Beloved Entertainer Raffaella Carra’ Dies

Raffaella Carra' is shown in this May 14, 2011 photo. (AP)
Raffaella Carra' is shown in this May 14, 2011 photo. (AP)
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Beloved Entertainer Raffaella Carra’ Dies

Raffaella Carra' is shown in this May 14, 2011 photo. (AP)
Raffaella Carra' is shown in this May 14, 2011 photo. (AP)

Raffaella Carra’, for decades one of Italian television’s most popular and beloved entertainers, died on Monday at age 78 after a long illness, Italian state TV quoted her family as saying.

Rai state TV read a statement from the star’s family, announcing that she died at home after a long illness. It said that in keeping with her wishes medical details weren’t being released.

With her energetic presence and strong singing voice, the petite Carra’ was a beloved staple in the early heyday decades of Rai, especially when it was the only nationwide broadcaster.

With often sexy costumes — daring by state TV’s standards in a country where the Vatican wields considerable influence — Carra’ also was credited with helping Italian women be more confident with themselves. Once, in a then daring move, she barred her belly button during one TV performance. But she could also be devastatingly elegant and classy in her dress and manners.

Her trademark bouncy, blond haircut and bangs — the helmet look, it was dubbed — were imitated by many fans.

“She was the lady of Italian television,” Culture Minister Dario Franceschini said, expressing sorrow for her passing.

Affectionately known as Raffa, Carra’ was born Raffaella Maria Roberta Pelloni in Bologna on June 18, 1943. She started her career as a singer, dancer, TV presenter and actress when still a child.

She wasn’t married, although she had a longtime companion. She had no children, but her former companion, Sergio Japino, a TV director and choreographer, quoted her as often saying, “I didn’t have children but I had thousands of them,” Corriere della Sera quoted Japino as recalling. The reference was to some 150,000 children over the years she helped sponsor financially on one of her TV programs, called “Amore.”

She was also widely popular in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries.



Saudi Entertainment Authority Inaugurates AlHisn Big Time Studios in Riyadh

AlHisn Big Time Studios feature seven studio buildings covering an area of 10,500 square meters. (SPA)
AlHisn Big Time Studios feature seven studio buildings covering an area of 10,500 square meters. (SPA)
TT

Saudi Entertainment Authority Inaugurates AlHisn Big Time Studios in Riyadh

AlHisn Big Time Studios feature seven studio buildings covering an area of 10,500 square meters. (SPA)
AlHisn Big Time Studios feature seven studio buildings covering an area of 10,500 square meters. (SPA)

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority (GEA) Advisor Turki bin Abdulmohsen Al Al-Sheikh inaugurated on Monday AlHisn Big Time Studios, west of Riyadh, the largest and most modern studios for film and television production in the Middle East. The studios will help boost film and television production in the region.

AlHisn Big Time Studios, built in just 120 days, feature seven studio buildings covering an area of 10,500 square meters; the total project area measures 300,000 square meters. It also features a production village, with carpentry and metalworking workshops, as well as costume design facilities.

Additional amenities include luxurious suites for VIPs, offices for film production, and fully equipped editing rooms, all creating an ideal work environment that helps increase production efficiency.

The studios aim to streamline and accelerate production processes by concentrating the needs of film and television production in one location, saving time, effort, and costs, while supporting the production sector in the region on par with global standards.

The facility will provide a strategic opportunity for the financial and banking sector to support production companies. It will pave the way for a significant leap in film and television production at both local and regional levels.