Franca Rame

July 18, 1929 — Parabiago, Milan (Italy)

Franca Rame was an Italian theatre actress, playwright and political activist. She was married to Nobel literary laureate playwright Dario Fo. She made her theatrical debut in 1951. Shortly thereafter, she met Dario Fo, whom she married in 1954. Franca Rame appeared in a large number of feature films and plays. Together with her Dario Fo she wrote a large number of unique plays dealing with the private life of men and women. In 1973 she was kidnapped and raped by fascists. Ten years later, she used the experience for a monologue, Lo Stupro (The Rape). Franca Rame was elected to the Italian senate in 2006 but resigned within two years, saying the assembly was an icebox of feelings.