Lyda Borelli

Lyda Cini, Countess of Monselice (née Borelli, 22 March 1884 – 2 June 1959) was an Italian actress of cinema and theatre. Her career in theatre started when she was a child, acting on stage with Paola Pezzaglia in the French drama I due derelitti. Biography Lyda Borelli was born on 22 March 1884, the second child to stage actors Napoleone Borelli and Cesira Banti Borelli. She had an older sister, Alda (1879–1964), who also became an actress. Borelli made her stage debut in 1902, and, by the age of 18, she was already receiving lead roles and had become a favorite actress of Gabriele D’Annunzio. In 1904, she starred in D’Annunzio's La Figlia di Jorio, and D'Annunzio dedicated his books Il ferro and Più che l’amore to her. By 1908, Borelli was considered a fashion icon; Borellismo and Borelleggiare both became terms used to describe how women tried to pose, dress, and move like Lyda Borelli.