Anna Kanakis

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Anna Kanakis
Kanakis in the movie 'O Re (1989)
Born
Anna Maria Kanakis

(1962-02-01)1 February 1962[1]
Messina, Italy
Died19 November 2023(2023-11-19) (aged 61)
Rome, Italy
Height173 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Spouse(s)Claudio Simonetti (1981–?)
Marco Merati Foscarini (2004–2023)
Beauty pageant titleholder
TitleMiss Italia 1977
Major
competition(s)
Miss Italia 1977
(Winner)
Miss World 1977
Miss Universe 1981
Miss Europe 1981
(2nd Runner-Up)

Anna Kanakis (Greek: Άννα Κανάκη; 1 February 1962 – 19 November 2023) was an Italian actress, novelist, model and beauty pageant titleholder.

Life and career[edit]

Born in Messina from a Greek father from Crete and a Sicilian mother, in 1977 Kanakis was Miss Italy at only 15 years old, being the younger winner at the time.[1][2] In 1981, she entered the Miss Universe competition.[2] Kanakis worked in cinema as early as 1980, being mainly active in comedy films.[2] In later years, her career transitioned to television, were she had leading roles in series and TV-movies.[2][3]

Starting from You're So Mine When You Sleep, a 2010 novel about George Sand's life, Kanakis specialized in historical novels.[1][2] Her last work was Don't judge me ("Non giudicarmi"), a novel about the life events of Jacques d'Adelswärd-Fersen.[2][3]

Kanakis also had a brief political experience as national leader of Culture and Entertainment in the Democratic Union for the Republic.[1][2]

Personal life and death[edit]

In 1981, Kanakis married the composer Claudio Simonetti, but their marriage only lasted few years.[2] From 2004, she was married to Marco Merati Foscarini, a descendant of Marco Foscarini, one of the last Doges of Venice.[2] Kanakis had no children.[1] She died on 19 November 2023, at the age of 61.[3]

Selected filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1981 Attila flagello di Dio Sirena
1983 Acapulco, prima spiaggia... a sinistra Marina
1983 Occhio, malocchio, prezzemolo e finocchio Customer
1983 The New Barbarians Alma Italian film; released in the U.S. as Warriors of the Wasteland
1983 2019, After the Fall of New York Eurac Officer Ania Italian film; original title 2019 - Dopo la caduta di New York
1983 Segni particolari: bellissimo Rosalia Credited as Anna Maria Kanakis
1989 'O Re The Brigand
1990 The Miser Elisa
1991 Money Anna Lupino
1991 Reflections in a Dark Sky Chim
1997 Gli inaffidabili Gena
2006 The Final Inquiry Claudia Procula Italian film; original title L'inchiesta

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1990 A Season of Giants Sister Ilaria TV movie
1991 Young Catherine Countess Vorontsova TV mini-series
1995 La famiglia Ricordi Maria TV mini-series; 4 episodes
1999 Turn of the Century Giulia Cairo TV mini-series; original title Fine secolo; 5 episodes

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e "La splendida Anna Kanakis, com'è oggi e cosa fa: età, altezza, peso, primo e secondo marito, figli". www.tuttivip.it (in Italian). Tutti VIP. 9 October 2021. Retrieved 2022-02-11.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Addio ad Anna Kanakis, attrice e scrittrice, ex Miss Italia". ANSA (in Italian). 21 November 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Morta Anna Kanakis. È stata Miss Italia a 15 anni, poi attrice e scrittrice". Vanity Fair Italia. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.

External links[edit]