigas Luna's Jamón, jamón in 1992.

Galiena made her mainstream Hollywood debut in the Bill Forsyth-directed Being Human (1994), starring Robin Williams. The film was, however, a flop. After poor test screenings, Warner Bros. instructed Forsyth to trim 40 minutes from the film, as well as add narration and a happy ending. Forsyth subsequently disowned the film.

Since then, Galiena has worked in European cinema, with over 50 films and many television appearances to her credit.