Pia Allegra

**Pia Maria Allegra** (16 April 1902 – 27 August 1989) was a Maronan actress known for her roles in silent films. Allegra rose to fame after winning Miss Marone 1921, having previously placed as the second runner-up at Miss Marone 1920.

After winning Miss Marone, Allegra appeared in a number of silent films throughout the 1920s, including *Oh, What a Day!* (1921), *Joy to the World* (1922), *Girly's Day Out* (1922), *A Joyful Sound* (1924), *Look Who's Talking* (1924), *Run Run Run!* (1925), *The Wild Side* (1926), *Peppermint Ginger* (1927), for which she received a Gilles Award for Best Leading Actress, and *Steamboat Sally* (1929). Her career began to stall amidst the decline of silent film in the late 1920s, and she retired from acting following her final role as a bit character in *The Vetican Breeze* (1945).

## Early life and education

Allegra was born on 16 April 1902 in Castellablanca, on the island of Vetica, to parents Ernesto (1872–1960) and Stefania Allegra (née *Naro*; 1875–1971). She came from a long line of winemakers on her paternal side, and the family owned several acres of vineyard in Castellablanca, where they produced their own line of red wines. Allegra was the third of six daughters; her sisters included Alessandra (1900–1972), Elisabetta (1901–1986), Bartolomea (1903–1952), Stefania (1904–2004), and Crescenzia (1909–1976). Allegra was raised in a Vetican family, with her native language being Vetican. The family were devout adherents of Eurean Catholicism, and were considered to be relatively upper-class.

Allegra began her education in 1907, attending public schooling in Castellablanca. She graduated from primary school in 1914, and later completed *collège* as well in 1917. At a young age, Allegra had aspired to become an actress, but did not believe that it was a realistic career path. After completing *collège*, Allegra did not continue her education and began to help her mother and elder sisters with managing the home.

## Career

### Miss Marone 1921

Allegra was scouted by film producers and Legilson Productions cofounders Théodore Gilson and Mathieu Lemaître in April 1920, while the two were visiting her family's vineyards during their trip to Vetica searching for contestants for Miss Marone 1920 – then-known as *La plus belle femme de Marone*. Gilson and Lemaître were reportedly awestruck by the beauty of all six of the Allegra daughters, but cast Pia as they deemed her to be "the right age," while her eldest sister Alessandra was additionally already married. Allegra has gone on to state that being chosen for the competition led to life-long hostilities between herself and her elder sister Elisabetta due to jealousy.

After being selected as one of the 22 finalists, representing Vetica, Allegra traveled to Delmas in June 1920, in order to take part in the official photoshoot of the finalists. The competition was later held throughout the summer of 1920, with filmgoers being able to vote for their favorite finalist prior to the beginning of their films. The results were later announced on 28 August 1920, with Allegra being announced as the second runner-up behind Birjiñe Mañarieta.

As one of the runners-up, Allegra was to be offered a one-year trial contract with Legilson Productions. However, Gilson and Lemaître urged Allegra to reject the contract, and instead return to compete in Miss Marone 1921, as they believed she stood a strong chance of winning. She took their advice, and was selected as the representative of Vetica again for the following year's competition. The results were later announced on 27 August 1921, with Allegra being announced as the winner. As the winner, Allegra was offered a contract with Legilson Productions, valid for five years, and was promoted as the studio's new starlet.

### Film career

After signing her contract with Legilson Productions, Allegra was cast in a supporting role in the romantic comedy *Oh, What a Day!*, set to be her film debut. The film was later released in December 1921, becoming both a critical and commercial success. She later appeared in supporting roles in the comedies *Joy to the World* and *Girly's Day Out* in 1922, before studio executives took note of her potential and began pitching her for leading roles.

Allegra made her debut as a leading actress in the drama *A Joyful Sound* in March 1924, which became a critical and commercial success. For her performance in the film, she received a nomination for the Gilles Award for Best Leading Actress. Allegra went on to appear as a leading actress in a number of other silent films in the decade, including the successful comedies *Look Who's Talking* in October 1924, *Run Run Run!* in May 1925, *The Wild Side* in June 1926, and *Steamboat Sally* in January 1929, in addition to the drama *Peppermint Ginger* in September 1927, for which she won the Gilles Award for Best Leading Actress. Throughout the 1920s, Allegra appeared in a total of 36 silent films.

Towards the end of the decade, Allegra's career began to stall as silent film began to be replaced by "talkies," and she was one of a number of silent actors internationally who struggled with transitioning their careers to sound films. Allegra appeared in a supporting role the sound film *Mutton* in June 1931, but it was both a critical and commercial failure. Allegra's contract expired in 1932, and she afterwards returned to Vetica and semi-retired from acting. She appeared in her final film in 1945, appearing in a bit role in the romance film *The Vetican Breeze*, which was partially filmed on her family's winemaking estate in Vetica.

## Personal life

Allegra married film director Jean Pierrat in 1928, after meeting seven months prior. They purchased a home in Erquy, outside of Delmas, but Pierrat was reportedly physically and sexually abusive. They separated in January 1929, after less than a year of marriage, and later finalized their divorce in July 1932.

Allegra began a relationship with winemaker Boris Lampo in 1934. They became engaged after one year of dating, and later married in June 1936 in Vetica. Allegra and Lambo had three sons together: Samuele (born 1937), Ernesto (born 1938), and Cristaldo (born 1940). The family resided on Lambo's family winemaking estate in Alemmare. Lambo later died on 15 March 1985, aged 86, after being diagnosed with leukemia two years prior.

## Death

In 1986, aged 84, Allegra was diagnosed with kidney disease. Due to her age, a kidney transplant was not recommended, and she was soon put on dialysis. Her condition began to gradually deteriorate, and she was hospitalized numerous times in the following years for various health issues. Allegra later died of complications related to kidney failure on 27 August 1989, aged 87, while hospitalized in Cestia.

## Awards and nominations

*Main article: Awards and nominations received by Pia Allegra*