Cleopatra, the actresses: from Netflix to all the films released in history

cleopatraa name that evokes sensuality, political intrigue and a lavish era which has always fascinated directors and producers of Hollywood. An idea of ​​a powerful and glamorous woman that continues today on Netflix with Queen Cleopatradocu-series produced by Jada Pinkett-Smith which sparked a thousand controversies because of the black guess of the queen of Egypt. Interpreted by African-American actress, Adele James. Decision highly criticized by many historians and by the Egyptian people.

Controversies that perhaps there will not be for the next interpretations of the queens; in the works on the character there are in fact two more movies. The first, in pre-production, will have stars Gal Gadot; the second, still at the level of gossip, should be directed by Denis Villeneuve with the protagonist Zendaya. But how many actresses have undertaken the task of portraying her?

Cleopatra, from Netflix to movies: all the actresses who have played her

Elizabeth Taylor

If the much talked about 1963 film by Joseph L. Mankiewicz has a merit, it is that of having “produced” an explosive mixture: Liz Taylor And Richard Burton. Shot in Cinecittà, he says the bond between the Queen of Egypt and her Mark Antony. But precisely, the real film is theLove which was born between the two actors, and which filled the pages of newspapers all over the world. The other details are that it almost bankrupted Fox for disproportionate budgets between production designers and shooting days. And Liz, with hers $200,000 of just wardrobe (about 65 stage costumes). For the time a blunder.

Elizabeth Taylor in “Cleopatra”. (Getty Images)

Monica Bellucci

Absolute protagonist of the 2002 comedy Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatrathe beautiful Monica plays with sensuality and class one of the few comedic roles of his career. In the film, the queen hires an architect for build the largest royal palace in the world and the man will ask for help from his troublemaker friends Asterix and Obelix. Performed by Christian Clavier e Gerard Depardieu.

Monica Bellucci. (Contrast)

Sophia Loren

Written by Hector Scola and directed by Mario Mattoli, Two nights with Cleopatra (1954) stars the national Loren in a dual role. That of maneater queen of Egypt, seductive and ruthless, but also to a slave girl identical to the queen. Which will make a very young man fall in love with it Alberto Sordiunaware of his humble origins.

Vivien Leigh

Based on a play by George Bernard Shaw, Caesar and Cleopatra (1945) tells the conquest of Egypt by a now mature Julius Caesar. Arriving in the capital Alexandria, the Roman general will meet a very young Cleopatra and will help her become queen in place of her brother Ptolemy. For Vivien Leigh, one of the most beautiful and intense roles after winning the Oscar for Gone With the Wind.

Vivien Leigh. (Getty Images)

Virginia Mayo

Included in many lists of worst movies ever, Hell accuses us (1957) is one surreal comedy where a “supreme” court must decide whether give humanity an opportunity for salvation before some dangerous atomic experiments are done.

Before the final decision, they are passed in review of great characters in history. Including the beautiful Cleopatra. In the cast, for the last time all together we find the legendary Marx brothers.

Virginia Mayo. (Contrast)

Claudette Colbert

Directed by Cecil B. DeMille in 1934, Cleopatra this time has the face of the beautiful French actress. The film of the same name, lavish as only blockbusters of the time, is focused on the love life of Cleopatra and begins with his relationship with Julius Caesar and then continue with Mark Antony.

Claudette Colbert he was at the peak of his career at the time and won a Oscar for Best Actress For It happened one night by Frank Capra.

Claudette Colbert. (Getty Images)

Katy Perry

Even pop stars can’t resist the call of Egypt. And in 2013 Katy Perry chooses to play Cleopatra in video clips of the hit Dark Horse. A video that set the record for 30 million views in two days but which also ended up in the storm for an accusation of blasphemy. For the scene, later removed, in which Cleopatra incinerates a man who wears a pendant with the name of Allah around his neck.

Theda Bara

Masterpiece of silent cinemathe 1917 version of Cleopatra sadly today it no longer exists. Interpreted by the first “dark” diva in the history of cinema, the film was enormously successful at the time but years later, with the entry into force of the Hays Code, the film copies were all burned because considered too much obscene. They survived though 20 second movie that can be seen here.

Dorothy Dandridge, Missed Cleopatra

Singer, actress but also first African-American divathe beautiful and unfortunate protagonist of Carmen Joneswho died at the age of only 42, was the initial choice to play Cleopatra in the upcoming film for Fox.

Dorothy Dandridge. (Getty Images)

Who wanted it was the producer Walter Wagner, even before entrusting the direction to Joseph L. Mankiewicz. But at the time he was forbidden to show a kiss between a black and a white, and so the project failed. Liz Taylor took overand Dandridge, already undermined by alcohol and drugs, suffered the blow falling more and more.

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