Liana Orfei

Liana Orfei, born on June 6, 1937, in San Giovanni in Persiceto, is a prominent Italian entertainer whose career spans multiple domains, including circus, film, theater, and television. Hailing from the illustrious Orfei circus lineage, Liana made her mark as a versatile performer.

Her film career flourished from the 1950s to the 1970s, during which she appeared in around forty movies. She collaborated with cinematic legends such as Federico Fellini, featured in the documentary *The Clowns*, as well as Orson Welles, Mario Monicelli, and Dino Risi. Her range was impressive, encompassing genres from commedia all'italiana to Westerns, horror, and science fiction. Notably, her role in the 1965 musical television drama *Scaramouche* remains a highlight of her TV work.

Liana’s circus journey began at the tender age of two when she took to the ring as a clown known as Lacrima. In 1960, she and her brothers, Nando and Rinaldo, established their own circus, renowned for grand productions like "Circorama" and "Circus of the Thousand and One Nights," the latter inspired by Fellini and featuring costumes by Oscar winner Danilo Donati. In 1984, in response to a challenging industry landscape, she launched the Golden Circus, an international festival that continues to be a cornerstone of circus arts.

On stage, Liana worked alongside esteemed artists such as Eduardo De Filippo and Emma Gramatica, making a comeback in 2005 with the musical *Se il tempo fosse un gambero*. Additionally, she ventured into entrepreneurship in the 1980s by founding Divertimondo, a theme park in Rimini, reflecting her innovative spirit in entertainment.