Silvia Collatina(I)

Silvia Collatina is an Italian actress and former child star who gained recognition for her work in horror cinema during the late 1970s and 1980s. Growing up in Rome, Lazio, Italy, she was introduced to the entertainment industry at age five through a family friend who was also a child actress. Her father Alberto Collatina was an acclaimed Jazz musician. She made her debut later that year in 1977 with the documentary of Sergio Spina "Child Psychology", in the episode "I don't want to go to school". In 1979 she was cast in her first feature film role of Minou in Sergio Martino's The Great Alligator. This early work established her as a recognizable face in Italian genre cinema. Collatina was cast in 1981 as the ghost child Mae Freudstein in Lucio Fulci's critically acclaimed cult horror The House by the Cemetery. The supernatural thriller became one of her most celebrated performances, with her portrayal of the mysterious ghostly child contributing significantly to the film's lasting appeal among horror enthusiasts. In 1984 Collatina was cast as Molly in Murderock. Her character was a disabled child who had developed a strong sense of sadism and the macabre. During her active years in the entertainment industry, she also appeared in numerous television commercials for major brands including Polaroid, Barilla, and Nestlé. In 1985, Collatina as a teenager made the decision to leave the industry. After stepping away from acting, she remained connected to the horror film community, regularly attending genre conventions and festivals worldwide. She attended the 2009 Horror Hound Convention which took place in Newark (US). She formed part of the Italian delegation of horror movie actors of the 80s and also took part in the 30th Anniversary cast reunion with House by the Cemetery at the 2011 Horror Hound Convention in Indianapolis (US). In recent years, she has served as a jury member at various horror and fantasy film festivals, including the Italian Horror Fantasy Festival and the Vespertilio Awards in Rome. In May 2022, Collatina played the demonic character of Tiziana in the episode "Ultimo Titivillus" - 2nd season of the web series Fantasmagoria created by Byron Rink (Orefilm Production). Her enduring connection to the horror genre and continued participation in the community has solidified her status as a beloved figure among fans of Italian genre cinema, particularly for her memorable childhood performances in classic horror films of the early 1980s.