Jonathan Stryker: Where were you born and where did you grow up?

Barbara Magnolfi: I was born in France and I grew up in Rome. I lived there the majority of my life. I love my eternal city ROMA!!

JS: Were you a big movie fan growing up?

BM: Oh yeah, I was fascinated by movies and the phenomenal power of reaching people they have! I was inspired by them and definitely wanted to be part of that. They would take me on a journey or give me a message and in hard times they would even help me see through it. Movies were definitely inspirational to me since very young!

JS: What opportunities existed for you to see movies? Were the theaters large or small?

BM: As a kid In Italy l saw movies in crowded and smoke-filled theaters, sitting on wooden seats that were quite uncomfortable but I still loved the experience. I remember there was an intermission between part one and part two to change the reels, and sometimes the reel would skip but all along I loved the feeling of the lights dimming in the theatre and the excitement of anticipating the film. Then later, I watched them in better, more comfortable seats and larger theaters. But, I also remember going to this small cinema in Trastevere, an area of Rome, and it was tiny and uncomfortable but I would go there to see the movies in their original language and not dubbed in Italian, you know. All this for the love of movies!

JS: Describe your teenage years.

BM: Oh, they were challenging to say the least. I had a family situation which forced me to leave home at fifteen. I was going to school and then was modeling in the afternoon. I was making quite good money and this family that gave the job at first really loved me and kind of adopted me for a few years. So, I made my way through high school and then got a place of my own and went to acting school and also continued in college studying languages. I was determined to get where I wanted to get and, in a way, my tough family situation helped me as I never had anything or anybody to fall back on but me. I had to make it happen! Soon, I started doing photo shoots and a few celebrity photographers noticed me. One thing led to another and I started doing shoots for Fiorucci, for Coca Cola, Sicis jeans, and more. The prints came out in Vogue magazine and others. I was on the cover of the Espresso Magazine twice and things moved fast from there. I was meeting lots of people and getting lots of exposure. I got an agent and booked my first films.

JS: You played Floriana in MORTE SOSPETTA DI UNA MINORENNE (SUSPECTED DEATH OF A MINOR). Did you have any scenes with Massimo Girotti who also starred in OSSESSIONE, BARON BLOOD and LAST TANGO IN PARIS?

BM: No, I did not. I did have scenes with Claudio Cassinelli. He played Paolo Germi, the lead in the film. Claudio and I became close friends and he gave me some great advice on acting. We continued to be in touch long after the movie. Also, one of my best friends, Roberto Posse, was in the movie, and other great actors like Mel Ferrer, too!

JS: Was this your first movie?

BM: I consider it my official debut, yes, although I had done a movie before that, when I was twelve years-old, but I don't think I was credited for it.

JS: Was this for COME, QUANDO, PERCHE? (HOW, WHEN, WHY?)

BM: Yes, this was Antonio Pietrangeli's last movie before he died. In fact, I believe Valerio Zurlini completed it. I played all the flash backs of Lilly Lembo's character. At first, I was so scared and nervous but the experience of being on the set soon became exhilarating - almost mystical for me. It was like I had always done it. When Pietrangeli commented, "You're a natural," it confirmed that this was my path!

JS: So, how did you end up getting into the film business?

BM: I didn't just end up there; it seems that this was something that I wanted to do since I was a child. It wasn't an accident, it was intended by me; I was never going to do anything else that wasn't artistic and creative. I started dancing when I was very young. I liked being on stage and expressing myself, performing that way. I loved the music, another passion of mine, and continued dancing for many years. My dance teacher didn't want to let go of me; she thought I was ready to make dancing my career. But, I didn't just want to be in one performing art and was looking forward to explore acting in films and directing someday, too. I have always been very creative and it was only natural to me to end up in the film business. By the way, it doesn't mean that it came easily or that it was easy because of my looks like some suggest, you know. I was determined and didn't let anything or anyone stop me!

JS: You were also in LA MADAMA (THE MADAME) with many people. Can you tell me about this film/your experiences?

BM: La Madama is Italian slang for "police" or "Carabinieri," the police in Italy. The film is a comedy about that. This was a fantastic opportunity to work with some awesome professionals, including some amazing actors like Tom Skerritt and therefore I was very excited. In retrospect, my role was nothing more than a few days work, but I got a lot out of it! I was getting there, you know? To me, it was a step in the right direction, more exposure; I was starting to work steadily at this point in my career. I was achieving my dream! It was tangible.

JS: You appeared in DIFFICILE MORIRE (DIFFICULT TO DIE) with Mario Adorf, who played the eccentric painter Berto Consalvi in Dario Argento's THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE.

BM: I love this movie - it is my favorite. I starred as Letizia Von Ausberg, and the movie was directed by Umberto Silva, an historian. It was a costume drama piece set in 1911 and stretching to 1945. It was written by Oscar-nominated (for LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL) Vincenso Cerami. In my opinion, this is a great movie and definitely my favorite. I had to perform a dancing scene which ended with a split as the closing scene of the movie. After I finished everyone on the set was very quiet, I got worried I did something wrong but then there was a standing ovation!!! Tears of excitement, happiness, accomplishment, as well as gratefulness, swelled up my eyes. Too bad this movie wasn't distributed very well. However, the cast and crew were nothing short of amazing. Marc Porel, Gerardo Amato, Mario Adorf and more. I am still trying to obtain a copy of that movie for myself!

JS: You're best known to American audiences for playing Olga, Jessica Harper's roommate, in Dario Argento's SUSPIRIA (SIGHS). The film has garnered cult status and is probably his best-known film. Can you share any anecdotes on the making of this film? How did it come to you?

BM: I remember I had taken the weekend off, and I was spending it in Spain. I was relaxing, in the pool, and a valet came over to me with a note from my agent letting me know that he had booked the first flight back to Rome for me as I had to meet Dario Argento in his production office the next morning. At the time, I didn't know much about Dario but liked his film THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE. The next morning I was in his production office. There, he put me in the middle of the room and asked me to perform certain dance moves. He was looking at me as though he had a camera lens in his hand but didn't. He kept moving slowly around me till he got really excited, and that's how I got the role. Working with Dario and actors like Joan Bennett and Alida Valli was really incredible! I remember Dario as being a perfectionist, being very passionate about his work; on-set you could see how he was following his vision and would not settle for less of an achievement! Dario and I have had a special relationship from the beginning and SUSPIRIA, to me, the whole experience from start to finish and for many years more even up till now, can be summed up in one word: magic! As Dario commented to me in May 2010 in Los Angeles at the Weekend of Horrors, where we reunited after so many years, "Abbiamo fatto un buon lavoro davvero," which means "We really did a good job" when we made SUSPIRIA! I agree; we really did!

JS: Carolyn de Fonseca dubbed your voice in SUSPIRIA. She has done a lot of dubbing for Dario Argento's films, such as for Daria Nicolodi in PROFONDO ROSSO and PHENOMENA. Why do they dub voices?

BM: Yes, personally I don't like the dubbing of films. SUSPIRIA was shot in English and dubbed in both English and Italian. I am not sure why Italy doesn't adopt subtitles!

JS: You appeared in DISPOSTA A TUTTO (READY FOR ANYTHING) with Eleonora Giorgi (GEORG-ghee) who played Sarah in Dario Argento's INFERNO. What can you tell me about this film?

BM: Yes, I co starred with Eleonora and my character was her best friend and neighbor. As the title says, she is ready for anything with this guy she falls for, but it leads to an abusive relationship! The film ended up being distributed by Miramax in USA. Incredible! Go figure!

JS: MILANO.DIFENDERSI O MORIRE (MILAN. DEFEND YOURSELF OR TO DIE) you made soon after which also featured Al Cliver, best-known to American audiences for his work in Lucio Fulci's films. Did you have any scenes with him?

BM: Yes, I did, he kidnaps me in the movie. He is on the bad guys' team - ha! ha! Aside from that we were actually good friends! However, most of my scenes were with Marc Porel (whom I was married to at the time) and George Hilton. Personally, I think this film is quite enjoyable. I re-watched it with some friends who are half my age and they all loved it!

JS: Can you tell me about LA SORELLA DI URSULA (THE SISTER OF URSULA)?

BM: Oh, that! Well, it isn't what I signed up for. It is a different movie all together. I wish it wasn't around! Originally, it was a decent story, a psychological thriller. However, the director and the producer made a deal mid-filming, and decided to add some graphic sex to make more money; only they did it without our consent!!! Result? Well, a crappy movie and our names (mine and Marc Porel's) being used to promote it! It's no wonder the director didn't do much more after that! I was approached by someone before the DVD got released in USA, to be interviewed for the special features as I am Ursula in the movie, but I declined. Ironically the director in the special features goes on about how I disappeared. It's funny how everyone else can easily find me on the Internet!

JS: CUT AND RUN (INFERNO IN DIRETTA) starred Richard Lynch, Richard Bright, Michael Berryman, John Steiner, and Karen Black and was directed by Ruggero Deodato.

BM: It was a great experience! It was the first time that I worked in the United States. I got gruesomely killed pretty much right away in this film, I played a girl who smuggles cocaine in a fake baby and something goes wrong. Ruggero Deobato had me audition for the lead but my English wasn't good enough at the time, so he still gave me a role in the movie as Rita and with that also came the opportunity to come to the States and work with some pretty amazing people. I recall Lisa Blount and Leonard Mann particularly as the scenes were with them, also Eriq LaSalle whom I admire very much.

JS: You made MAI CON LE DONNE (NEVER WITH WOMEN) in 1985 with Ania Pieroni, who played both the musical student in INFERNO and Elsa Manni in TENEBRE.

BM: This was a project that was done for TV, there were multiple episodes. I was starring in all and they depicted the adventures of a single girl and all of her life's experiences with dating, etc. Ania Pieroni wasn't part of this project at all, but after weeks of shooting, the producer suddenly disappeared leaving all the bills behind! The project got shut down we couldn't go on. I didn't even get paid for the weeks of work and had to return all the tailor-made costumes that would per the contract have been given to me at the end of shooting. I didn't know that later, to save the material shot, I believe someone else picked up the project and at that point more new episodes were shot with Ania. I personally have never even seen what came out of it! It was a comedy, a genre I am good at but not known for!

JS: GOTCHA is an Australian film that came out in 1991. Tell me about it.

BM: This was a short film, directed by Howard Rubie who did a lot of work for TV in Australia. I enjoyed it very much. I lived in Australia for a few years, and did some work there, including a guest appearance in a famous TV series called "Police Rescue."

JS: Why do certain Italian films get US distribution, and others are more difficult to find?

BM: There are certain Italian films that really wouldn't have a market in the U.S., however many do and distribution should be worked out during the early stages of production I believe! It is up to the producers to ensure it. But, usually larger budget films do get distributed in the U.S. while smaller, more independent types don't.

JS: If SUSPIRIA and CREEPERS hadn't been released here, I never would have known about these movies at the time that they were originally released. I suppose I would have discovered them later on. But even in the early days of home video it was a struggle to find halfway decent versions of Dario Argento's work. It's much easier now with DVD, Netflix, Blockbuster and the Internet.

BM: Yes, indeed, Netflix and Blockbuster are good but there are probably more in Italy that haven't been seen here in the U.S. yet and would be worth seeing. I believe that more films will be remastered and released on DVD. I know mine are. The Criterion Collection series has a lot of Italian and old classic movies series and who knows, maybe they will make a series on Italian horror master Dario Argento. Anyhow, with the Internet now it is pretty easy to download any film from any country!

JS: Yes, I'm sure that the same holds true for Spain, and France, etc.

BM: Yes, indeed, though France is quite strong and imports and distributes more films in the U.S. However, Americans seem to be content with just American films. People who look for the foreign films are a smaller percentage, I think. It's much easier for us in Italy to see American films. Hollywood is indeed the capital of this industry to the world's eyes.

JS: What are you working on now?

BM: Well, I am now producing and putting together the funds for a documentary I have written and plan to start shooting soon. I am in the progress of writing my autobiography, and as an actress I have a film project which I will be starring in. The project is in pre-production and is the first feature by a French director. I support the independent film scene and new cinematographers. I love it more than the commercial films. I am also in the process of recording, yes, singing!!!! Music has been a passion of mine for the longest time and I thought I would explore what I could do with that! I am coming out with a pictures and quotes of mine book by fall, too! Most importantly, having fun in the process is a priority for me. I am passionate about life and love to pass that on and inspire others! That is why I do what I do! I have experienced the top and the bottom but my spirit always soars!!!

Photos kindly provided by Barbara Magnolfi - all images property of www.barbaramagnolfi.com.