Actress, Singer. A pretty brunette who was a sought after model in her youth, she went on to a successful career in Italian cinema and television. Raised in the Italian Capital, she was attractive from an early age and got her start in show business by modelling, competing in beauty pageants, and appearing on the covers of a number of publications. A promising vocalist, she won the 1957 Napoli Music Festival with a rendition of “Malinconico autunno”. Her 1958 appearance at the San Remo Music Festival led to her silver screen debut in “Addio per sempre!” (“Goodbye Forever!”); Marisa had roles in several movies including the 1963 “Objective Girls” and 1966’s “Forgiveness” while having a number of hit records over the years and cutting one album, the 1961 “La canzoni de L’amico del giaguaro”. Seen on television in “The Friend of the Jaguar” (1961) and 1963’s “The Fake Nose”, she was a regular on the Italian stage, earning praise for the theatrical revue “Chiamate 777”. Though her popularity remained steady, her desire for the limelight dimmed, leading her to retire in 1976 and spend her time as a painter, a vocation at which she became quite adept, though in later years she did return to the small screen as a hostess and presenter. Marisa lived out her days in Rome and died following a protracted illness. A number of her recordings and screen performances have been preserved. (bio by: Bob Hufford)