Silvia Monti, the Italian actress who stepped away from the silver screen at the peak of her career, has died aged 80 after battling with her health. She retired from acting in 1974.
Tributes from fashion designer and fans
Among those offering tributes was fashion designer Diane Von Furstenberg, who posted on Instagram to honour the late star with a photograph of Silvia from her younger years: "Rest in Peace beautiful Silvia Monti. All my condolences to your children and family .... Your beauty, your smile, your laughter will continue to resonate into eternity. So many souvenirs I have with you ... rest in peace."
Fans also flocked to social media once the news of her death broke publicly. One fan wrote: "RIP beautiful Silvia, full of joy of living that spreads around you." Another added: "RIP. May God give you eternal rest and comfort your family and friends." A third chimed in: "RIP Silvia Monti, Italian Actress The Brain w/ David Niven, Queens of Evil, A Lizard in a Woman's Skin, The Fifth Cord, Lady Caroline Lamb, The Sicilian Connection, While There's War There's Hope, The Bloody Hands of the Law."
Career highlights and early roles
Her acting journey began in 1969 with a minor role in Alberto Lattuada's Fräulein Doktor. During that same year, she appeared in Giuseppe Patroni Griffi's Metti, una sera a cena, and Maurizio Liverani's "Do You Know What Stalin Did to Women?"
She also gained worldwide fame when she appeared alongside Hollywood legend David Niven in Gérard Oury's The Brain. During one scene in the iconic film she descends from a towering balcony on a rope while Caterina Caselli's Italian pop track Cento Giorni plays in the background.
Later life and marriage
Silvia went on to make a further 15 films over the following five years before walking away from acting. She was married to Venetian Count Luigi Donà dalle Rose, with whom she had two children, Leonardo and Una, and later parted ways in 1994.
On July 10, 1997 she married her second husband, businessman Carlo De Benedetti. They stayed married for nearly 30 years until her passing.
