Gina Lollobrigida’s death on January 16, 2023, inspired us to look back and reflect on an extraordinary era of Italian cinema that spans the neorealism of the 1940s to the early 1970s. During that time, numerous directors with different styles brought Italy to life on the big screen, and the actresses became as well-known around the world as any Hollywood star. They were divas and anti-divas whose beauty, charisma and glamour left an indelible mark on world cinema.

This reminder of some of the most important female artists of the era may also encourage us to rediscover some classic titles, films that are in danger of being forgotten and stories worth revisiting; most can be found on streaming services like Amazon and Netflix.