Maria Cumani Quasimodo (20 May 1908 – 22 November 1995) was an Italian actress and dancer.
Born Maria Clementina Cumani in Milan, she studied dance under Jia Ruskaja. In 1936, she became the companion of the poet Salvatore Quasimodo, with whom she had a son, Alessandro. In 1937, she made her professional debut as a dancer, and shortly later she specialized in "poetic dance", a personal style in which dance was combined with poetic verses. She was married to Quasimodo from 1948 to 1960. In the meanwhile, Cumani Quasimodo started a double career as a choreographer and a stage and film character actress. Shortly before her death, she released an autobiography, L'arte del silenzio, which particularly focuses on her years alongside Salvatore Quasimodo.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1964 Shivers in Summer Giulia Uncredited1965 Juliet of the Spirits Woman at Bhishma's Sitting Uncredited1966 Pardon, Are You For or Against? Baronessa Cornianu 1967 The Subversives Ludovico's mother 1967 Play-Boy Baroness 1968 La notte è fatta per... rubare Olga 1968 Ballad of a Bounty Hunter 1968 Galileo 1969 The Laughing Woman Sayer's Secretary 1969 Medea Uncredited1971 Veruschka 1972 All the Colors of the Dark Elderly Neighbor 1972 Pulp Office Manageress 1973 The Nun and the Devil Lavinia 1973 Bella, ricca, lieve difetto fisico, cerca anima gemella 1973 Cuore 1974 All Screwed Up Owner of restaurant 1974 Prigione di donne Ursula - the Mother Superior 1974 Il tempo dell'inizio Maitresse 1974 Five Women for the Killer Marta 1974 Two Missionaries Marchesa Gonzaga 1975 Wanted: Babysitter Princess Ruspini Uncredited1978 Interno di un convento 1978 L'inquilina del piano di sopra 1979 Caligula Priestess of Isis Uncredited1983 Nostalghia 1984 Dance music 1984 She Moona 1988 Vampire in Venice Princess 1994 Aquero Isadora (final film role)
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