Barbara Mastroianni, daughter of one of Italy’s most lauded performers, Marcello Mastroianni, has died in Rome. She was recently hospitalized for lung cancer, which she had been battling the last years of her life. She was 66.
Mastroianni, born on Dec. 2, 1951, was the daughter of Marcello and his first wife, Flora Carabella. He later had another daughter, actress Chiara Mastroianni, with Catherine Deneuve, but remained married to Carabella throughout his life. Barbara and Chiara were considered to be best friends and remained close, with Chiara staying at her bedside until the end.
Mastroianni inherited her father’s love of theater and cinema and worked as a costume designer in Europe. She collaborated with directors including Federico Fellini (And the Ship Sails On), Elio Petri (Buone Notizie), Ettore Scola (That Night in Varennes) and Mauro Bolognini (The Inheritance).
She later became a wood artist, crafting original furniture displayed in exhibitions in Italy and abroad. She was married to Giorgio Bertocci Fontana, who died a few years ago.
Mastroianni was known to be shy and lived a private life. She rarely talked about her dad, the star of such films as La Dolce Vita, La Notte and Divorce Italian Style, except to refer to him as a loving father with an eternally young spirit.
Deneuve attended the funeral in Rome on Saturday with Chiara. Other attendees included Italian singer Renato Zero and Gianpio Sarracco, the mayor of Fontana Liri (Marcello’s birthplace).
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