Liana Orfei, a renowned circus performer, began her career at the tender age of two, donning the persona of Lacrima, a pint-sized clown. As the daughter of circus owner Paride Orfei, also known as 'Pippo', and his wife Alba Furide, Liana was destined for a life under the big top. She would go on to master various skills, including trapeze artistry, acrobatics, juggling, and animal training.
In 1954, Liana married fellow juggler Angelo Piccinelli, and together they started their own three-ring circus in 1962, which would eventually evolve into the spectacular Circorama extravaganza. This grand production featured an array of top acts, exotic animals, and cinematic interludes projected onto a cinemascope screen.
In addition to her circus endeavors, Liana ventured into the world of cinema in 1959, followed a year later by her older sister Moira. Moira, also a skilled circus performer, earned the nickname 'Moira of the elephants' and went on to appear in numerous peplum and escapist adventure films alongside 'touring' American stars.
Liana's filmography boasts a diverse array of roles, including exotic and sultry performances opposite Lex Barker in the swashbuckling trio Terror of the Red Mask, Knight of 100 Faces, and Pirates of the Coast. She also appeared alongside Kirk Morris in Hercules in the Valley of Woe and Victor Mature in The Tartars, playing the role of a Viking wife.
Her other notable film credits include The Giant of Metropolis, Rage of the Buccaneers, The Avenger, Queen of the Nile, and Damon and Pythias. In the spaghetti western genre, Liana starred in Django Kills Softly, playing the titular hero's love interest, a blonde woman held captive by an evil town boss.
In one of her final film appearances, Liana played a character based on herself in Federico Fellini's The Clowns (1970). After retiring from acting in the mid-80s, Liana remained deeply involved with the circus, co-staging the Golden Circus Festival in Rome's Teatro Tendastrisce with her producer-husband Paolo Pristipino from 1984. This esteemed event featured many top acts and cemented Liana's enduring legacy in the world of circus entertainment.
