Anna Magnani was an Italian actress born in Rome in 1908. Her first role in neorealist films was in Rossellini's Rome, Open City, where she gave a brilliant performance. She had other collaborations with Roberto Rossellini in films such as The Human Voice and The Miracle.

Her other roles were in films such as The Fugitive Kind, The Secret of Santa Vittoria, The Golden Coach, The Rose Tattoo and others.

She was referred to as "La Lupa," the "perennial toast of Rome" and a "living she-wolf symbol" of the cinema. Time magazine described her personality as "fiery", and drama critic Harold Clurman said her acting was "volcanic".