Italian Actress Fiorenza Marchegiani, Star of Troisi's 'Ricomincio da tre', Dies at 73

Fiorenza Marchegiani, the Italian actress best known for her role as Marta in Massimo Troisi's debut film 'Ricomincio da tre' (1981), has died at the age of 73. The announcement was made on August 12, 2026, by Il Post. Marchegiani was chosen by Troisi himself for the part, despite having primarily worked in theatre and lacking film experience. In the movie, she played the love interest of the protagonist Gaetano, portrayed by Troisi, a young man who moves from the small town of San Giorgio a Cremano near Naples to Florence, where he encounters a vastly different lifestyle. Marta embodies the novelty and independence that Gaetano discovers in Florence, contrasting sharply with his shy and awkward demeanor. Their dynamic drives much of the plot. After this breakthrough role, Marchegiani never achieved comparable success in cinema. She continued acting in theatre and appeared in Italian television series, including popular soap operas 'Incantesimo' and 'Vivere', and the police drama 'Distretto di polizia' across several episodes. Her film career included supporting roles, such as in 'Natale a New York' (2006) directed by Neri Parenti, where she played the wife of Christian De Sica's character. Marchegiani's death marks the loss of a notable figure in Italian cinema, remembered for her memorable performance in a film that became a cultural touchstone.