Marisa Berenson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Marisa Berenson
Berenson in 2013
Born	Vittoria Marisa Schiaparelli Berenson (1947-02-15) February 15, 1947 (age 78) New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, model
Years active	1967–present
Spouse(s)	James Randall ​ ​ (m. 1976; div. 1978)​ Aaron Richard Golub ​ ​ (m. 1982; div. 1987)​
Children	Starlite Melody Randall
Relatives	Elsa Schiaparelli (grandmother) Berry Berenson (sister) Anthony Perkins (brother-in-law) Oz Perkins (nephew) Elvis Perkins (nephew)

Marisa Berenson (born February 15, 1947) is an American actress and former model. She became famous in the 1960s and 1970s. Marisa appeared on the covers of well-known magazines like Vogue and Time.

She is known for her roles in several movies. She won an award for her acting in the 1972 film Cabaret. She was also nominated for Golden Globe and BAFTA Award awards for this role. Other famous movies she appeared in include Death in Venice (1971) and Barry Lyndon (1975). In 2001, she performed on Broadway for the first time.

About Marisa's Early Life

Her Childhood and Family History

Marisa Berenson was born in New York City. She is the older of two daughters. Her father, Robert Lawrence Berenson, was an American diplomat. He later became a shipping executive. His family came from Lithuania.

Marisa's mother was Maria-Luisa Yvonne "Gogo" Radha de Wendt Schiaparelli. Her mother's family had roots in Italy, Switzerland, France, and Egypt.

Famous Family Members

Marisa Berenson comes from a very interesting family. Her grandmother on her mother's side was Elsa Schiaparelli, a famous fashion designer. Her younger sister, Berry Berenson, also became a model, actress, and photographer.

Marisa is also related to Giovanni Schiaparelli. He was an Italian astronomer who first described what looked like "canals" on Mars. Another relative was Senda Berenson Abbott, an athlete and educator. She was one of the first women to be chosen for the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Marisa's Acting and Modeling Career

Berenson at the 2009 Venice Film Festival

Marisa Berenson started her career as a fashion model when she was a teenager. She was discovered by Diana Vreeland, a famous editor at Vogue magazine. Marisa became very well-known in the 1960s.

She appeared on the cover of Vogue in July 1970. She was also on the cover of Time magazine in December 1975. Marisa was featured in many fashion photoshoots in Vogue during the late 1960s and early 1970s. People called her "The Queen of the Scene" because she often went to nightclubs and social events. The famous designer Yves Saint Laurent even called her "the girl of the Seventies."

Key Movie Roles

Marisa Berenson's first movie roles were important ones. She played Gustav von Aschenbach's wife in the 1971 film Death in Venice. She also played Natalia Landauer in the 1972 film Cabaret. Her role in Cabaret earned her two Golden Globe nominations and a BAFTA nomination. She also won an award from the National Board of Review.

In 1975, she played Lady Lyndon in the movie Barry Lyndon, directed by Stanley Kubrick. A film critic from The New York Times said she looked wonderful in her costumes. Marisa enjoyed working with Stanley Kubrick. She said he was a perfectionist, but also had a good sense of humor. She believed great directors need to be perfectionists to make amazing films.

Other Performances

Marisa Berenson has acted in many other films. These include S.O.B. (1981) and White Hunter Black Heart (1990). She also appeared in TV movies, like the Holocaust-themed drama Playing for Time (1980). In 1978, she was a guest star on The Muppet Show.

In 2001, Marisa made her first appearance on Broadway. She was in a play called Design for Living. In 2009, she acted in the film I Am Love. In 2016, she played Lady Capulet in a London production of Romeo and Juliet.

Marisa Berenson is also involved with Culture Project. This organization supports theater, and she is the chairman of its board.

Marisa's Personal Life

On September 11, 2001, a very sad event happened. Her younger sister, Berry Perkins, passed away in the first plane crash at the World Trade Center. Marisa was also on an airplane that day, flying from Paris to New York. Her flight was redirected to Canada. She learned about her sister's death from a phone call with her daughter. Marisa has said that her faith helps her get through difficult times.

Marisa has practiced Transcendental Meditation. She once visited an ashram in India with the Beatles. She described it as a normal experience where they meditated, ate together, and lived simply. She said her meditation practice was the most important part of that time.

In the 1970s, Marisa was a vegetarian and believed in reincarnation. She later started eating meat again. Today, Marisa lives in a villa near Marrakesh. She can speak English, Italian, and French fluently.

Her Relationships

Marisa Berenson has been married twice. Her first husband was James Randall. They were married in 1976 and divorced in 1978. They have one daughter, who was born in 1977 and works as a social worker.

Her second husband was Aaron Richard Golub, a lawyer. They married in 1982 and divorced in 1987.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

See also

In Spanish: Marisa Berenson para niños