Moira Orfei (; born Miranda Orfei; 21 December 1931 – 15 November 2015) was an Italian circus performer, actress and television personality of remote Romani origins. Moira was also considered the queen of the Italian circus, one stage name being "Moira of the Elephants". Cult movie fans know her for the many sword-and-sandal (peplum) films she starred in.
Biography Raised in a family who owned the circus company Circus Orfei, Moira became the symbol of circus in Italy and attained international fame. The Circus Moira Orfei itself was founded in 1960. She was photographed in various scenes as a rider, trapeze artist, acrobat, dominatrice of elephants and trainer of doves.
Her excessively garish image mirrors her eccentric and exuberant personality. It was Dino De Laurentiis who suggested that she change her name from Miranda to Moira.Una biografia online From then on, her face became an effigy of unchanging characteristics: heavy make-up with eyes coated with eyeliner, bright lipstick, an accentuated mole above the lip, hair tied in a turban. Promotional billboards were carpeted with this picture in every city that the circus stopped. She also became a film actress, acting in over forty films, from comedies to sword-and-sandal films (among which were many Italian crime films).
Personal life Her parents were Riccardo Orfei, who was the clown Bigolon, and Violetta Arata. She married Walter Nones in 1961, and they had two children Stefano Orfei and Lara Orfei.
Death On 4 August 2006, Moira Orfei suffered an ischemic stroke during a show in Gioiosa Ionica. The artist was still under medical care when she died nine years later from natural causes on 15 November 2015 in Brescia, Italy.Moira Orfei, circus owner - obituary
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1960The Loves of HerculesNemeaUnder Ten FlagsShipwreckedCameo appearanceTi aspetterò all'infernoAnoukQueen of the PiratesJanaThe Giants of ThessalyAtalantaCameo appearance1961UrsusAtteaRevenge of the ConqueredEdmaMole Men Against the Son of HerculesHalis MosabRocco e le sorelleLolaArmi contro la leggeNormaAtlas in the Land of the CyclopsPaesant girlCameo appearanceChe femmina e… che dollari!Moira1962Kerim, Son of the SheikZairaIl re ManfrediGrendaI tromboni di Fra' DiavoloCarmelaUrsus in the Valley of the LionsDiarGli italiani e le donneClaudia CaracciSegment: "L'abito non fa il monaco"1963I due mafiosiClaudetteToto vs. the FourMrs. FioreScenes cutToto and CleopatraOctavia the YoungerSamson and the Slave QueenMalvaDivorzio alla sicilianaMarisaThe Monk of MonzaSister VirginiaThe Beast of Babylon Against the Son of HerculesUra1964The Two GladiatorsMarziaI predoni della steppaMalinaRevolt of the PraetoriansArtamneSamson and His Mighty ChallengeDalilaThe Triumph of HerculesPasiphae1965Casanova 70SantinaHow We Got into Trouble with the ArmyTaide BonafiniL'incendio di RomaPoppaeiaTwo Sergeants of General CusterBaby O'Connor1966Due mafiosi contro Al CaponeRosalíaThe Birds, the Bees and the ItaliansGiorgia Casellato1968Torture Me But Kill Me with KissesAdelaide1974Paolo il freddoHerselfCameo appearanceScent of a WomanMirka1975Dracula in the ProvincesBestia Assatanata1980Arrivano i bersaglieriHerselfCameo appearance1982Pin il monelloHerselfCameo appearance1990Vacanze di Natale '90Gloria2003Natale in IndiaHerselfCameo appearance2006Moira Orfei: Amore e fioriHerselfDocumentary
See also Anastasini Circus
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