User:Jnorthdur/Leda Gys

Leda Gys
Born Gisella Lombardi, Leda Gys was an Italian silent film actress and diva.

Start of career
Leda Gys was introduced by the poet Trilussa to the management of Celio-film of Rome, including the owner Avv. Mecheri and the artistic director, Count Baldassere Negroni. Leda Gys was paraised for her performance as the dressmaker Louisette in Histoire d'un Pierrot, one of the fims which helped lanuch the career of Francesca Bertini. After several performances in secondary roles at Celio Film, Gys moved to Turin and worked at Mario Caserini's Caserini Film. Gys began to secure elading roels and was often partnered on-screen by Mario Bonnard, one of the most popular actors of the period. Bonnard asked Gys to accept a joint offer for them to return to Rome, adn work for Cines film; an offer which brought them both higher wages and the opportunity for Gys to return to her native city.

At Cines, Gys was chosen to play Mary in Giulio Antamoro's re-telling of the Passion of Christ, Christus (1916) Some scenes of the film were shot on-location in the Holy Land and in Egypt.

In Naples, Leda Gys was a favourite with the public for her esacpaist films, which wer eusually based on either French novels or Neopolitan dramas and songs.

In later life, Leda Gys appeared at some of the Venice Film Festivals. She died on 2nd October 1957.

Personal Life
Between 1912-1916, Leda Gys co-habited with the poet Trilussa in Rome, and had a relationship with him.

From 19XX, Leda Gys had a relationship with Gustavo Lombardo, and they had a son, Goffredo, in 191X. However, Gustavo's mother disproved of Leda Gys as a potential daughter-in-law because she was an actress, and prevented her son from marrying her. Gustavo and Leda rarely went out in public, and had a flat in Naples.

Leda Gys and Gustavo Lombardo eventually married in secret in 1932, after the death of Gustavo's mother.

Retirement and death
Leda Gys retired quietly before the arrival of sound films. She led a very private life in a flat in Rome, and cared for her son, Goffredo, future owner of Titanus.