Maria Silva, a captivating Spanish actress, rose to international fame through her prolific career in various genres, including peplum, horror, and spaghetti westerns. Her screen journey commenced under the stage name Mara Silva in a 1959 Portuguese romantic comedy.
She swiftly transitioned to leading roles, often billed as 'Mary Silvers', in cult horror films like Jesús Franco's The Awful Dr. Orlof (1962). Her striking physique and versatility led her to secure robust leads and second leads in sword and sandal epics, spy thrillers, and European westerns.
Maria frequently collaborated with fading American stars like Steve Reeves, Frank Latimore, and Edmund Purdom. Her most notable role was as the intelligent and resourceful feminine interest in the comedy western Sartana Kills Them All (1970). She also demonstrated her range in horror films, often portraying icy or predatory characters, as seen in Tombs of the Blind Dead (1972),The Mummy's Revenge (1975),and Curse of the Devil (1973),where she played the infamous Countess Elizabeth Báthory.
In the early 1970s, Maria ventured onto the stage, performing in plays by renowned playwrights Jean Anouilh and Noël Coward. As she shifted her focus to television, she made her final appearance in 1992. Maria Silva was married to the Spanish writer and director José Grañena.
