Angela Luce, an Italian actress and singer who earned a David di Donatello Award for her work in cinema, died Feb. 20 of heart failure. She was 87.
Her film career included roles in The Stranger, The Specialists, and The Decameron. She worked with directors such as Luchino Visconti and Pier Paolo Pasolini and appeared in more than 60 films. Dramatist Eduardo De Filippo described her as a "force of nature".
As a singer of Canzone Napoletana, she recorded 14 albums and secured a second-place finish at the Sanremo Festival in 1975. Her vocal performances often utilized an unamplified style, relying on the natural power of her voice rather than electronic assistance. In 1995, she won the David di Donatello Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film L'amore molesto.
Luce also served as an educator, holding lessons on the work of Raffaele Viviani at the University of Naples and the University of Bologna. Two Italian Presidents received her to acknowledge her artistic achievements. Recognized as the voice of Naples, she resided in Italy through her final years.