#HappyBirthday to our paesana, Elsa Martinelli! Elsa Martinelli was born Elisa Tia in Grosseto, Tuscany, on January 30, 1935. She was an Italian actress and fashion model. Elsa became a model and began playing minor roles in films. Her first important film role came in 1955 with The Indian Fighter opposite Kirk Douglas, who claimed to have spotted her on a magazine cover and hired her for his production company, Bryna Productions. In 1956, she won the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the 6th Berlin International Film Festival for playing the title role in Mario Monicelli's, Donatella. #BuonCompleanno Elsa!