Bella Cortez (born Alicia Paneque,[1] also known as Bella Cortese) is a Cuban actress and dancer known for her work in Italian sword-and-sandal films of the 1960s.
Bella Cortez | |
---|---|
Born | Alicia Paneque 1944 (age 77–78) Cuba |
Other names | Bella Cortese |
Occupation | Actress |
Alicia Paneque was spotted by an Italian film producer visiting Cuba. She accepted the proposal and moved to Italy.[2] Her first release was Primo Zeglio's The Seven Revenges (1961).[3]
Cortez played niece to Orson Welles's character and formed "an attractive pair of young lovers" with Luciano Marin in the international film The Tartars (1961).[4] The same year, she was paired opposite Gordon Mitchell in the Seven Arts production The Giant of Metropolis (1961), directed by Umberto Scarpelli.[5] They appeared together in two more films; Vulcan Son of Jupiter (1962) and Ali Baba and the Seven Saracens (1964).[6][self-published source] Cortez's characters were that of and Greco-Roman mythological Aetna an Arabian princess, respectively in these films.[7][8] She continued her starring roles with Antonio Leonviola-directed epic drama Taur, The Mighty (1963).[9]
Cortez played the female lead in Ali Baba and the Sacred Crown, directed by Erminio Salvi. The book Italian Sword and Sandal Films, 1908-1990 noted that Cortez was a "major asset to the production".[1] She made appearance in a supporting character in Gothic horror Katarsis (1963).[10][11]
Beside starring in 11 films, Cortez also did print modelling for cars and graced the covers of several European magazines. Following her marriage, she left the film industry.[2]
Cortez was romantically involved with Emimmo Salvi.[6] After her marriage, she relocated to the United States and as of 2011 Cortez was living at her daughter's house.[2]