Anna Kanakis dies at the age of 61. She was Miss Italy at just 15 years old, then cinema

She died after an illness of about seven months Anna Kanakis, model, actress and writer. She was 61 years old.

The news, confirmed by sources close to the family, is spreading on social media where messages of condolence follow one another. The funeral will be held on Thursday 23 November, at 3pm, in the church of San Salvatore in Lauro in Rome.

Anna Kanakis from Miss Italy to the cinema

Of a Greek father and Sicilian mother, in 1977 she was the youngest Miss Italy, elected when she was just 15 years old. You have acted in over 30 films, in Italy and abroad and also had a brief experience in politics as national director of Culture and Entertainment of the UDR, the party founded by Francesco Cossiga.

Anna Kanakis has had two marriages. In 1981 she married the musician Claudio Simonetti, from whom she divorced a few years later. In 2004 she married the Venetian Marco Merati Foscarini, a descendant of Marco Foscarini, one of the last doges of Venice.

«Cultivated, beautiful, elegant, refined, original, chic, divine. What a loss.” One of the first to comment on Anna Kanakis’ disappearance on X is the actor and director Giulio Base. On social media you can then read the comments of other colleagues and friends including Clement Minum And Francesco Canino.

In September 1977 she was elected Miss Italy in Sant’Eufemia d’Aspromonte: she was the first Miss Italy at such a young age to be elected, after a change in the regulations. In 1981 she participated in Miss Universe. She made her debut in cinema, with small roles in the brilliant comedy. Then, with Luigi Magni, she had her first small dramatic role as a brigantess in the film “o Re”, with Giancarlo Giannini and Ornella Muti. Over 30 films and TV dramas will follow, in Italy and abroad.

Patricia Mirigliani: “Multifaceted woman, full of interests, very cultured”

“Anna Kanakis was a multifaceted woman, full of interests, very cultured, of a proud beauty. When she also began to have success as a writer, she joked: ‘Even if I won a Nobel Prize I would always be remembered as Miss Italy 1977’. I will always remember her with a smile.” As Patrizia Mirigliani remembers Anna Kanakis, who was the youngest Miss Italy, at just 15 years old.

“Anna – adds the patron of the beauty contest – I often heard from her, the last time in 2019 to invite her to the television final of the 80th anniversary of Miss Italia, on Rai1. She immediately seemed happy to be able to share that historic achievement with all of us, of which she too had been very proudly part. When he suddenly declined, I understood that the real reason for that refusal was linked to health problems…”concludes Mirigliani.

When Enzo Mirigliani died in 2011, Anna Kanakis told Adnkronos: “I have very sweet memories of Enzo Mirigliani – she said – I remember when, at just fifteen years old, I was elected Miss Italy and he, understanding that I was a little scared, hugged me and looking at me with those blue eyes said to me: don’t worry, you have joined the big family of Miss Italy”.