Nook NotesPick a film
Lea Massari

Actor

Lea Massari

Born June 30, 1933 in Roma, Lazio, ItalyDied June 23, 202552 films

Anna Maria Massetani better known as Lea Massari (30 June 1933 — 23 June 2025) was an Italian actress. When she was 22, she changed her name to Lea Massari after the death of her fiancé Leo. She studied architecture in Switzerland. Massari became a celebrity in art cinema for two roles, the missing girl Anna in Michelangelo Antonioni's L'avventura (1960), and as Clara, the mother of a sexually precocious 14-year-old boy named Laurent (Benoît Ferreux) in Louis Malle's Murmur of the Heart (1971). She worked in both Italian and French Cinema. Her career includes Sergio Leone's debut Il Colosso di Rodi, and international commercial films such as Les choses de la vie. She was a member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1975. She won Nastro d'Argento as Best Supporting Actress for her role in Francesco Rosi's Christ Stopped at Eboli.

Start here

The best way into Lea Massari's work
L'Avventura posterFirst watchL'Avventura19607.5as AnnaClaudia and Anna join Anna's lover, Sandro, on a boat trip to a remote volcanic island. When Anna goes missing, a search is launched.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
The Night Caller poster7.2The Night Caller1975The Things of Life poster7.1The Things of Life1970A Difficult Life poster8.0A Difficult Life1961Indian Summer poster7.5Indian Summer1972Murmur of the Heart poster7.0Murmur of the Heart1971Christ Stopped at Eboli poster7.2Christ Stopped at Eboli1979The Colossus of Rhodes poster5.9The Colossus of Rhodes1961The Four Days of Naples poster7.6The Four Days of Naples1962

Filmography

52 films as actor
  1. TBAMorte di un banditoSanta
  2. 1990Journey of LoveZaira
  3. 1988Una donna spezzata
  4. 1985Secrets SecretsMarta
  5. 1984The Seventh TargetNelly
  6. 1983SarahCarla Angelli
  7. 1981La FlambeuseLouise
  8. 1979Le DivorcementRosa
  9. 1979Christ Stopped at EboliLuisa Levi
  10. 1978The Meetings of AnnaAnna's mother
  11. 1978Sale rêveurJoséphe
  12. 1977Edipo ReIocasta
  13. 1977A Dog Called... VengeanceMuriel
  14. 1977Faces of LoveCecilia
  15. 1977Antonio Gramsci: The Days of PrisonTania
  16. 1977Violette & FrancoisCécile Levene
  17. 1976Stream LineAmanda Treves
  18. 1976The Probability FactorGloria
  19. 1976Chi dice donna, dice donnaGilbert
  20. 1975The Night CallerNorah Elmer
  21. 1974AllonsanfanCharlotte
  22. 1974Bloody MurderHelene Noblet
  23. 1973Impossible ObjectHippolyta
  24. 1973The SonMaria
  25. 1973The Silent OneMaria
  26. 1973The Woman in BlueAurélie
  27. 1972Indian SummerMonica
  28. 1972And Hope to DieSugar
  29. 1971Paolo e Francesca
  30. 1971Devil's RansomBritt
  31. 1971Murmur of the HeartClara Chevalier
  32. 1970CélesteHélène
  33. 1970The Things of LifeCatherine Bérard
  34. 1968I Want Him DeadAloma
  35. 1968Volver a vivirMaría
  36. 1967Garden of Delights
  37. 1967The MisanthropeCélimène
  38. 1965Made in ItalyMonica (segment "1 'Usi e costumi', episode 3")
  39. 1965The Camp FollowersToula
  40. 1964The UnvanquishedDominique Servet
  41. 1964Weeping for a BanditMaría Jerónima
  42. 1962Conquered CityLelia Mendores
  43. 1962The Four Days of NaplesMaria
  44. 1962Paris Pick-UpMarthe Dravet
  45. 1961A Difficult LifeElena Pavinato
  46. 1961Dreams Die at DawnAnna Miklos
  47. 1961The Colossus of RhodesDiala
  48. 1960From a Roman BalconyFreya
  49. 1960L'AvventuraAnna
  50. 1958ResurrectionMaria Pawlowa
  51. 1957I sogni nel cassettoLucia Moretti
  52. 1955ForbiddenAgnese Barras