Lydia Simoneschi

Biography

Lydia Simoneschi began working in the Italian cinema in the thirties in little parts, typically the waitress in some films. She didn't have the "phisique du role" to become a leading lady but her voice was wonderful. So, the dubbing became the right world for her. In the thirties and forties Lydia became one of the "Queens of dubbing" in Italy, the best of all her colleagues. Practically every famous actress, especially american, gets her voice at least one time in her career. Lydia becomes the abitual voice for Ingrid Bergman (Notorious, For whom the bell tolls, Spellbound), Bette Davis (All about Eve, Pocketful of miracles), Lauren Bacall (How to marry a millionaire, Written on the wind), Joan Crawford (Autumn Leaves, Whatever happened to Baby Jane), Susan Hayward (Backstreet, David and Batsheba), Jennifer Jones (Duel in the sun, Portrait of Jennie) and sometimes, when the actress gives an outstanding performance she is chosen to make her speak Italian (It's the case of Hedy Lamarr in "Samson and Delilah", Doris Day in "The man who knew too much" and June Duprez in "The thief of Bagdad"). Her career lasted for all the '70s when she continued dubbing character actresses and had the leading dubbing role in the Disney Classic "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" (Angela Lansbury). She has been indubitably the most glamorous and versatile voice of the Italian dubbing, capable of matching with the most different acting styles with a virtuosity that is a real miracle.