Maria Rosaria Omaggio
Actor
Biography
Maria Rosaria Omaggio (Rome, 1954 – 2024) was one of the most versatile figures in Italian entertainment, successfully spanning cinema, television, theatre, and writing. Of Neapolitan descent, she rose to fame at a very young age participating in Canzonissima (1973-74), a springboard that turned her into a household name and a beauty icon (appearing on famous covers such as Playboy and Playmen).
She made her big-screen debut in 1976 in the "poliziotteschi" (Italian crime-thriller) films Rome Armed to the Teeth and The Cop in Blue Jeans. Her filmography is rich and varied, featuring international collaborations and roles for directors such as Woody Allen (To Rome with Love). The pinnacle of her artistic maturity coincided with her portrayal of Oriana Fallaci in Andrzej Wajda's film Walesa: Man of Hope (2013). For this role, she received the Pasinetti Award at the Venice Film Festival and the Oriana Fallaci Prize, earned for her extraordinary resemblance to and intense portrayal of the journalist.
On television, she starred in numerous successful dramas and series, from Edera and Caro maestro to international productions like the Spanish series La sonata del silencio.
The theatre was a place of experimentation and celebration for her. She portrayed great female figures such as Eleonora Duse and Dido, bringing to the stage texts by prestigious authors including Goldoni, Seneca, García Márquez, and Italo Calvino. She also distinguished herself as a director and translator (notably for Golda's Balcony).
Beyond her artistic career, Omaggio was deeply dedicated to humanitarian causes as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF Italy, creating initiatives such as "Theatre for UNICEF." Gifted with a profound spirituality and an interest in Eastern disciplines, she was also an expert instructor of Taijiquan.
Passing away in Rome in June 2024, she was bid a fond farewell by the world of culture. According to her wishes, her ashes were scattered in the sea off Ostia, sealing an unbreakable bond with her land and her freedom.
Filmography
Nightmare City
as Sheila Holmes 1980
Wałesa: Man of Hope
as Oriana Fallaci 2013
Rome, Armed to the Teeth
as Anna 1976
The Adventures of Hercules
as Hera 1985
The Cop in Blue Jeans
as Silvia Cattani 1976
Culo e camicia
as Ella Ferrari 1981
Rimini, Rimini: A Year Later
as Immacolata 1988
My Father's Private Secretary
as Luisa 1976
Sabato, domenica e lunedì
2021
La lozana andaluza
as Lozana 1976
El virgo de Visanteta
as Visanteta 1979
Drakut the Avenger
as Milena 1961
Bloody Sin: Abonimations of the Third Reich
as Miss Steele 2011
Visanteta, estáte quieta
as Visanteta 1979
The Museum Of Wonders
as Santa Muerte 2010
The Criminals Attack. The Police Respond
as Laura Olivieri 1977