Lea Massari

Acting

Lea Massari

Born June 30, 1933 · Roma, Lazio, Italy

Died June 23, 2025 · aged 91

Anna Maria Massetani better known as Lea Massari (30 June 1933 — 23 June 2025) was an Italian actress. When she was 22, she changed her name to Lea Massari after the death of her fiancé Leo. She studied architecture in Switzerland. Massari became a celebrity in art cinema for two roles, the missing girl Anna in Michelangelo Antonioni's L'avventura (1960), and as Clara, the mother of a sexually pre…

Known For

Murmur of the HeartMurmur of the Heart · 1971
Murmur of the Heart
7.01971
MovieDramaComedy
This loosely plotted coming-of-age tale follows the life of 15-year-old Laurent Chevalier as he stumbles his way over the burgeoning swell of adolescence in 1950s France. After having his first sexual experience with a prostitute and dodging the lips of a priest, Chevalier contracts a case of scarlet fever. When the fever leaves him with a heart murmur, Chevalier is placed in a sanatorium, along with his over-attentive and adulterous mother.
L'AvventuraL'Avventura · 1960
L'Avventura
7.51960
MovieDramaMystery
Claudia and Anna join Anna's lover, Sandro, on a boat trip to a remote volcanic island. When Anna goes missing, a search is launched. In the meantime, Sandro and Claudia become involved in a romance despite Anna's disappearance, though the relationship suffers from guilt and tension.
Secrets SecretsSecrets Secrets · 1985
Secrets Secrets
7.31985
MovieDrama
Young terrorist Laura shoots both a judge and a comrade, and over time her violent act becomes a thread linking the lives and fates of several other women. Each has her own secret, including the lawyer who listens to Laura as if in a ‘trance’: moments before, she discovered her husband was cheating.
Conquered CityConquered City · 1962
Conquered City
5.51962
MovieDramaWar
Filmed in 1962 but not released in the US until 1966 (with 20 of its 108 minutes removed), Conquered City is an all-star World War II drama financed in Italy and filmed in Greece. An Athens hotel, full of refugees and expatriates of all nationalities, is captured by Allied troops in the closing days of the War. British Major David Niven has been ordered to prevent a cache of weapons hidden in the hotel from falling into the hands of renegade troops. He cannot allow himself to trust anyone--not even the most innocent-looking (or attractive) of guests. Originally titled La Citta Prigioniera. Conquered City was released in English-speaking countries outside the U.S. as Captive City.
The Colossus of RhodesThe Colossus of Rhodes · 1961
The Colossus of Rhodes
5.91961
MovieAdventureDrama
While on holiday in Rhodes, Athenian war hero Darios becomes involved in two different plots to overthrow the tyrannical king, one from Rhodian patriots and the other from sinister Phoenician agents.
A Difficult LifeA Difficult Life · 1961
A Difficult Life
8.01961
MovieComedyDrama
Silvio refuses to fight for the fascists and joins the resistance with Elena. After the war, his vitriolic newspaper articles cause him to be sentenced to imprisonment.
The Silent OneThe Silent One · 1973
The Silent One
7.31973
MovieDramaThriller
Who is Anton Haliakov, who has just been abducted by the M.I.5 in London? A Soviet scientist apparently. But sixteen years before the man had another identity, Clément Tibère, and another nationality, French. So what led him to become Russian and to change identity? And why are the British secret services interested in him?
SarahSarah · 1983
Sarah
6.01983
MovieDrama
An insurance investigator meets an attractive woman in a hotel on his way to check out the causes of a fire that destroyed a movie set.

Movies

Murmur of the HeartMurmur of the Heart · 1971
Murmur of the Heart
7.01971
MovieDramaComedy
This loosely plotted coming-of-age tale follows the life of 15-year-old Laurent Chevalier as he stumbles his way over the burgeoning swell of adolescence in 1950s France. After having his first sexual experience with a prostitute and dodging the lips of a priest, Chevalier contracts a case of scarlet fever. When the fever leaves him with a heart murmur, Chevalier is placed in a sanatorium, along with his over-attentive and adulterous mother.
L'AvventuraL'Avventura · 1960
L'Avventura
7.51960
MovieDramaMystery
Claudia and Anna join Anna's lover, Sandro, on a boat trip to a remote volcanic island. When Anna goes missing, a search is launched. In the meantime, Sandro and Claudia become involved in a romance despite Anna's disappearance, though the relationship suffers from guilt and tension.
Secrets SecretsSecrets Secrets · 1985
Secrets Secrets
7.31985
MovieDrama
Young terrorist Laura shoots both a judge and a comrade, and over time her violent act becomes a thread linking the lives and fates of several other women. Each has her own secret, including the lawyer who listens to Laura as if in a ‘trance’: moments before, she discovered her husband was cheating.
Conquered CityConquered City · 1962
Conquered City
5.51962
MovieDramaWar
Filmed in 1962 but not released in the US until 1966 (with 20 of its 108 minutes removed), Conquered City is an all-star World War II drama financed in Italy and filmed in Greece. An Athens hotel, full of refugees and expatriates of all nationalities, is captured by Allied troops in the closing days of the War. British Major David Niven has been ordered to prevent a cache of weapons hidden in the hotel from falling into the hands of renegade troops. He cannot allow himself to trust anyone--not even the most innocent-looking (or attractive) of guests. Originally titled La Citta Prigioniera. Conquered City was released in English-speaking countries outside the U.S. as Captive City.
The Colossus of RhodesThe Colossus of Rhodes · 1961
The Colossus of Rhodes
5.91961
MovieAdventureDrama
While on holiday in Rhodes, Athenian war hero Darios becomes involved in two different plots to overthrow the tyrannical king, one from Rhodian patriots and the other from sinister Phoenician agents.
A Difficult LifeA Difficult Life · 1961
A Difficult Life
8.01961
MovieComedyDrama
Silvio refuses to fight for the fascists and joins the resistance with Elena. After the war, his vitriolic newspaper articles cause him to be sentenced to imprisonment.
The Silent OneThe Silent One · 1973
The Silent One
7.31973
MovieDramaThriller
Who is Anton Haliakov, who has just been abducted by the M.I.5 in London? A Soviet scientist apparently. But sixteen years before the man had another identity, Clément Tibère, and another nationality, French. So what led him to become Russian and to change identity? And why are the British secret services interested in him?
SarahSarah · 1983
Sarah
6.01983
MovieDrama
An insurance investigator meets an attractive woman in a hotel on his way to check out the causes of a fire that destroyed a movie set.
Indian SummerIndian Summer · 1972
Indian Summer
7.61972
MovieDramaRomance
In Italy, the gambler and professor of poetry Daniele Dominici arrives in the seaside town of Rimini and is hired to teach for four months in the local high school replacing another teacher. His relationship with his partner Monica is in crisis and he spends most of the time with his new acquaintances and gamblers Giorgio, Marcello and Gerardo. In classroom, he meets the gorgeous nineteen years old student Vanina Abati, who is Gerardo's girlfriend.
The Things of LifeThe Things of Life · 1970
The Things of Life
7.11970
MovieDramaRomance
The mind of Pierre Bérard, a successful middle-aged architect, is torn between his unstable present with Hélène, his younger lover, and his happy memories of the past with Catherine, his ex-wife; but his true destiny awaits him at a crossroads on his way to Rennes…
I Want Him DeadI Want Him Dead · 1968
I Want Him Dead
6.31968
MovieWestern
After his sister is kidnapped and murdered, a gunslinger's plans for vengeance involve assassinating two generals to prolong the Civil War.
Faces of LoveFaces of Love · 1977
Faces of Love
6.11977
MovieDrama
After 10 years separation from his wife, a film director (Jean-Louis Trintignant), imagines he can make up with her by giving her a part in his next film, an adaptation of Tshekov's "Three Sisters". He goes location scouting and stays in Bex, a Spa near Lake Leman, together with the three actresses : Julie, his ex-wife (Delphine Seyrig), the mysterious Cecilia, that his producer wants him to take (Lea Massari), and Esther (Valérie Mairesse), a teenager. They all stay in an old decaying hotel. In this isolated mansion the four of them will fight but also discover each other.
The Meetings of AnnaThe Meetings of Anna · 1978
The Meetings of Anna
7.01978
MovieDrama
Detached filmmaker Anna Silver arrives in Germany to show her latest film; over the course of some days, she encounters a variety of new and old faces, some of whom make personal revelations to her to little affect.
The Seventh TargetThe Seventh Target · 1984
The Seventh Target
5.91984
MovieThrillerDrama
Bastien Grimaldy, a man driven to heightened anxiety as the plot against him begins to take effect. Bastien's personal relationships give him enough cause for anxiety -- between his new lover Laura and a feisty mother, life provides its own insecurities. When he goes to the police with his problems, Bastien is assigned an off-beat inspector to protect him but is still faced with skepticism about his dilemma.
From a Roman BalconyFrom a Roman Balcony · 1960
From a Roman Balcony
6.61960
MovieDramaRomance
The ironic study of a young man's poignant adventures and sensual adventures...based on "Roman Tales" by Alberto Moravia.
The Night CallerThe Night Caller · 1975
The Night Caller
7.21975
MovieThrillerAction
A serial-killer frightens Paris by phoning young ladies at night, telling them insults about their lives. Minos, as he calls himself, wants to prevent the world from free women and he targets at first these ones. Commissaire Letellier is given the investigation and he has hard work with the maniac.
The Woman in BlueThe Woman in Blue · 1973
The Woman in Blue
5.41973
MovieDrama
Leading man Michel Piccoli plays Pierre, a young musician who briefly catches sight of a beautiful woman dressed in blue and soon spends all of his time trying to track her down. After roaming the streets of Paris in search of the mystery woman, he recruits an old friend to help find her.
The Camp FollowersThe Camp Followers · 1965
The Camp Followers
6.71965
MovieDramaWar
In WWII, Lieut. Martino and his men are assigned to lead a group of prostitutes through the mountainous ways to serve in brothels for Italian soldiers in Albania.
Impossible ObjectImpossible Object · 1973
Impossible Object
4.81973
MovieDrama
Harry is a married writer who has an affair with a woman whose husband knows that she is unfaithful. As a result of his work, Harry has trouble distinguishing between fantasy and reality leaving us to wonder whether the affair is real or just a figment of Harry's imagination.
ForbiddenForbidden · 1955
Forbidden
7.01955
MovieDrama
Don Paolo, a young parson troubled by his love for Agnese, tries to make peace in a little village in Sardinia where two families are at war.
Devil's RansomDevil's Ransom · 1971
Devil's Ransom
7.01971
MovieDramaThriller
A rich industrialist is accused of a crime he didn't commit. But every single clue leads to him.
Weeping for a BanditWeeping for a Bandit · 1964
Weeping for a Bandit
5.81964
MovieHistoryDrama
José María "El Tempranillo" fleeing from justice, takes refuge in Sierra Morena. After a period of hard learning, he becomes the leader of a group of bandits.
Il était une fois Sergio LeoneIl était une fois Sergio Leone · 2014
Il était une fois Sergio Leone
2014
MovieDocumentary
Return to Lisca Bianca IslandReturn to Lisca Bianca Island · 1983
Return to Lisca Bianca Island
4.91983
MovieTV MovieDocumentary
Twenty-three years after L'Avventura (1960), Michelangelo Antonioni returns to Lisca Bianca Island. The rarefied atmosphere of Anna's (Lea Massari's) disappearance is recalled by some audio excerpts from the original movie.

TV Shows

Spécial cinémaSpécial cinéma · 1974
Spécial cinéma
9.51974
Series
Marcello Mastroianni, Isabelle Adjani, Alain Delon, Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen... the biggest stars in cinema were welcomed by Christian Defaye on his show Spécial cinéma. Between intimate confessions from actors and immersion in the world of the greatest filmmakers, Christian Defaye took viewers on a journey into the fascinating world of cinema for nearly thirty years.
Les Rendez-vous du dimancheLes Rendez-vous du dimanche · 1975
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
6.01975
Series
A talk show presented by Michel Drucker
Midi PremièreMidi Première · 1975
Midi Première
9.01975
Series
Midi Première is a French variety show presented by Danièle Gilbert, directed by Jacques Pierre and broadcast from January 6, 1975 until January 1, 1982 on TF1. The program was generally broadcast between 12:15 p.m. and 12:55 p.m., then giving way to the 1:00 p.m. TV news. However, the broadcast schedule could change, depending on the guests, and the setting where the recording of the program was shot. Certain performances by artists who have become cult like the one where Ringo jostles with a demonstrator in interpretation (1977), that of Dalida with the title There is always a song with the soundtrack that does not start, twice, at the right speed (1978), Claude François and his Clodettes, who, in the provinces, are unable to join "the set" in order to interpret his song, the latter being taken by the crowd of delirious fans (summer 1977) . The group Supertramp performed there with the title "Dreamer" on March 8, 1975.
Midi trenteMidi trente · 1972
Midi trente
6.01972
Series
Anna KareninaAnna Karenina · 1974
Anna Karenina
5.81974
SeriesDrama
In Imperial Russia, Anna, wife of the officer Karenin, goes to Moscow to visit her brother. On the way, she meets charming cavalry officer Vronsky, to whom she's immediately attracted. But in St. Petersburg’s high society, a relationship like this could destroy a woman’s reputation.
The Brothers KaramazovThe Brothers Karamazov · 1969
The Brothers Karamazov
9.71969
SeriesDrama
Italian adaptation of Dostoevskys famous novel.