Moira Orfei facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Moira Orfei
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Orfei in Signore & signori (1966)
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| Born |
Miranda Orfei
21 December 1931 Codroipo, Italy
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| Died | 15 November 2015 (aged 83) Brescia, Italy
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| Other names | Moira degli elefanti ("Moira of the Elephants") |
| Occupation |
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| Spouse(s) |
Walter Nones
(m. 1961) |
| Children | 2 |
Moira Orfei (born Miranda Orfei on December 21, 1931) was a very famous Italian circus performer, actress, and television star. She was known as the "queen of the Italian circus" and was sometimes called "Moira of the Elephants." Many fans of old movies also remember her from the "sword-and-sandal" films she acted in. Moira Orfei passed away on November 15, 2015.
Contents
Moira Orfei's Circus Life and Fame
Moira grew up in a family that owned a circus called Circus Orfei. Because of this, she became a symbol of the circus in Italy and became famous around the world. In 1960, her own circus, the Circus Moira Orfei, was started.
She was amazing at many different circus acts. People often saw her as a skilled rider, a brave trapeze artist, and a talented acrobat. She was also known for training animals, especially elephants and doves.
Her Unique Look
Moira Orfei had a very special and unforgettable look. Her style was bright and colorful, matching her fun and lively personality. A famous movie producer, Dino De Laurentiis, suggested she change her name from Miranda to Moira.
From then on, her face became instantly recognizable. She always wore heavy makeup with lots of eyeliner around her eyes and bright lipstick. She also had a noticeable mole above her lip and her hair was always tied up in a turban. This image was used on billboards everywhere her circus went, making her even more famous.
Acting in Movies
Besides her circus work, Moira Orfei also became a movie actress. She appeared in more than 40 films! These movies included comedies and "sword-and-sandal" films, which were adventure movies set in ancient times. She also starred in many Italian crime films.
Moira Orfei's Family Life
Moira Orfei's parents were Riccardo Orfei, who was a clown known as Bigolon, and Violetta Arata. In 1961, Moira married Walter Nones. They had two children together, a son named Stefano Orfei and a daughter named Lara Orfei.
Later Years and Passing
On August 4, 2006, Moira Orfei had a stroke while performing in a show. A stroke happens when blood flow to the brain is interrupted. She received medical care for many years after this. Nine years later, on November 15, 2015, Moira Orfei passed away peacefully in Brescia, Italy.
Moira Orfei's Film Roles
Moira Orfei acted in many movies throughout her career. She often played strong and memorable characters. Some of her films included:
- The Loves of Hercules (1960)
- Queen of the Pirates (1960)
- Ursus (1961)
- Toto and Cleopatra (1963)
- Casanova 70 (1965)
- The Birds, the Bees and the Italians (1966)
- Scent of a Woman (1974)
- Vacanze di Natale '90 (1990)
See also
In Spanish: Moira Orfei para niños
- Anastasini Circus
