NOCTURNAL MONOLOGUES

A NOTE BY THE EDITOR

This book is not a solemn celebration of that magicmoment between a romantic sunset and a hopeful dawn, thatis, night, but rather a way of making people talk aboutthemselves. Night is usually characterized by silencewhich in turn leads to meditation. We all catch thatmoment to reflect upon ourselves, to openly express whatwe cannot say during the whole day. Both fictional andreal characters face with a specific period of theirlives, and there are people who, at a certain moment oftheir existence, decide to abandon their job in order todevote themselves to politics, led by either convenienceor true passion. They all talk without any hypocritefilter, so freeing their souls from moral chains, andtelling their own versions about several facts. Silenceimproves their concentration, and this lucky condition ofthe mind is essential if you want to understand what dothey actually say. Some of them talks even after theirdeath, a moment of life usually associated to the conceptof night. This books simply reports what does their innerside suggest about people and events. That inner voicecan be never stopped by others’ intervention, but itfreely flies over silence and says what it thinks. Nightallows all these things to happen thanks to that discreetatmosphere it is always capable of creating around mycharacters. You may sometimes find a rather melancholicmood, just like in a nocturnal, that is, a musicalcomposition for piano (listen to both Field and Chopin so

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as to agree with me). This book is the practical proofthat even stars have human feelings inside their souls,though normality is an optional to them, especially ifthey are at the top of their own fame. Nobody is perfect,alas! Somebody tries to imitate God’s perfection, or isforced to, but miserably fails because of their limits atevery level. You will not find ivory towers or glassbells here, but rather the true intimacy of naked souls,since there is no a label to follow here. Freedom is themaster of ceremonies here, and follows a quite strangeprotocol, that is, democracy.

F. S.

ENGINEER IBUKI YAGAMI

Teenagers tenderly kissing one another at a bus stop. Ican always see this scene from my big window, whileworking at my desk: being a chemical engineer is not aneasy task! Anyway, there will be always a special roomfor love into my heart, since love is the scent of life,the vital lymph of existence, something going beyond thesimple physical attraction. How silly I am today! And Ithink we totally fall in love with somebody only once inour lifetime, whereas affairs one may have can beconsidered as a sort of sleeping tablet, nothing else.These reflections are true in my view since they directlycome from my experiences with men. I seriously fell in

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love with a man only once as a teenager, he was a youngpart time teacher whose charm soon caught my heart. Idepicted him as a sort of tragic romantic hero, but hedid not feel anything towards me, alas! But everythingseemed to be perfect and unique in my dreams. I thought Ihad found my ideal man, bold and strong, but I wastotally wrong: I still had to grow up inside! And how wethe was! I remember I was a manipulative senior highschool student willing to go to great lengths to get myown way. I aggressively chased my crush Godai usingeveryone and everything I could to my advantage, oftenacting impetuously and thinking little about theconsequences of my actions. I was a sexy red haired girl,a kind of person who usually got what she wanted, butabove all Godai’s former student who had a crush on him.That shy boy became the archetype of true love to me,though he was nuts about a young widow, and eventuallymarried her. That impossible love turned itself into anobsession at first, then into a good fairy tale fillingmy dreams with joy and happiness, I never found a manlike him, with whom I could share both sexualintercourses and very deep feelings. Men love my money,my position as MIZUTOMO CEO, not my person, that is why Iam still a virgin! But I trust in a better future, as Inever lost the hope to find man like my Godai, my eternalregret!

SOMETHING’S GOT TO GIVE BY GEORGE CUKOR

Ellen Arden, a photographer and mother of two children,has been declared legally dead, having been lost at sea

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in the Pacific Ocean. Her husband Nick has remarried; heand his new wife, Bianca, are on their honeymoon whenEllen, rescued from an island where she has been strandedfor five years, returns home. The family dog remembersher, but her children do not. However, the take a likingto her, and invite her to stay. Ellen assumes a foreignaccent and pretends to be a woman named Ingrid Tic. Nick,flustered by the revelation that he’s now married to twowomen, makes great effort to keep the truth from his newwife all the while trying to quash her love advances.Upon learning that she was marooned on the island with aman, Stephen Burkett (whom she knew as ‘Adam’ to her‘Eve’), he becomes jealous and suspicious of herfidelity. To calm his fears, Ellen enlists a meek shoesalesman to impersonate her island companion.

SAUL OF TARSUS

While Saint Stephen was stoned, the witnesses threw theirmantles at my feet. I was a young man who both approvedof that murder, and was deeply struck by it. During thosedays, there was a violent persecution against JerusalemChurch and everybody, except for the apostles, eloped toseveral regions, so preaching God without problems. Isought to destroy that Church by entering the houses inorder to jail men and women, putting chains around theirwrist was always a big pleasure to me. With the priests’authorization, I could jail all those people whopronounced God’s name, and vote for their death sentence.I became a terrible enemy of the first Christian people,thanks to my sanguine and passionate character, in fact

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my fury made me persecute them even abroad. In all thesynagogues, I forced them to curse God’s name by means oftorture, I always thought of menaces and murders againstthem. That is why I asked some patent letters forDamascus synagogues to be authorized to lead them inchain to Jerusalem to be judged by the priest and harshlypunished. During my trip to Damascus, God made me changemy mind by showing his huge power, and so I became one ofhis best preachers.

STOICS’ PARADOXES BY CICERO

Based on a both critic and cognitive principle, as wellas on a learned curiosity, it is a reflection uponStoicism and, in particular six topics which areapparently paradoxical, that is, in contrast with commonsense, but are actually good ones.

TUSCAN DEBATES BY CICERO

It is a dialogue in five parts about happiness,containing conversations between two fictionalcharacters, A and M, and taking place at Cicero’s Tuscancountry – house. They talk about death, pain, sorrow,passion to eventually agree that only virtue can givehappiness. The dialogue is written in a clear and popularlanguage, and abounds in both anecdotes and poeticquotations.

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NIGHT BY JOSEPH PARINI

A young noble man joined a nocturnal party with his ownfiancée, there was a detailed description of all thecharacters who were inside the room, silly ones inparticular, they all were obsessed by something. Theirposition around game tables might either awake oldaffairs again, or create intrigues. The poet describedtheir games to show a sad decline of aristocracy, itsmoral and spiritual decadence, as well as an extremecorruption of all its members. Their gentle and refinedelegance always fought against a spiritual emptiness, adarkness of the soul which did not convey anything toanybody around them. In that atmosphere you could findboredom, dullness, stillness, as well as an aimless life,trivial eroticism, futility and malice. Only love andgame could arise emotions from that boring life, on thatoccasion I learnt aristocracy was over once forever, andI dreamt of the Palace falling down. It was the end of anepoch!

THE BOSS

As a young man, I gained my place in the sun as awrestler, in fact I was specialized in strength,technique, speed, tricks and misconduct. During my longcareer, I won all the matches I disputed since nobody wasable to defeat me. I was a true champion, the strongestwrestler in the world as regards my category, and all mysupporters called me Tiger The Great. I always kept calmand quickly moved on the ring, that is why I became aninternational icon of style: trophies, belts and cups are

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still more talkative than journalists! But, since I hadno rivals, competitions had become such a boring thingthat I left the ring in order to train new talents,future champions who would conquer everything someday. SoI went under the protection of a Chicago boss ruling thewrestling sector of world crime organization. That sectorhad an annual profit of several million dollars whichcould be compared to those of the biggest Las Vegascasinos. We had to invest money in order to earn as muchas possible, that is why we founded Tiger Cave on theSwiss Alps. Thanks to my experience, I shaped wrestlerswho could even die for victory. All the greatestchampions were my pupils, but none of them won the worldchampionship because of Tiger Mask, a former pupil ofours. I remember Black Tiger, Big Tiger and King Tiger,the three mysterious wrestlers ruling Tiger Cave forseveral years. I decided to return on the ring as Miracle3 in order to fight against that yellow devil, but invain. I was murdered by him after a long, bloody match,so ending the activity of my gymnasium once forever.Apparently.

BROOKE LOGAN

Many people thought I was a social climber, a gold diggerand so on, but they were completely wrong. Do you knowwhy? I was the classical self – made woman from a simpleworking – class family living in Saint Ferdinand Valley.Since dad Stephen Logan was totally absent from ourlives, we helped our mother Elizabeth Henderson on hercatering business, often serving rich pillars of the

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community, including the Forrester family. Working as acaterer while studying chemistry in a college allowed meto economically support my siblings Storm, Donna andKatie, in fact Storm became a lawyer thanks to myfinancial help. After graduating, I got a job as a labchemist in a hospital, and I remember I loved beingsurrounded by plates, centrifuges, reagents, test tubesand stills there, following my passion for research.Taylor Hamilton, a doctor specialized in oncology andpsychiatry, encouraged me to fulfill my aspiration sinceshe greatly appreciated my job. One day, I ran my friendCaroline Spencer’s blood test, so learning she hadleukemia at an already advanced level, and that all hervital organs had been affected by it. Caroline had beenmarried for six months to Ridge Forrester, but she had afew months to live only. That is why she had decided tokeep her situation secret to everybody, supported byTaylor who was her doctor. I believed Ridge should alsoknow it, so asking Taylor to break the news with him.Caroline had already made it clear that she did not wantRidge to find out, and Taylor relayed that information tome, so asking not to tell Ridge. Determined to be therefor Ridge, I told him anyway against Caroline’s will, andhe got devastated. Several months after that tragedy, Iwas hired as a fabric researcher at Forrester Creations,a Los Angeles – based fashion house. I conducted someexperiments in its lab in a quest for waterproof diapers,so inventing Belief, a breakthrough formula removingwrinkles from fabrics such as silk, linen, wool andcotton. I got Belief by working on a particularlyresistant and high quality fragment of fabric, sonoticing it was wrinkle – free. My attorney Connor Davis

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learnt that my discovery was massively exploited in allthe company’s productions, so hugely increasing itssales, in fact about the 95% of its profits came fromBelief. Connor told me that I was the only owner of itspatent, so I might sell it to other companies if only Ihad wanted to do it, since the Forrester family could notbuy Belief, otherwise they would go bankrupt because ofits high price. They offered me five million dollars forthat patent, but I was not under an exclusive contractwith them. After a long negotiation, Connor, on mybehalf, got the 51% of the stock, a personal assistant, alimousine with a driver, and eventually the CEO position.I chose Sheila Carter as my assistant, Michael Guthrie asa chief security guard, and eventually Trisha, Rhonda andMegan as receptionists. Connor helped me to run ForresterCreations in a dynamic way, though beauty, determinationand ambition played an important role in getting what Iwas in want of. As CEO, I kept producing Spring Line byEric, whereas I invented Men’s Line Ridge was soon entrustedwith. Then I produced Tribute to Hollywood, a fashion showorganized by Stephanie for the American Film Institute,and Hollywood star Charlton Heston was our special guest.I privileged timeless elegance, quality and prestigewhich perfectly mirrored the conservative image of thecompany but, apart from high fashion, I also producedclothing, perfumes, jewelry, accessories, cosmetics,shoes and tableware. I exploited Forrester International,our Parisian division ruled by my son Rick, to makeboutiques happy, since they always wanted to get thelatest fashions from us. Then I designed Brooke’s Bedroom,a lingerie line which rapidly achieved a huge success andcreated a buzz, as well as a scandal. I presented it by

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wearing some of my creations, and softly lying on a bed Ithen put in my office as a memory. Ambrosia was one of themost promising lines I ever produced, designed by AmberMoore, and designers such as Lauren Fenmore, GrantChambers, Michael Lai and Morgan Dewitt worked for me,too. I organized fashion shows in Italy (Portofino, Comoand Venice), whereas Deacon Sharpe was entrusted withpublic relations, and Whip Jones with promotions. I choseErica Lovejoy’s powerful voice for the new jingle of ouradverts, she was a gifted performer. Eye on Fashion, aSpencer Publications magazine, followed our lines withinterest and curiosity, there was no room for gossip. Ihad rejuvenated Forrester Creations even by producingcheap but good clothing, since many people dreamt ofwearing one of our clothes someday. In 2003 I was firedfrom CEO position, but I did not leave fashion, in fact Iacted as both Logan Designs CEO and Forrester OriginalsExecutive (chemist Ashley Abbot got a new fragrance inour lab). Eventually, I joined Marone Industries, aninternational shipping company my father – in – lawMassimo had been running for decades with an iron fist.It was a very conservative company, and Massimo hadbecome a very wealthy and powerful man, so earning areputation as a ruthless tycoon. Several years later, Iregained my control over Forrester Creations, so holdinga position as a President for a short period of time. Ichaired its board of directors with balance, then Ireturned to design, occasionally working as a model onseveral fashion shows. As an executive, I produced Naïve(a teen age line by Caitlin Ramirez), Hollywood Glamour bymy stepdaughter Steffy, Hope for the Future by my daughterHope (to get closer younger customers), Royalty (a wedding

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line I presented with my sisters), and finally Taboo by mystepson Thomas.

LAUREN FENMORE

I was happily raised by my father, fashion tycoon NeilFenmore, since my mother Joanna Manning had divorced himwhen I was still a little child. Dad and I had a veryclose relationship, even as regards business. Do you knowwhy? After working as a singer in a rock band, and as aprivate eye at Paul Williams Detective Agency, I joinedhim at Fenmore Department Stores, a national chain famousfor selling expensive and exclusive high class clothing,jewelry, accessories, perfumes, shoes, cosmetics andtableware. We offered women color cosmetics, advancedscientific skincare, glamorous makeup, body careadditions and luxurious fragrances. We delivered packageslocally, and organized annual shoe sale. Our divisionFenmore Boutique (former Glow Boutique by JabotCosmetics) also sold beauty lines, wedding dresses anddesigner clothing, and we traveled all over the world toget the latest fashions form majors for our stores, too.As soon as dad died of a heart attack, I replaced him asFenmore CEO, so running my company with balance and care.I mostly sold Forrester Creations and Spectra Fashions;for the former I promoted a clothing line, whereas forthe latter I worked as a designer for a while. Then Ibecame a member of Newman Enterprises Board of Directors,so chairing it every now and then.

JACQUELINE PAYNE11

Prior to join fashion industry, I worked as a prostitutein Seattle in order to financially support my sonDominick, future Marone Industries (a shipping company Iwould later join as a shareholder) Captain. Then I movedto Los Angeles to work as a buyer at Fenmore DepartmentStores, a national chain selling high fashion clothing.My CEO Lauren taught me how to be a clever businesswoman,and I carefully followed all her precious advice when Ifounded Jackie M Boutiques, so getting the latestfashions from the majors together with Deacon Sharpe. AsForrester Creations President, I bought most of LosAngeles boutiques, except for Lauren’s. Apart from this,I developed my project of founding my own fashion house,and it was quite easy to me. Do you remember SpectraFashions, alias Logan Designs and Spectra Couture? Well,it had miserably failed because of its huge debts withbanks, but I thought I would restore it someday. So Nickand I bought its building, and christened it M Fashions,with a new staff working for us. Eventually, we melted MFashions with Jackie M Boutiques, so shaping Jackie MDesigns, a new label. Designers like Clarke Garrison,Amber Moore, Bridget Forrester (disguised as Madame X)worked for me, but I dreamt of people like Saul Feinberg.As CEO, I produced several lines such as Armando, Vanity,Jungle, Cougar, whereas Owen Knight was entrusted withstaff, and Whip Jones with both public relations andpromotions. Stephanie and Pamela Douglas also worked withus for a short period of time, so helping me to run thecompany.

SHEILA CARTER12

People think that redemption arrives for everybody, andthat God forgives everything for a merciful action. I amcurrently expiating my crimes since somebody sentenced meto the eternal damnation. If I simply obey to what mybrain suggests me to do, why should I deny myself tofollow the others’ will? It is my own business! Anyway, Iwant to tell you the truth about my life, without filtersor lies. Well, I spent a very sad childhood in Michiganwith my parents Gregory and Molly, we lived in afarmhouse out of town. Dad was a very violent man whosavagely hit me, think that his cares were wooden clogs,his hugs heavy whips, his kisses leather belts, his kindwords a symphony of vulgar epithets. How could Iestablish a serene dialogue with him? Mum neverintervened to protect me from those foolish assaults, andsilently supported that whimsical worm. But tolerance asa limit, you cannot put up with such a disgusting figureforever. No way! You must react to protect yourselvessomehow, your dignity if you have one. So what did I do?After graduating in nursing science, I got a job as aclerk in a drugstore, there I began dreaming of murderinghim someday, with a sadistic pleasure I had never feltbefore. That is why one day I murdered dad by poisoninghim, all that suffering deeply excited me, and thatcorpse did not inspire either pity or regrets to me.After that episode, I moved to Wisconsin to work as bothnurse and lab assistant at Genoa City Memorial Hospital.Everybody appreciated my job there, oncologist ScottGrainger in particular. He was treating AIDS patients atthat time, and I helped him with them. I noticed that hewas a rather melancholic man, and invited him to openhimself with me. After a feeble resistance, he told me he

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had some problems with his wife Lauren Fenmore, and Ieventually fell for him, but my feelings quickly turnedfrom infatuation to obsession. In order to steal Scottaway from Lauren, I drugged him to seduce that charmingguy, so ending up in a pregnancy. At the same time,Lauren also got pregnant by Scott, but she did not tellhim. When the truth about my father’s baby came out,Scott felt obligated, so he divorced Lauren and marriedme. Both Lauren and I were due around the same time.Unfortunately, I miscarried my baby earlier, but I keptit secret to Scott. Then I contacted a black market babybroker and bought a baby. Eventually, I switched him forLauren’s newborn in the hospital’s nursery (she named himDylan), and passed off Lauren’s baby (whose name wasScotty) as mine. Unfortunately, Dylan died of meningitisbefore he was a year old. When mum visited me, sheimmediately discovered my crime and tried to tell Laurenall the truth but, on her way to Lauren’s office, shesuffered a debilitating stroke which left her speechless.Lauren began to visit mum in hospital, so I formed anelaborate scheme to make it look like mum had tried tocommit suicide. Then I had her placed in a mentalhospital to keep her away from Lauren and Scott, andeventually sent her to our farmhouse in Michigan beforeshe could expose me. Mum partially regained her abilityto talk and told Lauren all the truth about the babies’switch. So I kidnapped them both and held them hostage atour farmhouse. Intending to kill them, I confessedeverything and, after a brief struggle due to thatrevelation, Lauren kicked over a lantern on a coffeetable, so setting the farmhouse on fire. They wererescued by private investigator Paul Williams and his

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secretary Lynne Bassett, and I also managed to escape.Police never found me, and so they presumed I hadperished in the fire when, during a recognition, a burntbody turned up in the ashes. That male corpse turned outto be a meter reader who had visited the farmhouse justbefore the fire started. Now presumed dead (Genoa CityChronicle Newspaper even published my picture), I reacheda dining area by that body’s truck. Picking up adiscarded newspaper there, I read about ForresterCreations (a Los Angeles – based fashion house) lookingfor a company nurse. So I phoned its CEO Eric Forresterfor a work interview, and he immediately fixed anappointment, then I fled to California, whereas Laurenwas reunited with Scott and their real son Scotty. Ericwas positively impressed by my CV, and I offered myselfas a nanny, too. Do you know why? He was married toBrooke Logan and they had a baby, Rick, but theirs was anunhappy marriage. Brooke was in love with Eric’s sonRidge who, in order not to go against his own dad, haddecided to marry shrink Taylor Hamilton. I got my job atthe company’s infirmary – gymnasium, but I also quicklyfell for Eric, so deciding to conquer him by doing mybest. His former wife Stephanie Douglas was initiallysatisfied with my job, too. When Eric and Brooke attendedRidge and Taylor’s wedding, since Rick’s nanny Judy couldnot come, I replaced her at Forrester House. Whilestaying with Rick, I realized I had to get closer Ericeven at home, so thinking of replacing Judy by staging anaccident which would leave her hospitalized. As soon asJudy learnt the truth about my past, she wanted to tellEric everything, but I threatened her into leaving, inorder not to see unpleasant things at her home. Then I

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kidnapped Rick from the nursery and put some wax on thefloor. Judy slid over it, that accident left her aparaplegic, whereas I replaced her, so paving the way tomy plan. Eric and I began dating, and Brooke did notappreciate it at all since he was still married to her,but we got officially engaged all the same, our stronglove came before the rest. I did my best to keep him tome, and keep my past a secret, but my presence intoEric’s life deeply angered Stephanie, who suspected I wasa social climber, a liar. Brooke did not approve of thefact I was closer Rick, too. In order to be a betterperson for Eric, I began seeing shrink Jay Garvin, whorecommended me to reconcile the past before moving on.Feeling the need to make amends with Lauren and beforgiven before she could do so, I tried to exploit aForrester fashion show she had joined, but I did notmanage to talk to her frankly. So I fled to Genoa City toreveal myself to Lauren and apologize. Mum saw me firstand convinced me to stay away from Lauren, that old womanbore me a grudge. I feared mum might tell Eric the truthabout me, that is why I did not trust her at all. Afterhearing Lauren bad – mouth me, and spying on her affairwith Brad Carlton, I took pictures of their tryst andreturned to Los Angeles. There I had the picture setagainst a beach background, and made it into a puzzle Isent to Lauren in pieces. Then I fled to Genoa City andarrived at Lauren’s threshold with my face covered with aveil. Lauren did not take my return well, and threatenedto expose me to the Forrester family. She began dialingthe Police, but immediately stopped when I warned her toshut up, or else Scott would see all those compromisingpictures. To my dismay, Brooke learnt she was pregnant

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with a child who might be either Eric’s or Ridge’s. itwas terrible! Eric asked biologist Tracy Peters to do apaternity test to establish who was the real father ofthat fetus. If it had been Eric’s, he would surely getcloser Brooke once again, but I did not want it tohappen. One day, Brooke collapsed, and I almost injectedher with an unknown substance. No, she had to live, but Ihad to make sure Eric did not reunite with her, sodeciding to alter the paternity test in order to ensurethat Ridge turned out to be the real father instead ofEric. After Bridget was born, I secretly entered the laband moved labels from the test – tubes, but securityguard Michael Guthrie activated the refrigerator, soexchanging those two blood samples, and making the labelsfall on the floor. Mike caught me in the act andthreatened to expose me to Tracy, but I completed thetest all the same, though the tubes were mixed up by now.Eventually, I set loose a vicious Doberman to attackMike, but he easily softened it since he used to work asa dog sitter. Some days later, Tracy summoned Ridge,Stephanie, Taylor, Brooke, Eric and I in her consultingroom, and told us all that Ridge was Bridget’s father. SoEric divorced Brooke and sent a marriage proposal to mewho immediately accepted. You cannot imagine myhappiness! Stephanie argued I was hiding something, andthought that Lauren was the key, but my sworn enemy keptmum. So Stephanie tried to pry information from Jay, butin vain, and kept pressing Lauren who finally decided totake action as soon as she learnt upon the upcomingwedding. Brad, who had custody of his own daughterColleen, risked losing it if his affair with Lauren hadcome out, so he went to Los Angeles to retrieve the

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pictures. He managed to get them and their doubles fromme, and returned to Genoa City to reassure Lauren that Iwas no longer holding anything over them. She visited methe night before the wedding, and a vicious catfightensued in which I came close to killing her, but sheescaped, warning that the second I said ‘I do’, she wouldexpose me. The next morning, Lauren awoke fully satisfieduntil she walked into her bathroom to see thosecompromising pictures posted all over, since I had morecopies. At the wedding, guests wore black since none ofthem loved me, and I left a heartbroken Eric at the altarin panic when Lauren stood to expose me. Then I returnedto the chapel when the guests had left, begging Eric’spardon: I was actually nuts about him! Though he demandedan explanation, Eric forgave me and we got married. Webought a house which was formerly Houdini’s, theHungarian wizard who always managed to escape from traps,cages and prisons thanks to several tricks he hadinvented. Brooke and I became close friends, she was theonly person with whom I felt truly connected, whereasEric’s kids (Ridge, Thorne, Kristen and Felicia) totallyignored me. I did not want to replace Stephanie in theirhearts, but I tried to be sweet with them all in order tobe accepted inside the family all the same, but they allneither trusted nor liked me, and I needed their supportin my marriage with Eric. There was a sort of ostracismtowards me, and I relished throwing the fact I was thematriarch of the Forrester family in their faces.Stephanie always tried to turn Eric against me, but ourmarriage was a strong one, whereas Taylor proposed atherapy, but I knew she would use all that informationagainst me, so I refused. My marriage became a rocky one

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when I helped Brooke to seize control of ForresterCreations, and I got a job as her assistant. Eric feltbetrayed by my actions, and a rift was created in ourmarriage. I told him I was there to keep an eye onBrooke, but he did not believe me at all. My past keptcatching up with me in the form of Mike, who blackmailedme over the paternity tests switch to get himself a newjob. Lauren was determined to expose me without beingimplicated, too. Unknown to her, Scott was dying from amysterious disease, so I found out and revealed myself tohim. Scott forgave my past crimes because she felt I hadchanged, then I proposed Eric to go on a trip with me inorder to use that time to reconcile, so we left forCatalina Island where we ran into Scott and Lauren. Shedecided Scott would be the key to my undoing, in fact sheintended to use him to expose my past to Eric, but Scott,still caring for me, kept mum. Then Scott began agonizingand, with both Lauren and I by his side, he made herswear to both keep my past secret and give me a secondchance. Lauren tearfully agreed, then Scott peacefullypassed away in our arms. I desperately cried, and myhumanity struck Eric so much that he canceled divorceplans, but it was only an illusion. In fact he wasexcluding me from his will, since Eric would leave hismoney to his kids and their mothers only, so I schemed toget pregnant. After a one night stand with attorneyConnor Davis, I announced my pregnancy to a shocked Ericwho revealed he had recently had a vasectomy. Stephanieenlisted the aid of shrink James Warwick, Brooke’sfiancée, who immediately saw through my façade andpromised to expose me. In a final plea to placate Eric, Ireluctantly agreed to follow a therapy with James, who

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could not make a breakthrough. James suspected I washiding something, and tried to pry information from Jay,but I prevented my former shrink from telling the truthwith one of my dreadful sights. After James had left hisconsulting room, I rushed inside it and harshlyreproached Jay for his bad behavior, and he promised toexpose me very soon since he had learnt I would neverchange. Ours was a heating confrontation during which,after a brief struggle, I accidentally pushed him off hisbalcony, so murdering him. Lauren would no longer besilenced and, during another heating confrontation, Itried to drown her in a hot tub, but she managed toescape and told everything to James. So Mike and Ikidnapped James and jailed him in the basement of myhouse for a month. It was a secret room with variousdevices, there we engaged a battle of minds, but I soonmy defenses falling since I fell for James who easilyturned on me. When James managed to escape, he exposed meand all my secrets finally surfaced. Feeling trapped, Iinvited Eric, Stephanie, Ridge, Brooke, Lauren and Jamesat my goodbye party at Forrester House. I told them howthey had wronged me, in their behavior there was a lackof support in my quest for simple love. Then I threatenedto kill everyone except for Brooke with a gun, but mybest friend stunned me when she said that the Forresterfamily was her family, too, and, if I were to kill them,she would have to kill her as well. Then I decided tokill Stephanie, but Ridge and Brooke stepped in front ofher, so I had a change of heart and swallowed a bottle ofpoison. But I survived and was placed in a mentalhospital under shrink Brain Carey’s care. Months later,Eric and Stephanie visited me to make me sign his divorce

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papers, and I surprisingly agreed. Brain felt I had madean incredible progress, and supported her bid for parole,though Stephanie and James strenuously opposed. I waseventually paroled and determined to make amends with theForrester family, but Brooke asked me to stay away fromthem all, which I did not like at all. I began dating myneighbor Grant Chambers, until learning upon his affairwith Michael Lai. After holding a knife to Grant, I fellfor James again. At a coffee shop, I bumped into Margaret(Maggie) Forrester, Eric’s sister – in – law who haddivorced John after several wrong investment. We wereamazed by the fact we both had ties with the Forresterclan, and Maggie also did not fit in with them. Soon welearnt who we were, but our friendship went on all thesame, she worked as a waitress at Forrester House. When amysterious note revealing Bridget’s true paternity, andBrooke’s implication in the cover – up surfaced, I wassuspected of planting it, but I claimed innocence. TracyPeters, the only person who might tell the truth aboutthat story, was mugged and killed during a stormy night.The Forrester’s wrath against Brooke caused her to elopeto Barbados after she suffered a nervous breakdown.During her absence, Stephanie tried to get legal custodyover Rick and Bridget, but I felt very determined toprotect them from that witch. That is why I secretlypoisoned her by replacing her calcium pills with mercurytablets. Stephanie soon began to show signs of mentalinstability and eventually broke down, whereas I framedMaggie for that crime. Sally Spectra defended Stephaniefrom me, so becoming my enemy. As soon as Maggie learntthe truth about it, she had such a vicious argument withme that she pushed me onto a fire poker, so impaling me.

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James insisted me to recover at their house for a while,and there I tried to seduce him, but in vain. I wanted toprove to James that I had positively changed, but heloved Maggie and married her with a simple ceremony.Later, she learnt about my plan and suggested me to findanother shrink, and threw a telephone directory at myface, so I snapped and nearly choked her to death. ThenMike kidnapped Maggie and held her prisoner at PacificPark, whereas I exploited the fact that James was deaddrunk to get impregnated by him. But I wanted to provehim that I had changed, and so I reluctantly agreed torelease Maggie, though my pregnancy ruined theirapparently strong marriage. They decided to have as theirguest during all my pregnancy, and I accepted to let themget the legal custody of my baby. I gave birth to Mary,then I handed her to Maggie to move to Death Valley,where I met Amber Moore, a spunky student from FurnaceCreek. We worked together in a coffee house, and sheencouraged me not to lose the hope to hug Mary onceagain, and I was anxious to see her. That is why Isuggested Maggie to hire Amber as Mary’s nanny, so that Icould secretly visit my little angel. But I soon learntthat Amber was not a loyal person and threatened her,then she exposed me to Maggie. I managed to take Maryback, and James tried to trick me into marrying him, sothat he could demonstrate my mental instability and gainMary’s custody since I was, in his view, an unfit mother.James divorced Maggie and married me but, a few minutesafter our wedding, I learnt it was a set – up and jumpedoff a roof, but I survived. James promised to stay withme, whereas an angry Maggie sneaked into my hospital roomand cut off my oxygen, but I was rescued by doctors and

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she was jailed. Once she was released, Maggie kidnappedme with the help of Mike and his brother Martin, theykept me prisoner in a house from the movie Psycho. But Imanaged to escape, and James demanded Maggie to leavetown, but she teamed up with Lauren in order to drive meover the edge. They wired my house with hidden camerasand an audio system, whereas Judy surprised me on mythreshold, and I also watched Jay on a white screen.Their plan failed, and Maggie left town once she learntshe had lost both James and Mary forever, whereas Jamesand I began to happily raise our daughter as if we were areal family. Do you know why? James felt attracted by mesomehow, but his feelings towards me were not deep ones:he stayed with me pity, not because he actually loved me!Since he had married a patient of his, he lost hismedical license, but got another job as a medicalresearcher, though I had threatened his colleague CharlesNunez to ruin his career if he had kicked James out oftheir clinic. Taylor invited James at her wedding withRidge, but she asked him not to take me at ForresterHouse, too. I went there all the same, and so Idiscovered James and Stephanie kissing, which I did notlike at all. I tried to drown her in a pool, then Iprevented her from telling everyone about that incidentby threatening her to kill her grandson Thomas. Myparanoid jealousy pushed James to Stephanie, and theyteamed up in order to get Mary’s custody, though I hadshown her some Thomas’s hair. But I was placed in amental hospital and literally abandoned, in fact Jamesdivorced me, that is why I secretly switched places witha woman named Sybil, so leaving the hospital in disguise.Mike taught me how to shoot well, and gave me a gun with

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which I shot Stephanie, though Amber tried to stop me.Eventually, I kidnapped Mary and moved to Mystic, where Inamed her Erica Lovejoy. Seventeen years later, she movedto Los Angeles in order to meet her idol, that is,Forrester designer Amber Moore. Erica loved her clothinglines, and dreamt of being like her someday, but my angelalso cultivated a strong passion for singing. I found herby threatening Ziggy, the man who had let her a room, andtried to convince her to leave town. But I learnt she hadfallen for Amber’s husband Rick, and she dreamt ofstaying with him someday. I paid off a man called Lancein order to both drug Amber and take her to bed, so thatRick would think she was fooling around him and dumpedher, which he did. Amber tracked Lance down and began toquestion him, so he got nervous and threatened tell hereverything, but I released a tank of bees into his flat.I dumped them into his window, so murdering him whosuffered from allergy to those animals. Amber askedTaylor to help her, and that shrink began to think thatthere was something else behind all those events.Meanwhile, I had an affair with shipping tycoon MassimoMarone, a very powerful and rich man. Amber gotsuspicious and confronted Erica but, during theirstruggle, Erica fell and hit her head on a desk, somaking Amber look guilty of pushing her. So I went tohospital disguised as a nurse to confront Amber, angrilywarning her to stay away from Erica. Amber decided tolook for clues at Erica’s flat, but I threw a stone atthe window and the Police arrived, jailing Amber andcausing the Forrester clan to distrust her further. OnlyTaylor got suspicious about that story, there wassomething which did not convince her at all. While

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browsing through Eric’s photo album, Erica found apicture of Eric and I. She asked for an explanation, andI told her I was married to Eric once, but that ourmarriage had failed after three years because Stephaniehad turned him against me. I wanted Erica to have withRick the life I once had with Eric, so I pushed her to beimpregnated by him, then I kidnapped Amber from Taylor’shouse where she had been living in for a while. Ilittered the crime scene with drugs and tequila, thendragged Amber off to my flat. Taylor got suspicious aboutmy sudden disappearance, whereas Ridge argued that Amberhad escaped since she was a flimsy girl nobody wouldpositively change. I decided to leave town with Massimo,and so I phoned him, but my plan failed since Stephanie,who was in his flat, recognized my voice. She immediatelyphoned Ridge and Taylor who readily stopped Erica’sseduction and exposed her true identity to Rick. Massimo,Stephanie and Taylor tracked Amber and I down, sorescuing her, Ridge took her at Brooke’s home where shecould hug Rick after a long separation, whereas Erica wasquestioned by the Police about me. I reached ForresterHouse where I asked Eric to protect Erica, but he sent meto hell and I threatened him with a gun. Then Taylorarrived and desperately tried to make me use my brainonce in a blue moon. As soon as Brooke walked into theroom holding Hope’s feeding bottle, a brief struggleensued in which I shot Taylor and Brooke. Eric slappedme, and I was put in prison where I was confronted byMassimo, Stephanie, Ridge and Erica, whereas Brookesurvived her wounds and Taylor apparently died. Mydaughter condemned my actions and wanted to have nothingto do with me any longer, which I did not like. To be

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honest, I soon escaped from prison with the help of asilly warden named Sugar, I promised her bags of money inturn. Then we kidnapped Ridge and Brooke on theirhoneymoon in Puerto Vista. Soon his half brother DominickPayne arrived to rescue them, but he was immediatelycaptured by us as well. As soon as their father Massimoarrived to deliver the ransom, I revealed him that we hadconceived a daughter I had named Diana during our shortaffair in Los Angeles. I saw him as the person who haddestroyed my relationship with Mary, and Massimo in facttried to trick me into handing over that baby, but it didnot work and I ran away with Sugar. Then a struggleensued, and I stashed Ridge into a foundry, despite myfinal attempts to rescue him, but I thought it was toolate and escaped. Massimo managed to put in safe Brookeand Nick, and eventually they found Ridge alive, so goingback all together to Los Angeles. And what about me? Imoved to Toronto where I attended some college courses asBrenda Harris, being tutored by teaching assistant ScottyGrainger, the baby I had kidnapped twenty – four yearsbefore. He had grown up abroad, and Lauren had never toldhim the truth about his dad. She was going to marryattorney Michael Baldwin in Genoa City, and Scotty learntabout it from his own lips. Lauren felt betrayed, butkept the truth secret. I visited Scotty and unwillinglygave him the idea for a novel, which had to be focused onthe baby switch, but Lauren obviously turned out to bethe evildoer. I dated attorney John Silva for a while,and I invented a title for that novel by Scotty, that is,One Stolen Heart, a sincere biography. Michael learnteverything about Lauren and went to a Los Angeles basedmental hospital in order to visit me, but he soon

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realized I had tricked Sugar into drugging and havingplastic surgery in order to look like me, and that I hadturned her to the Police after a two months’ escape.Scotty went to Genoa City because of the wedding, Ifollowed him inside the same hotel he had taken upresidence. Then I developed Jennifer Mitchell, a Britishwoman who freely moved about in the city, and I metcarpenter Thomas (Tom) Fisher with whom I joined forcesagainst Michael and Lauren. Tom had me manipulate hisestranged wife Gloria into giving him money, and laterbailing him out of prison. My affair with Tom producedtwins Ryder and Daisy, and the latter one would givebirth to Lucy Nicole. I rescued Gloria’s life whileworking as a waitress at Genoa City Athletic Club, too.Scotty bought Lauren a silver necklace I dipped inpoison, in fact she started getting sick and havinghallucinations whenever she wore it. The night before thewedding, Lauren planned a romantic dinner with Michael onthe roof. I appeared and gently invited her to jump offthe roof, Lauren was intoxicated by the poisoned pendantand believed I was a mere hallucination, but I was therefor real! But Michael arrived in time and prevented herfrom committing suicide, then she was taken to hospitalwhere doctors discovered the poisoning. I sneaked intoher room as Jennifer, and tried to inject the poison intoher bloodstream, but I was interrupted before I couldexecute my plan. Tom and I managed to steal the neck lacebefore it could be checked for toxin, in fact I got itcleaned and returned to the hospital laundry. Paul andMichael figured out it was the necklace the origin ofLauren’s disease, and so the wedding was postponed. Tomput a bomb on Lauren’s honeymoon yacht, and I hoped to

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murder both her and Tom whom I wanted to take the fallfor that crime. Tom’s stepson Michael watched in horrorfrom shore as the yacht blew up, whereas Lauren was notfound and so presumed dead, but Tom had secretly rescuedher. That con man carried us both to a farmhouse in GenoaCity, so holding us in the basement, a bomb falloutshelter to be precise. Lauren convinced him that I was abad guy, so he called Gloria to arrange a deal to turnover her. Gloria’s husband John Abbott overheard thephone call, grabbed his gun, and eventually met Tom in analley instead, so leaving us alone. During a strugglebetween them, the gun went off and Tom was murdered. Johndropped the gun and took off, getting into a caraccident, but Ashley arrived on time to witness it.Ashley confessed everything and was jailed, with Michaelas her attorney. The morgue attendant handed over Tom’seffects to Kevin, and they included a key to a safetydeposit box Michael later traced to a Cleveland bank.Lauren and I fought, and she broke my ankle but, once welearnt Tom would never return, we tried to escape andwere almost out when Paul arrived and pulled Lauren tosafety, whereas the bomb shelter caved in on me. I wasnot found in the rubble, so that I could fake my deathonce again. Michael was reunited to Lauren who declaredher astonishment about my behavior towards her. Afterrecovering from the accident, John regained his memoryand told the truth, so arranging a plea bargain to getall possible charges against Ashley for her deception,and was sentenced to seven years in prison, where hedied. I moved to Buenos Aires where I contacted a plasticsurgeon in order to have a new face, and I wanted to looklike Phyllis Summers. Once I got it, I murdered that

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pundit who had performed that expensive operation. Paulmanaged to track me there, and then he discovered mebuying baby things in Genoa City. He followed me to anabandoned warehouse where he trapped me in the cell I hadconstructed with the intention of jailing Lauren andstealing her baby, that is, Fenmore Baldwin. Paul made mepose for a death photo at gunpoint, and made up DNAsamples to Lauren and Michael to prove that I had diedwhen struck by a car in Buenos Aires. He also let Phyllisand Nick know it, but he kept me prisoner until Michaelput a tracking bug on his car, and caught Paul deliveringmy food. Michael picked the lock and was shocked todiscover Phyllis behind the bars. Paul tried to convincehim that it was really me, but it took a cell phone callto the real Phyllis to convince him. Learning that Policecould never keep me contained, they shared a secret, aswell as the problem of what to do with me. Lauren andPhyllis were bonding through their pregnancies as Phyllishelped Lauren to get through her post partum depressionand anxiety attacks. Paul and detective Maggie Sullivanbegan dating, and in her curiosity about Paul’s frequentabsence on a stake out, she tracked him by his cell phoneto the warehouse. I was determined to escape, and Maggieunwillingly freed me, in fact I acted as a kidnap victim,so pleading for her help. I managed to make her believethat I was Phyllis, and she set me free but, before Ileft, I shot her with her own gun. Paul arrived and Ijailed him with Maggie in the cell, but they managed toescape. Then I tied Phyllis up, taunting her how great itwould be to take over her life with her husband and theirnew baby daughter Summer. I waited for Lauren and Fen tocome and, as soon as they arrived, I took them all to a

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retirement home when I owned a flat. Michael rescued Pauland Maggie from the warehouse cell, and they all freedLauren, then Maggie was placed in a hospital where sherecovered, though nearly died. Michael and Paul followedmy walkie – talkie signal, which I planted to lure themelsewhere, whereas Nick, Lauren and Kevin enhanced thebackground noise from my latest call. Nick and Kevinlearnt where they were and tried to find Paul, whereasLauren sneaked out with the gun Pual had given her forher security. She found my flat, broke in, and confrontedPhyllis and I. Phyllis managed to convince Lauren she wasthe real one, in fact she would never put Summer in thefire line, whereas I ran to grab that baby to use her asa shield against Lauren. Phyllis told her to point thegun at her to protect Summer, and that frightened womanturned to me and shot to death. Phyllis was angry withMichael and Lauren for endangering her and Summer, andrefused to reconcile. Maggie fully recovered and did nottell the Police about Michael and Paul holding me in thatcell, so they were not charged. This is my real story,not a fanciful tale, everything I told you is true, soplease believe me! I know hypocrisy often prevents youfrom freely judging things and people, but please do nottrust my shrinks’ tales: they are history! A simple questfor pure love, the need for normality around me, are theorigin of my behavior.

ELIZABETH ROSEMOND TAYLOR

Critics considered me as a sort of modern Eve because ofmy alleged seductive power, but I rather considered

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myself as a destiny’s daughter always risking her ownexistence for either a bad or a good reason. I only had aRomantic soul into that sensual body everybody admired orfelt envy for. My parents were respectively anantiquarian and an actress, my brother Howard and I had ahappy childhood in sumptuous estates, and were friendswith the Royal princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. We hadthe same teacher, too. In 1935 I was sent to a dancingschool, whereas in 1939 I discovered my attitude towardsentertainment by acting in several school shows. Peopleargued that I had inherited that passion from my motherSarah, a gifted theater star who had conquered the mostsevere pits of the world, that is, London and Broadway.In 1939 we all moved to California where I began myacting career. But now please tell me something about it.

THERE’S ONE BORN EVERY MINUTE (1941) My debut on thescreen, but critics argued that I had an old soul and sadeyes.

LASSIE COME HOME (1943) My dazzling beauty made me workin a sentimental comedy like this, but my purple eyeswere a reflection of my soul only, whereas true beautycame from inside.

THE WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER / JANE EYRE I was a delicatebut determined angel, openly showing all my sensitivity.

THE GIRL WHO HAD EVERYTHING / THE BIG HANGOVER / A DATEWITH JUDY / CALLAWAY WENT THAT AWAY Those four movieshugely improved both my diction and acting technique.

NATIONAL VELVET (1944) Velvet Brown, the young heroinewinning the Grand National Horse – Racing Prize disguisedas a boy. On that set, I showed my ability as a

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horsewoman but, on a day, I suddenly lost the control ofan impetuous steed and fell on the ground, having threevertebra broken.

LASSIE’S COURAGE (1945) I was that famous dog’s bestfriend.

CYNTHIA (1948) My first kiss on the screen with PeterLawford.

CONSPIRATOR (1948) My first grown up role.

LITTLE WOMEN (1949) I flirtatiously performed Amy March,a selfish and frivolous girl whose complex personalityconquer critics.

JULIA MISBEHAVES (1949) I was an ingenuous and seductivegirl, refined and delicate but with a strong sensuality.

LIFE WITH THE FATHER (1949) A Romantic girl from thecountry – side discovering love as soon as she moved tothe city. Though I was already a Hollywood star thanks tomy planetary success, I was still looking for my trueidentity, hidden behind several aspects of my complexpersonality.

A PLACE IN THE SUN (1951) A movie by the versatiledirector and producer George Stevens. I performed therich and superficial Angela Vickers, but the movie wasabout Clyde, an ambitious young man making his pregnantfiancée drown in order to marry a beautiful and richgirl, that is, me. For this reason, Clyde was condemnedto death penalty by the Supreme Court. The movie was ahuman, social and judiciary drama characterized by thedark psychological aspects of its rather complexcharacters. It privileged psychological analysis to

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social themes, the spiritual anguish of the characters,included the dead man walking. There I learnt howcharming an ambiguous and neurotic guy could be, a beingconceiving his own existence as a perpetual torment,suffering the desperate side of love because of hisunsolved existential problems. In fact, there was a darkside of his own psyche Angela would never understand.

THE LAST TIME I SAW PARIS (1954) Mainly focused on HelenEllswirth, a charming but disturbing character, asophisticated and sensual woman in the climate ofhardship and muddle typical of a post – war period.

RHAPSODY (1954) A rich, superficial girl playing withmale feelings thanks to her blaze beauty, a vicious dollredeeming herself only after some disinterested action. Iworked with Victor Gassman, a famous Italian theater starperforming the role a violin player, so the movie becamea challenge between our charms.

IVANHOE / BEAU BRUMMELL Costume dramas where you couldfind a sort of provoking indolence in my characters, mypurple eyes and raven hair always played an importantrole.

LOVE IS BETTER THAN EVER / FATHER OF THE BRIDE / FATHER’SLITTLE DIVIDEND They show my gift as a brilliantcomedian, my exuberant, vital and funny side. They aregentle comedies usually taking place at home, a brilliantprototype of kitchen sink dramas with a father dealingwith his daughter’s ambitious wedding for instance.

ELEPHANT WALK A drama with dark nuances, I oftenperformed rich, unhappy girls tormented by either anadverse destiny, or their own beauty.

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GIANT (1956) An epic, melodramatic movie by Stevens whereI learnt that, behind the mask of an allegedtransgressor, there was a homosexual guy living his owncondition as a torment. I had the opportunity to workwith both James Dean and Rock Hudson in Texas.

RAIN TREE COUNTRY (1956) It made my expressive anddramatic skill fully emerge, thanks to Montgomery Clift’spresence, too.

CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF (1959) A tragedy with dark nuancesabout middle class hypocrite conventions in a symbolistway and in a often dazzling atmosphere. I performedMaggie, a stubborn and bold woman, with a sarcastic,bitter style in order to emphasize her determination.Tennessee Williams shows the most complex aspects of thefemale soul, Maggie in this case, and a partner such PaulNewman hugely improves my performance.

SUDDENLY, LAST SUMMER (1959) An intense, ambiguouspsychological drama by Tennessee Williams, where youcould find puzzling creatures, as well as a combinationof innocence and sensuality.

BUTTERFIELD 8 (1960) Gloria Wandrous, an ambiguous,sophisticated and sensual model (who was also aprostitute) often wearing dressing gowns and expensivemink fur coats. On April 17, 1961 I won an Academy Awardfor Best Actress in a Leading Role for that character Idid not like at all (but I would later repeat it in SecretCeremony).

CLEOPATRA (1963) A colossal by Joseph Leo Mankiewiczabout the Egyptian Queen, based on dialogue, as well as apsychological investigation of the characters, and a

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perfect direction of the actors, Richard Burton and I inthis case. We filmed that movie between London and Rome.

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW (1966) A hymn to quarrelsome loveby means of the whimsical and petulant Catherine, asShakespeare conceived her in his play. Richard Burton, aworld – wide known Shakespearian actor by profession,performed Peter, the guy who succeeds in turning her intoa sweet girl.

WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? (1966) a lacerating, darkand claustrophobic movie by Edward Albee telling thestory of an old couple full of reciprocal spite who,under alcohol influence, tormented each other bylaunching out the most cruel charges during a night. Infact, there was an impressive list of vulgar and profaneterms in the movie, as well as a shrewd interpretation ofcontemporary man’s alienation by Richard Burton and I.That fat, undone, vulgar, embittered and dominant womanin her fifties, that filthy and dictatorial flowerconquered both audience and critics. The upsettingperformance of that despotic and spoilt woman made me winan Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in1967.

REFLECTIONS IN A GOLDEN EYE / THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN(1967)

I was a strong, charming but tormented woman despite heruncommon beauty. I designed with convincing harshness afigure characterized by salacious humor and causticdrama.

BOOM (1968) Tennessee Williams’ refined and ruthlessstudy of conflicts arising whenever the social you play

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becomes an obstacle to your own desires’ fulfillment. Inthat movie by Joseph Losey I was an old, shrewish andrich woman, former music hall star, living in a sumptuousestate on the Mediterranean Sea waiting for death (shehad been suffering from a terrible disease). Then a sortof merciful angel, Richard Burton in this case, helpedher to die in a soft way. On that occasion, we workedwith Noel Coward, a great actor writing witty playspermeated by irony, in fact we would perform his Intimacyin 1982.

LITTLE FOXES A play by Lillian Hellman I performed onthe stage during my short marriage to Senator John Warner(1976 – 1982), a psychological drama based on plotcomplexity.

THE MIRROR CRACKED (1980) / THE FLINTSTONES (1994) ThereI made a parody of my past image of sexy symbol with avital spirit, and a brilliant, self ironical andeccentric vein. Even my passion for jewels (all thoseprecious diamonds I owned in particular) and animalsbecame something you could laugh at.

YOUNG TOSCANINI (1988) / POKER ALICE They confirm myskill as a character actress, a quality I proposed on thestage, too. Brilliant prose improved my mimicry, and gavethe opportunity to show my versatility in performing awide range of roles.

KING LOUIS XV OF FRANCE AND NAVARRE, THE WELL LOVED 36

I ascended the throne on September 1, 1715, at the age offive, and regency ended in February 1723. I wascompletely incapable of solving the problems of mycountry, a weak man entirely dominated by both his loversand ministers could not rule a kingdom. Vienna PeaceTreaty in 1738 represented an important diplomaticsuccess for my country, I also supported war againstAustria between 1740 and 1748, with a victory in Fontenayin 1745. Aachen Treaty in 1748 ensured eight peacefulyears in my kingdom. I was against the Jansenists as mywife and I were under the Jesuits’ influence, this factcreated problems with the Parisian Parliament. In 1751,under their influence, I stopped an important fiscalreform, and supported high clergy against the ParisianParliament who readily reacted. In 1753, its memberspresented their complaints to me who immediately sentthem on exile. As the outcry also broke out in the otherprovincial Parliaments, I found a compromise by gettingan encyclical by Pope Benedict XIV in 1756. It denied thesacraments to the Jansenists only. The Parliamentpartially accepted it, and protested against the fiscalpolicy issued by the enlightened Government between 1758and 1763: I immediately stopped that reform! I wasconvinced to improve diplomatic relationships withAustria, and it brought to the Seven Years’ War between1756 and 1763. After that war, Versailles Treaty in 1763caused the loss both Canada and India. The Governmenttried to eliminate the Jesuits, considered too dangerousbecause of their strong influence on me. I dissolvedJesus Company on November 26, 1764, and definitively sentthem out of France in May 1767. On May 3, 1766 Ipronounced the famous Scourging Speech, with which I made

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people laugh for months as I tried to give strength andprestige to the absolute monarchy, but in vain. In 1766Lorena was joined to France, as well as Corsica in 1768.In 1770 the new, authoritarian Government reduced theboth parliamentary and judicial power, and undertook afiscal reform, so provoking new riots in my country. OnApril 27, 1774 I suddenly fell down from my horse duringa hunting and, on May 10, I died of smallpox atVersailles Palace. Historiographers never understood mypolitical action well, as they often neglected me intheir essays. I gave my name to a style, too. It wascharacterized by light and curved lines, an asymmetriccomposition of the decorative elements, more harmoniousproportions, golden bronze decorations, leaves,engravings depicting flowers, landscapes and animals.

KING EDWARD VIII OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE BRITISHDOMINIONS, EMPEROR OF INDIA

Would you ever renounce to your prestigious role forlove? Would you ever challenge hypocrisy by followingyour own feelings, what does your heart tell you all thetime? My own happiness could not depend on aninstitutional role held by my family, and I cannot forgetI was a member of a royal family, that is, the House ofWindsor. Was I happy with them? No, I was not. I enjoyedmarried women’s company, as well as friends’. I lovedtraveling all over the world, and my public role asPrince of Wales allowed me to visit the whole BritishEmpire. I actually fell in love only once in my lifetime,she was an American divorcee (twice, to be precise) whose

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name was Bessie Wallis. I knew I had found true love, wewere totally sure about our reciprocal love, but myfamily never accepted her. Magazines wrote that she hadme completely under her thumb, in their view Wallis was awoman with a questionable past having such a sway overme. All those gossips led to anxiety among publicfigures, but we did not care about their opinion at allsince we only wanted to share a happy life together. Iascended the throne on January 20, 1936. The next day, Ibroke royal protocol by watching the proclamation of myown accession from a window with Wallis. I became thefirst monarch of the British Empire to fly an aircraftwhen I flew from Sandringham to London for my AccessionCouncil. I caused unease in government circles withactions that were interpreted as interference inpolitical matters. My comment during a tour of depressedvillages in South Wales that “something must be done” for theunemployed coal miners was seen as directly critical ofthe Government, since I had a radical reform in my mind.Ministers were reluctant to send confidential documentsand state papers to the Palace because it was clear thatI was paying little attention to them, and because of theperceived danger that Wallis and other people might seethem. My unorthodox approach to my role also extended tothe currency which bore my image. I broke with thetradition that on coinage each successive monarch facedin the opposite direction to his or her predecessors. Iinsisted that I faced left (as my father had done), toshow the parting in my hair, but only a handful of testcoins were struck before my abdication after less than ayear on the throne. On July 16, an Irish fraudsterproduced a loaded revolver as I rode on horseback at

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Constitution Hill, near Buckingham Palace. Police spottedthe gun and pounced on him who was quickly arrested. Athis trial, he alleged that “a foreign power” had approachedhim to kill me, that he had informed M15 of the plan, andthat he was merely seeing the plan through the help ofM15 catch the real culprits. The court rejected theclaims and sent him to jail for a year for “intent to alarm”.Was he really in touch M15? Who knows! Anyway, betweenAugust and September I cruised the Eastern Mediterraneanon a steam yacht with Wallis, on September 4 I went toTurkey for instance. By October I seriously planned tomarry Wallis, especially when divorce proceedings betweenthe Simpsons were brought at Ipswich Assizes.Preparations for all contingencies were made, includingthe prospect of our coronation. Because of the religiousimplications of any marriage, plans were made to hold asecular coronation ceremony not in the traditionallocation, Westminster Abbey, but in the Banqueting Housein Whitehall. On November 4 my only State Opening ofParliament took place, I was surrounded by the heralds ofthe College of Arms. On November 16, I invited the PrimeMinister at Buckingham Palace to talk about my desire tomarry Wallis as soon as she became free to re – marry.But he informed me that my subjects would deem themarriage morally unacceptable, largely because remarriageafter divorce was opposed by the Church of England, andpeople would not tolerate Wallis as queen. As king, Iheld the role of Supreme Governor of the Church ofEngland, and the clergy expected him to support theChurch’s teachings. But had a king the right to be happysomehow? It was good sitting on a throne, wearing a crownand a mantle, holding a scepter, but a sovereign was a

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human being, too. I proposed an alternative solution of amorganatic marriage, in which I would remain king butWallis would not become queen. She would enjoy somelesser title instead, and any children they might havewould not inherit the throne. This too was rejected bythe British Cabinet as well as other Dominiongovernments, whose views were sought pursuant to 1931Westminster Statute, which provided in part that “anyalteration in the law touching the Succession to the Throne or the Royal Styleand Titles shall hereafter require the assent as well of the Parliament of theUnited Kingdom”. The Prime Ministers of Australia, Canadaand South Africa made clear their opposition to myproposal. The Irish Prime Minister expressed indifferenceand detachment, while the Prime Minister of New Zealand,having never heard of Wallis before, vacillated indisbelief. Faced with that strong opposition, I answeredthem all that there were “not many people in Australia” andtheir opinion did not matter. Then I informed 10 DowningStreet that I would abdicate if I could not marry Wallis,and then the Prime Minister presented me with threechoices: give up the idea of marriage; marry against myministers’ wishes; or abdicate. I was not ready to giveup Wallis, but I also knew that, if I had married heragainst my ministers’ advice, I would case theirresignation, so prompting a constitutional crisis. Thatis why I chose to abdicate, and duly signed theinstruments of abdication at the Palace on December 10,1936 in the presence of my three surviving brothers. Thenext day, the last act of my reign was the royal assentto His Majesty’s Declaration of Abdication Act 1936. Asrequired by Westminster Statute, all the Dominionsconsented to the abdication, though the Irish Free State

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did not pass the External Relations Act, which includedabdication in its schedule, until December 12. On thenight of December 11, 1936 I, now reverted to the styleof a prince, made a broadcast to the nation and theEmpire, explaining my decision to abdicate. “I have found itimpossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge myduties as a king as I would wish to do without the help and support of thewoman I love”. After the broadcast, I went to Austria,though I was unable to join Wallis until her seconddivorce became absolute, several months later. Mybrother, Prince Albert, Duke of York, ascended thethrone as George VI, and he made me Duke of Windsor.Eventually, I married Wallis and we spent several happyyears all together, settling mainly in Paris, sodemonstrating with facts we might be a normal couple onthe throne. In 1940 I was appointed Governor of Bahamasby my brother, and I kept that role until 1945.

POPE CELESTINE V

On July 5, 1294 the Conclave chose me as their supremeguide, and I was solemnly crowned at Saint Mary of MayHill Cathedral in The Eagle, the place I had summoned thewhole Holy College. King Charles Anjou of Naples waspresent there, too. I was the first Pope to rule theUniversal Assembly out of the Vatican borders, but myabsolute inexperience caused several problems to myministers. I issued Forgiveness Bull, generously giving aplenary indulgence to all those people who, confessed andsincerely repented of their sins, went at The Eagle

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Cathedral from vesper on August 28 until sunset on thefollowing day. It was a religious celebrationanticipating the first Jubilee in 1300, a prototype ofthat planetary event taking place every twenty – fiveyears in Rome. I appointed King Charles Marshal of thefuture Conclave, and soon ratified his treaty with Jamesof Aragon, through which Sicily would go back to theHouse of Anjou at the latter’s death. On September 18, Isummoned a council where I created thirteen newcardinals, so balancing the Holy College in my favor inKing Charles’ view. On his advice, I shifted Curia fromThe Eagles to Naples. At New Castle, I used to pray andmeditate in a small, simply furnished room. I was bothprotected and taken prisoner by King Charles, in factmany papal issues were directly influenced by him. But Isoon learnt I was completely unfit to rule the papaladministration, since I had never run a Curia, and didnot know Latin well as we all used to speak Italian toone another during our councils. A big confusion reignedinside the Palace, I sometimes assigned the same benefitmore than once thanks to my deep hate towardsbureaucracy. All those top secret documents on my deskincreased my absolute inadequacy to that delicate role Ihad been elected to five months before only. During oneof my solitary meditations, I decided to resign to resignfrom my office, and a powerful cardinal fully supportedmy renounce to the Vatican throne. According to whatcanon law established, I could renounce to papal tiara,to my scepter for a good reason, and my health problemsprevented me from working well, too. On December 13, Isummoned a council where I read my abdication formula,

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then I returned to be a hermit friar living alone in acave, praying and working as Saint Benedict once told us.

POPE JOHN PAUL I

On August 26, 1978 the Conclave chose me as their newShepherd, but I was not ready for that role at all! I hadbeen Patriarch of Venice since 1969, but running the HolySee was another pair of shoes, as I sincerely did notlike bureaucracy. I was like a prisoner inside thePalace, surrounded by snakes who could not understand mewell since greed and ambition prevailed over God in theirminds. I conceived my role as that of a simple parishchurch who had to teach something to his flock, but theywere absolutely convinced of the fact I had to play therole of an absolute monarch sitting on the throne, with acrown on his head and a scepter in his hands (covered bygloves, obviously). I did not like all those expensivevestments who decisively put the priests at a distancefrom their charitable mission on earth, most of them hadtotally forgotten the primary role of a priest, that is,spreading the Gospel among our flock. Jesus Christ didnot follow a protocol, but his simple actions were morepowerful than a long, boring speech, believe me.Belonging to a Christian movement such as a brotherhooddoes not mark the difference with all those people whosimply enter a church to pray. Faith has no a color,since it is totally autonomous from a political belief, aspecific ideology, any sort of ambiguity and deceit.During my short period inside the Palace, I discoveredthat several people belonging to a Christian movement I

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do not frankly remember the name joined an auction tocarry a statue during a procession. Faith has no price,God is not a good, money must be kept away from all theChristian symbols. Where is then the poverty of theChurch? A priest swear poverty, as well as obedience andchastity, as soon as he joins our big family, but most ofthem often forget it. If people freely decide to givemoney to the church so as to help it to go on surviving,their anonymity is an essential condition in order not toquantify their economical strength. Mafia and corruptiononly destroy the simple beauty of a true faith, and Ifound that dark climate even inside the Palace. I was notfree to pronounce my speeches, to express what I had inmy mind, my thoughts belonged to a silly ideology intheir superficial view, that is why they changed my wordsin the articles about my pastoral activities. An example?When I argued that God is both a father and a mother tous, almost nobody understood the real meaning of thosewords, and irony was depicted on their faces. When Isupported the use of contraceptives during occasionalintercourses, some pseudo journalists wrote that the Popewas too revolutionary. The young must be led towards theright path with love and patience, you do not have todeceive them with false ideals since their disappointmentmight be a huge one, and force them to leave the Church.Many priests should help them not by sleeping with thosepoor, innocent souls, but by making them use their brainfor the best, teenagers do immediately understand andappreciate you. A priest cannot get married as he has tobe at the complete disposal of his community, and afamily might be an obstacle in this case since itrequires a total engagement towards all its members.

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Women are not things, but human beings with both a brainand a heart working well, you must feel respect towardsthem since they are by no means able to love us withsincerity. Another idea of mine which was totallymisunderstood by the majority of my staff, but they werethe statues with whom I had to make a crib, alas!Transparency, sincerity and simplicity are not yourwinning weapons if you happen to run the Holy See, youhave to forget your initial mission if you want tosurvive in that jungle. Being a Pope is not an easy task,believe me, since faith, hope and charity are alwayschallenged by a dark power whose main aim is money, manypriests are interested in a political career inside thePalace only! Even liturgy is constantly menaced byformalities such as protocol and ceremonies, a flower onthe altar does not increase my feelings towards God! Asilver goblet does not elevate the solemnity of theconsecration, a gestation chair could be used duringCarnival period, a precious tiara is the symbol of atemporal power I no longer have. Okay, I was the Head ofthe Vatican State, but at the same time the Vicar ofChrist on earth, that is why I could not afford to liveas a whimsical sovereign. I accepted to run the Church inorder to renew it from inside, moral corruption wasbringing some of my priests towards a blind alley. Icould not shut up, my dear cardinals! That universalassembly based on the disciples’ teaching had to befounded once again in Rome, I simply relied on the HolyBible more than protocol, but in vain. You can not onlyreceive politicians, intellectuals and artists, but alsoall those priests who want to live according to what theBible prescribes. My silent revolution had slowly begun!

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On September 28, thirty – three days after my election, Isilently passed away at eleven p.m. if I remember well.It was my faithful Sister Vincenza who found me dead inmy bed the following morning, holding several sheetscontaining some of my old homilies. I died withoutsuffering since it was a liberation to me, in fact youcould not find any traces of suffering on my body, butperhaps an interior peace I had eventually achieved. Isaw people crying and praying around my poor corpse, butthe fact I had left the Palace once forever was anoteworthy thing. Many nonsensical things were writtenabout my sudden death, but now I can swear that nobodypoisoned me. It was simply God who called me from thatawful life I had been living for one month so as toelevate my soul, but he did not make me suffer thanks toa pulmonary edema. I was free once again for God’s sake,obedience was a far memory from my past only! But I neverstopped praying for all those priests who had totallyforgotten the true aim of their mission on earth, thatis, bringing God everywhere. You can run the Church withprayers, I am the living example of these words, since Ihope corruption will leave the Palace someday. I hope so!

VLADIMIR PUTIN

After graduating in international law at Saint PetersburgState University, in 1975 I joined Soviet Committee forState Security (KGB) by attending one of its academiesnear the city above mentioned. I initially dealt withinternal political control and counter – intelligence,then I passed to foreign espionage operations by

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monitoring foreigners and consular officials. I was anextremely discreet and confidential spy whoseextraordinary diplomatic and dialectic skills were wellknown everywhere. I gathered information about ourenemies and their activities, and was often sent abroadon important and delicate missions to find out themilitary and political secrets of other countries. Forinstance, KGB stationed me in Dresden, East Germany, from1985 until 1990 but, after the collapse of thatgovernment, I went back to USSR and returned to SaintPetersburg where, in June 1991, I assumed a position withthe International Affairs section of my university,reporting to its Vice – Rector. In particular, Imaintained surveillance on the student body and kept aneye out for recruits. But I was a skillful mediator too,often proved to be crucial to maintain the delicatebalance inside the Kremlin. KGB was a very powerfulbureau thanks to its high officials who supervised thearrest, trial, torture and probable execution of alldissidents. Any form of opposition was the evidence of aconspiracy against the Kremlin in their view. Officersissued detailed procedures for mass deportation andexpulsion, and personally took part in the execution ofmany innocent people. They loved extreme measures such asthe production of false intelligence, the almost perfectreproduction of others’ voices and gestures with severaldisguises. Silence and cunning were their weapons. KGBagents found out enemy secrets and prevented ours frombeing discovered, taking all the precautions to protectUSSR from spying and the Kremlin from being attacked, aswell as to prevent prisoners from escaping. KGBsupervised all the local boards, its high officials were

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obsessed with the brutal repression and destruction ofdissent in all its forms. They realized that strugglesfor human rights were a part of a wide – ranging plot toundermine the foundations of our country. On August 20,1991 I duly resigned from KGB since I did not share itscoup d’état against the President, but I held a positionin the Security Council all the same. Eventually, I ranFederal Security Service (FSB) between 1998 and 1999, Iwas appreciated by everybody inside the Kremlin becauseof my professional competence and experience.

RONALD WILSON REAGAN

After graduating in sociology and economics, I found ajob as a Baywatch and, on one occasion, I managed torescue seventy – seven people. Then in 1932 I begancommenting on baseball games with my clear voice at bothWOC and WHO, two important radio stations. Being asportscaster made me learn how to be short and concise inmy both oral and written expression. Eventually, in 1937I moved to Hollywood in order to become a star, and Iworked very hard there. Seventy movies and thirty TVmovies gave me popularity and money, but not aninternational fame. In Knute Rockne – All American I was GeorgeGipp, a football champion, then I performed noteworthyroles in Santa Fe Trial, Million Dollar Baby and Desperate Journey. Myfavorite movie was definitely Kings Row (1942), where Iperformed Drake Mc Hugh, a provincial playboy who lostboth his legs after a car accident. As soon as thesurgeon had finished operating him, Drake pronounced thefamous sentence “Where’s the rest of me?” It then became the

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title of my 1965 autobiography, a best seller dealingwith a self made man only, not about a social climber.During 1942 and 1945, I served in the US Air Force duringthe Second World War, and made movies for pilots’training. In 1947 I became a B movie star by working inwestern, war and comic movies, my characters werestereotypes without any psychological evolution. In Nightunto Night I performed a dramatic role, whereas Storm Warningwas forbidden in several South states because of itsopenly anti – racial contents. In The Killers I performed avigorous and expressive villain, it was my last movieprior to abandon entertainment in 1966. Advertising mademe a star among housewives, and its eight golden rules(be always original; convey one thing only; surprise thespectator; be simple but not trivial; cause an emotion;give a value to the brand; break the rules; respect thespectator) deeply marked my communicative style. I hostedprograms at CBS (General Electric Theater, General Electric SummerOriginals), and NBC (Star Time, Death Valley Days). A characteractor like me might perform for instance the dynamic andwily man whose proud and cheeky temperament correspondedto vehemence, ambition and an uncommon lobby on behalf ofbusiness interests. Or the guy usually inflexible in hisdecisions and relentless in putting them into practice,the skillful diplomatic strategist, the faultless andcharismatic lord whose convincing oratory style inspiredeverybody with trust and optimism. With my blue eyes, mynice face and my athletic body I might embody the greatcommunicator who was both a powerful orator and a cleverschemer. In 1937 I joined Screen Actors Guild, a tradeunion I chaired six times, we all fought to increase ourmonthly salary. Critics wrote I was not a gifted actor,

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but a good speaker who would become a clever politiciansomeday. And they were completely right!

JOSEPH ESTRADA (JOSEPH MARCEL ARMY)

After taking my diploma as a technological expert, in1956 I began my acting career in Asia and immediatelybecame a star for my gift in characterization, I alsoworked in Hollywood and Rome. One hundred and twentymovies made me a celebrity, an almost living legend, amyth, but I also wrote, directed and produced seventy –five movies. A myth is timeless, universal andcommunicable, but I was a simple artist peopleappreciated for his acting style. I often performed onthe screen heroes of the down – trodden classes, whogained me the admiration of lots of the nation’s manyunschooled and impoverished citizens. I faced with anddefeated all my enemies by taking law into my own handswith energy since state was totally absent. I alwaysmanaged to make people follow the rules and takedecisions, that is why viewers saw me as a wish comingtrue. Thrillers and comedies were my specialties, I lovedhaving a double nature on the screen, gangsters andangels might find an agreement to get on well with oneanother. Idealist dreamers deeply loved me since Iusually portrayed a swashbuckling tough guy defending thepoor against the corrupt establishment. In 1974 Ifounded Movie Workers Welfare Foundation, a trade unionwhose educational arm (MOWELFUND Film Institute) gaveskilled and respected artists to movie industry. In 1975I founded Metro Manila Festival, a kermes for all the

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Asiatic quality movies, so promoting the Philippinesunder the cultural point of view.

CHARLES MAURICE FUNES CARTAGENA

I studied social media in order to deepen my knowledge ofboth reality and communication, then I began myjournalistic career in 1986 at Channel 10, and I workedat CNN for fifteen years, too. In 1987 I entered Channel12 where I hosted The Day Interview, a popular show whichmade me a TV star and where I managed to convey difficultmessages with simple words to everybody. If you want totell a story, it has to interest your own audience aboveall, but you cannot tell stories if you do not have anopinion of yours, if you do not express your own point ofview. I think that true journalism comprises a strongsense of the news, as well as stylistic rigor,credibility and reliability. All these elements meet thefugacity of words. Simplicity and a plain style come froma serious approach to our profession only. I workedaround facts with determination and energy, so as to makethem speak by means of videos, interviews, meetings andcomments. But a story must be simple and immediate inorder to arouse interest. I always used an essentiallanguage without hyperboles, and adopted a clear, simple,fast and understandable style. But politeness does notnecessarily mean servility, in fact I was neither atalking head nor an opinion maker. I never embodied theelegant, Baroque orator who provoked the audience onpurpose by using an aggressive, academic and dramaticstyle. You do not have to explicitly seduce the audience

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by winking and nodding, too. I also hosted local newsprograms which were harshly critical of previousSalvadoran governments. In 1997 I was appointed Channel12 News Director, every day I focused on a fact anddeveloped it with my sharp dialectic and keenintelligence. My smiling and reassuring face was combinedwith a calm, well – balanced style, and efficacy might beachieved even by gesture and miming. Sometimes I adoptedan incisive, resolute, inquiring and cynical style, solearning an important thing. What? If a piece of news isnot important, you just mention it. If it is importantenough, you make a video. If it is very important, youimmediately organize a link – up whose tone is usuallypressing and stringent, but not frenzied and long. Newsprograms are not like a gazette, anyway. Yes, you canadopt a conversational and ironic style during a debateon TV, unconventional and natural if you like, but alwayspermeated by that above mentioned strong sense of thenews. True journalism also comprises an absolute freedomof speech and expression, it may influence public opiniononly if it is free, otherwise it becomes an example ofservility. In fact I always tried to be as impartial aspossible on TV, giving everybody the opportunity toexpress their own ideas, and nobody might be annihilatedby my strong personality. I can openly support apolitical party whichever since it perfectly mirrors myideas, but independence is one of the main qualities tobecome a good journalist. Engagement may be linked topolitics, but it is also the practical expression of whatyou feel inside yourselves. Does anybody understand?

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MICHAEL JOSEPH MARTELLY

In 1988 I became a star with my COMPAS music, that is, astyle of Haitian dance music sung predominantly in theHaitian Creole language, but I blended it with otherstyles such as zouk, reggae, salsa, Caribbean soca andjazz – fusion. I studied piano and keyboard on which Icomposed melodies and edited the arrangement of famoussongs, so producing and selling high quality hits formany years. I popularized a new generation of COMPAS withsmaller bands, relying on synthesizers and electronicinstruments in order to reproduce a fuller sound. Criticseulogized my musical talent and charismatic person whoalways hypnotized his own audience with his confidentialand sensual voice. In their view, I gently touched scoresand tunes in order to turn them into immortal melodieseverybody would remember forever. I whispered notes witha strong sense of both rhythm and melody, as well as afree interpretation of the metric scanning of thesentence, just like a crooner in an elegant and refinednight club. People loved me for my simplicity, andcritics appreciated my original way of making peopledream about another possible world. I owned a club inHaiti, as well as several houses in Miami, Florida whereI spent a part of the year.

GRACE PATRICIA KELLY

I was born in Philadelphia on November 12, 1929, and Ispent my early youth there studying piano, dancing andlanguages (German, French and Spanish), playingbasketball, hockey, tennis, riding and swimming,

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knitting, making pictures with flower collages, andwearing pearls. I spent my summer holidays in Ocean City,dreaming of being a dancer, an FBI agent and an actresssomeday. In 1940 I acted for the first time in a schoolrecital, so discovering my passion for that job and, in1947, I joined New York Academy of Dramatic Art.Meanwhile, I worked as a model and appeared on sixty TVmovies on either NBC or CBS. After taking my diploma, in1949 I made my debut on a prose stage, Broadway to beprecise, with Father, a piece by Strindberg. In 1951 Ibecame a Hollywood star, and critics immediately wrotethat I was an outsider, a newcomer, in fact I shared aflat with my friends Rita and Prudence in Witzer Street.But now I would like to focus your attention on theeleven movies I made in five years’ time only.

FOURTEEN HOURS (1951) A movie by Henry Hathaway, in whichI worked with Richard Basehart. I perform the role ofMrs. Louise Ann Fuller, an elegant and refined lady whois in a law office where she is about to sign the finalpapers for her divorce. Amid legal formalities, shewatches the drama unfold, that is, a pacific outcry and,moved by that tragic event, she decides to reconcile withher husband.

HIGH NOON (1952) A western by an Austrian director,dealing with Will Kane, the long marshal of Hadley Ville(New Mexico). This average, earnest and idealist manmarries the pacifist Quaker Amy Fowler, a charming,measured but strong woman, permeated by good feelings andprinciples only. Will is quickly replaced by another guybut, no sooner the wedding is over, than Will is warnedabout the presence of three people waiting for midday

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train. They are friends with Frank Miller, an outlaw Willsent to prison and who swore revenge for it. At eleven a.m., everybody encourages Will to leave, but he decides toface with Frank and asks for somebody else’s help, butthey all refuse: the priest, the judge, the major becauseof fear and cowardice. His deputy, who has replaced himin Helen’s (a strong – willed bar owner) bed (just likeWill after Frank in the past), since he has not beenappointed sheriff. Frank gets off midday train and theduel begins in the desert town. Will kills two outlaws,whereas Amy shoots the third. Eventually, the couplemurders Frank, too. Everybody leaves their houses tocongratulate with them, but Will throws his tin star andleaves the town with Amy. On March 30, 1953, my partnerGary Cooper won an Academy Award for Best Actor in aLeading Role thanks to Will.

MOGAMBO (1953) It is a remake of Red Dust, filmed by JohnFord between Africa and England. Linda Nordley, anapparently self – controlled and detached English womanmarried to an anthropologist, let herself be seduced by acharming hunter in Africa, so following her own secretpassion for that guy. There is a deep psychologicalanalysis of the characters in that movie, what lies atthe bottom of their souls and which cannot easily emerge,for instance the hunter’s passion for a dancer. I workedwith Ava Gardner and Clarke Gable (The King of Hollywood)on that occasion.

GREEN FIRE (1954) No sooner the greedy English explorerRyan Mitchell discovers an emerald mine among Colombianmountains, than he is assaulted and hit by El Moro’s (anarrogant outlaw) gang. Ryan is then treated by the coffee

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plantation owner Katherine Knowland, who saddles him witha new partner, that is, her brother Donald, as well ashis old partner Victor Leonard, a hesitant guy who soonleaves them. Donald dies, whereas the mine collapses inpart. Ryan eventually falls for Katherine in a chasteaffair, despite muddy rivers, stubborn adventurers,natural disasters of a frightful intensity, and not soundfriendships.

DIAL M FOR MURDER (1954) London. Former tennis playerTony Wendice is afraid of divorcing his rich wife MaryMargot, since she is in love with the American thrillerwriter Mark Halliday. That is why Tony plans a perfectmurder together with his old friend from university CarlSwan, a slimy guy accepting to kill Margot for onethousand pounds. A night, Carl goes to their house andtries to murder her but, during that long sequence Tonyhears by phone, Margot manages to protect herself andaccidentally murders Carl with a pair of scissors. Policejail her with the charge of premeditated homicide, andTony is ready to make a good blunder before diligentInspector Cooper by inventing a reliable reason for thatmurder, so leading Margot to the scaffold. But a key willrescue her. Viewers are always involved by Hitchcock intothe movie development, being invited to follow themurder’s (or the alleged one) movements. They never playa passive role, waiting for the crime’s solution,sometimes responsibility shifts from the guilty to theinnocent like in that movie.

REAR WINDOW (1954) The mature reporter Jeff gets bored athome because of his left leg broken. Despite hisgirlfriend Lisa Carol Freemont’s visits, and insolent

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nurse Stella’s complaints, he spends his days spying onhis neighbors with a telescope. The ill wife of themysterious jewel dealer Lars Thorwald suddenly disappearsand, according to Jeff, she has been killed by him, butnobody supports his version, even policeman Thomas Doyle,Jeff’s old friend. In this movie by Hitchcock there is acombination of physical bravery and charming lightness,suspense and macabre. Human curiosity leads the viewer toanalyze the same concept of spying, in fact voyeurismtransposes on viewers who scan in an anguished atmospherewhere you only have the subjective reality, which is fullof projections and partiality. The movie is a treaty uponphotography and cinema where you have a deep reflectionupon love and marriage, too. James Stewart embodies apure, idealist and sophisticated hero here.

TO CATCH A THIEF (1954) Filmed by Hitchcock in theRiviera, it well represents the nightmare of a hunted manwho is forced to prove his own innocence. There is theambiguity between justice and guilt here, as well as thesense of doubt. Jewels frequently disappear from luxuryhotels where rich ladies spend their holidays. Policethink about a clever thief and soon suspect of John RobieThe Cat, former pickpocket and a Resistance hero. Sincethey do not believe him, John slaps in a hotel where hemeets Frances Stevens, a seductive American heiress, andher nice mother. John soon catches the true thief, thatis, a girl whose father had been jailed instead of him,and then marries Frances. Do you remember her driving afast car along the hairpin bends with Cary Grant by her?Frances is an apparently detached woman who is led by a

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dynamic and amusing sex appeal, perfectly aware of herown mysterious and magnetic charm.

THE COUNTRY GIRL (1954) It focuses on Georgie Elgin, sadbut dynamic wife of an alcoholic artist, a cold andbitter woman who has aged far beyond the years. On March30, 1955 I won an Academy Award for Best Actress in aLeading Role thanks to that dramatic and realistic role.I was second among Movie Making Stars, too.

THE BRIDGES AT TOKO – RI (1955) Korea War. The apparentlyrough Admiral Tarrant adores Tenant Harry Brubaker, alawyer giving the Koreans lots of trouble as a cleverpilot, since he reminds him of a son he lost during abattle. Harry grazes death after a dramatic alighting,but he is quickly rescued by Mike Forney, a bizarrehelicopter pilot. Tarrant sends Harry to Tokyo where hespends two happy days together with his wife Nancy andtheir two daughters. Then Harry undertakes a dangerousmission, that is, bombarding TOKO – RI bridges. Heheroically manages to do it, but eventually dies. Themovie is an interesting war movie about strong familyties, and Nancy Brubaker seems to be ideal embodiment ofPuritan femininity with her positive characterizationdespite a tragedy which will soon destroy her own family.Her open smile is an invitation to hope, believing thatnothing is completely over once forever.

THE SWAN (1955) Central Europe, first decade of thetwentieth century. Alexandra, an icy princess on exile,does not realize that her young tutor Nicholas secretlyloves her. Then another man arrives at her castle, thatis, Prince Albert, Alexandra’s mature cousin who is

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destined to marry her. But Albert seems not to beinterested in her who sensually dances with Nicholas soas to arouse his jealousy, and eventually falls for hertutor. But a rigid protocol forces her to marry Albert.The movie is about Alexandra, an unhappy princess whocannot live normal passions because of her public role,that aristocratic beauty openly challenged reason ofstate with her secret sensuality, and a touch of unbiasedinitiative. Working with both an exceptional characteractor such as Alec Guinness, and a director such asCharles Vidor was a pleasant experience.

HIGH SOCIETY (1956) Newport, New England. During jazzfestival, heiress Tracy Samantha Lord is about to marry adull guy called George Kittredge. As soon as her formerhusband Dexter Haven arrives in the city, he learns he isstill loves her. That is why Tracy’s father soon entrustsreporter Mike and photographer Lisa with the weddingcancellation. Legends such as Cole Porter and LouisArmstrong perform some of their hits in this elegant andsophisticated comedy. Tracy is in love with herself,belonging to an upper class, apparently able to keep herown feelings under control, but who actually wishes tofeel something strong and intense. She is by no means aromantic woman, sensual but icy, with a proud and boldlook allowing her to join high society without problems.Tracy may be plucky and learned, determined and sure,shrewd and faultless, but simple all the same (thinkabout the scene she sings True Love on a boat). She isapparently detached, but actually passionate andperturbing. Her discreet but sometimes peevish grace istypical of who is used to living in the high society

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(meaning padded affluence, jet set and so on), and sohaving a strong self – control, too. Being a socialitemay be possible only if you have money to make the worldgo round, the Riviera or Acapulco are nice places whereto live like a star.

LETIZIA ORTIZ ROCASOLANO

I studied dancing in Oviedo, my beloved place of birth,then I took a BA in Information Science at MadridUniversity, as well as a master’s degree in AudiovisualJournalism in Mexico. That postgraduate course made melearn all the secrets of my job, you may become a good,celebrated journalist with practice only. I worked atnewspapers (XXI Century, New Spain, ABC), press agencies(EFE), and private networks (Bloomberg Television, CNN+),dealing in particular with economy, finance and market.Think that Madrid Stock Exchange had become my secondhome! In 2000 I entered TVE as 24 Hours Channel host(headline news in particular), then I hosted both morningand evening news programs on the first channel. Iachieved a great success by hosting Weekly Report, as wellas a special about the new currency unit, that is, euro.Critics argued that I became a TV star thanks to myserene and conciliating face, as well as a reassuringsmile, a perfect diction, a subtle irony and a soberelegance. I gave news with a clear, simple and crediblelanguage, and an apparently detached, but understandable,immediate and fast style. I tried to be as impartial aspossible on the screen, even when I worked as a reporterfrom abroad. Where? From Washington D. C. on 2000

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presidential elections, on September 11, 2001 from GroundZero, from Northern Spain following the ecologicaldisaster when an oil tanker sank, and eventually fromIraq. In 2003 I left TVE, but then I chaired journalisticprizes and met all the Spanish mass media in order toimprove information in my country.

SHIRLEY JANE TEMPLE

I was the daughter of a banker and a dancer who made mestudy dancing since they had noticed my precociousattitude towards music hall. In 1932 I made my debut onthe screen with Glad Rags To Riches, where I imitated severalmovie stars who sang and danced, too. Then I became aHollywood star thanks to my forty – two movies which wereall successful ones at the box office. Think about LittleMiss Marker, Now and forever, The Little Colonel, Captain January,Little Miss Broadway, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, The Little Princess,Red – Haired Alibi, Stand Up and Cheer, Baby Take a Bow, Curly Top,Heidi, and Wee Willie Winkle. In 1935 I won a Juvenile AcademyAward for Bright Eyes, so achieving a planetary fame as aprodigy child for excellence. I embodied the sweet butwise baby, extremely mature for her age, and capable ofdancing complex tip tap choreographies, conveying hopeand optimism, and reconciling everybody. I recorded songssuch as On The Good Ship, Lollipop, Animal Crackers in My Soup,Good Night My Love, When I Grow Up, they all were hits forchildren. In 1948 there was a turning point in my actingcareer with Fort Apache, a west movie directed by themythical John Ford. Then I made other movies such as TheBlue Bird, Young People, Kathleen, Miss Annie Rooney, Since you went

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away, and I’ll Be Seeing You. I worked at NBC (The Shirley Temple’sStorybook, Shirley Temple Show), and became an advertisingstar thanks to my golden curly hair, a big face, brighteyes, and dimples on my cheeks. My image was highlymerchandised, so producing cutout books, soaps, dishes,dolls, sheet music, paper tablets, mirrors, bracelets,ribbons, chewing gums, clothes, pencils, a breakfast kitand a non alcoholic cocktail. In 1950 I left cinema inorder to devote myself to television, but I also hostedspecials until 1967, the year I renounced toentertainment. In 2001 I worked as CBS author as regardsa special program about my life and career, and Ipublished a book about my experience as a prodigy child.

MELINA (MARY AMALIA) MERCOURI

Between 1943 and 1946 I attended Athens National TheaterAcademy where I took my diploma and began my career on astage, I also worked in Paris and Broadway. I achieved ahuge success as a singer by giving a new vital lymph tothe Greek folklore with my original voice, it haddramatic nuances audience and critics immediatelyappreciated. In 1955 I made my debut on the screen withStar, where a determined and dynamic artist performedpopular Greek urban songs with her strong sensitivity andrefined elegance. Then I became a star thanks to thecharacterization (in The Gipsy and the Gentleman, The Man WhoHas To Die, The Law) of the strong, passionate and stubbornwoman, modern and emancipated, exuberant and vital. InHollywood I got an Academy Award nomination for BestActress with Never on Sunday (1960), where I performed a

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Greek prostitute. But I won a Golden Palm in Cannes only,alas! Phaedra was my version of a classic myth (a queenfalling in love with her stepson) which was, in my view,timeless, universal and communicable. Topkapi was an ironiccomedy about a robbery into the famous Turkish museum,the sultan’s golden dagger in particular. In other movies(10: 30 p.m. summer, Promises at Dawn, The Rehearsal, A Dream ofPassion), I exploited popular culture in order to gobeyond stereotypes, that is, the mechanical repetition ofexpressions and gestures several colleagues of mine stillloved performing either on the screen or the stage. In1978 I left entertainment at the top of my planetary famein order to embrace another passion of mine.

GLENDA MAY JACKSON

In 1950 I moved to London where I attended RADA (RoyalAcademy of Dramatic Art), and found a job as a shopassistant in a drugstore to make a living (I was thedaughter of a bricklayer). I began my career on a prosestage when I was still a student, I took my diploma and,in 1956, I made my debut on the screen with The Extra Day,followed by twenty TV movies on both BBC and ITV. Being amember of the Royal Shakespeare Company refined both myrigorous approach to acting and my intense performances,in fact I might shift from tragedies to comedies withoutproblems. Then I became a star thanks to fifty – threemovies which were appreciated even in Hollywood and Rome.In Marat – Sade I appeared as Charlotte Corday, the fanaticgirl who killed Doctor Marat during the FrenchRevolution. In Women in Love (1969), directly taken from

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D.H. Lawrence’s novel, I performed the role of Gudrun, asensual, modern and emancipated artist. In both the noveland the movie there was such a deep psychologicalanalysis of the characters that I won my first AcademyAward for Best Actress. In Sunday, Bloody Sunday I depictedan independent businesswoman whose intense and objectivelanguage was positively noticed by the critics. In TheMusic Lovers I embodied Nina, the unhappy wife of a famousRussian musician whose sensitivity hid a homosexualtendency. In Mary, Queen of Scots Queen Elizabeth I used anessential and convincing language, as well as anenergetic commitment, a determined and dynamic look withher green eyes and brown hair. In A Touch of Class (1973)Vicky, a brilliant fashion designer who was in love witha married man, and so oppressed by a deep sense of guilt.She was a highly intelligent, rather ironic, aloof womanwho combined strength of character with a disturbingeroticism, and used a straight, symbolic and visionarylanguage. Vicky made me win my second Academy Award forBest Actress. In The Romantic English Woman the chaste wifeof a writer fell in love with an adventurous pretender,while Incredible Sarah was about the life of Sarah Bernhardt,you could notice the rich gesture, a deep glance and atotally expressive face in that character. In Nasty Habits aMother Superior fought for the conquest of power into amonastery, whereas in both House Calls and Hopscotch my facialand gestural mimic fully emerged. Critics argued that Iwas a consummate professional, and that my skills covereda multitude of different roles, from those of cold, sex –starved women to the neurotic, flawed woman, to that ofcasual nudity. I was known for my tense portrayals ofcomplex women, they considered a blunt, opinionated, no –

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nonsense sort of woman, a committed feminist andsocialist. Dou you know why? They once wrote that I putme all into whatever I tackled since I wished to make amark, in fact I was known for my intelligent andmeticulous approach to my work. In Health the candidate tothe presidency of a health club faced with severalGrotesque situations, my strong personality had funnynuances. Turtle Diary was about a lonely and unsatisfiedwriter for children who reacted against the hypocritepower, then my brilliant characterization appeared againin Beyond Therapy, Salome’s Last Dance (a parody of Wilde’splay), and The Rainbow, taken from a novel by D. H.Lawrence, which had been banned for obscenity in 1915. Ialso devoted myself to hosting, advertising and dubbing,you can still hear my narrating voice on some occasions.In 1992 I left entertainment and, on that occasion, Isaid I would never act any longer!

ARNOLD ALOIS SCHWARZENEGGER

I spent my youth in Austria where I played football andbodybuilding, in 1963 I won a famous European competitionand so I became Junior Mr. Europe. In 1968 I moved toGermany at first, then to the USA where I became a sportstar by winning competitions such as Mr. World, Mr.Universe (five times), and Mr. Olympia (seven times). Asa culturist, I developed a deep knowledge of my body, astrong awareness of my potentialities, so establishing agood relationship with myself. In 1970 I made my debut onthe screen with Hercules in New York, where I exploited myathletic body well, whereas in Stay Hungry I was a

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culturist fond of health and hygiene, that role made mewin a Golden Globe Award in 1977. The Villain was a comicwestern, in the meantime I got a BA in business andinternational economics at Wisconsin University (I wouldget two honorary doctorates in 1996 and 2002). I wasinvolved in the Special Olympics, an organization foundedby my former mother – in – law. In 1979 I was namedSpecial Olympics International Weight Training Coach, andthen a Global Ambassador. My nicknames were The AustrianOak or Styrian Oak, due to my large build and the storyof me performing chins ups from the limb of an Oak treeon the banks of the river Thalersee, the lake of myhometown in Austria. In 1980 I left sport competitions,but nobody else changed my record, then I devoted myselfto cinema. In both Conan The Barbarian and Conan The Destroyerthe protagonist was a mythological warrior, a destructivebarbarian in an archaic world. The Terminator, Terminator 2:Judgment Day and Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines focus on apowerful death machine, that is, a cyborg coming from thefuture. Science fiction movies totally changed thanks tothose three visionary works of art where high technologyalways played an important role. In other action movies(Commando, Raw Deal, Red Heat, Total Recall, Last Action Hero, Endof Days, The Sixth Day, Collateral Damage), there was a herofighting for mankind’s salvation, he was ruthless withall his enemies. But I wished to make people laugh, too.Being a Hollywood star does not necessarily mean that youhave to be linked forever to a stereotypical character!No way! On the contrary, you are free to change genreaccording to what your acting mood is in that specificmoment of your career. In Twins, Kindergarten Cop, Junior, TrueLies and Batman & Robin I faced with both spy stories and

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witty plots with the subtle irony of a versatile andamusing comedian. Think of the happy characterization ofMr. Freeze for instance, so as to have an idea about mybrilliant gift, I also commented some wrestling matchesduring that period. I invested my money in differentfields: real estates, bricklaying, a sporting mall, aninvestment firm, a big store, airline companies,financial activities, restaurants (Planet Hollywood),sport magazines (Flex, Muscles & Fitness), andentertainment (Oak Production). In 2003 I temporarilyabandoned Hollywood but, in 2011, I returned to actingwith The Expendables, another amusing movie.

JESSE VENTURA (JAMES GEORGE JANOS)

I was born in a family from both Slovakia and Germany. Iserved US Navy as UDT (Underwater Destruction Teams)member during Vietnam War between 1969 and 1975. Weexploited military areas in the Philippines to fightagainst those people, but that long enterprise was atotal failure. In 1975 I began my wrestling career andbecame a star whose fast movements, physical strength andability in tricks were soon appreciated by everybody allover the world. Think that I was nicknamed The Body, TheMind, The Great and The Star, and that my sentence “Win ifyou can, lose if you must, but always cheat!” became a cult one amongthe young. On the ring, I shaped a flamboyant andcharismatic character, winning several championshipsuntil 1986 when I retired. Then I became a WWF performerand color commentator, many people still remember WrestleMania on WWE, World Championship Wrestling, The Body Shop,

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Saturday Night’s Main Event. I hosted them all with anessential and dynamic style, despite my total ignoranceabout true journalism. I became a good sportscaster evenin a radio network where I commented on football games,on that occasion I learnt that speed is important if youwant to become a successful speaker. In 1987 I began myacting career on the screen with Predator and Guardian of theUniverse, then I made other twelve movies in Hollywoodwhich gave me a planetary fame. I embodied the brave heroin a surreal world, science fiction adopted me for awhile, but I did not disdain thrillers and comedies. OnDIC Entertainment I hosted Record Breakers, a program forchildren about strange enterprises arousing theircuriosity. On MSNBC I hosted Jesse Ventura’s America, a talkshow where I experienced information as entertainment,and occasionally acted on CBS soap opera The Young and theRestless. I published books about politics, and livedbetween Minnesota and Mexico with my family.

GILBERT GIL

In 1950 I began to study guitar, accordion and piano,following a strong passion inside my soul, as well aswhat Plato once said that rhythm is the movement’s order.Music is the free expression of a sensitive soul, it hasno owners and must be completely free to be appreciatedby the audience. Music always has the power to sayimportant things in a simple way, for instance by meansof a violin, a cello, an acoustic guitar and percussions(my ideal band). A true artist is a free person, not aslave composing on behalf of somebody else, since music

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comes from our heart, and not from our wallet. Mycreative mind led me to mingle Brazilian popular music(samba, for instance) with other genres such as rock,reggae and African rhythms. All my songs are a deepreflection upon political awareness and social activism,a poetic defense of freedom and democracy. There was along and cruel dictatorship in Brazil, a dark powersuffocating all those free expressions which had alwayscharacterized our art until that moment. Art, as well asculture, cannot be forced to shut up, it is the trueexpression of what we actually feel inside ourselves. Ifounded the Tropical Movement with other artists, it wasour vital outcry against that hypocrite perversion of thehuman soul, our struggle for human rights lasted untildemocracy was restored. I was considered as a subversiveguy and then jailed in 1968. In 1969 I eloped to Londonwhere I improved my knowledge of European music, I alsoworked in Nigeria, Switzerland, USA and Jamaica. All myconcerts were populated by huge crowds of young peoplewho found a hope in my compositions, I was a dream comingtrue in their view, and both dreams and hopes are alwaysthe last ones to die. In 1972 I returned to Brazil whereI studied our folklore step by step, just like theMediterranean and the Aegean sounds, so composing new andintriguing melodies on the score.

M.P. PHILIP MANCUSO

On July 13, 1994, the Minister of Justice issued a decreereducing the crimes for which people could be jailed, andso they were given remand for corruption and extortion.

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That decree provoked such a verbal riot that it wasimmediately replaced by a law proposal. On October 14,the Keeper began a ministerial investigation againstMilan District, and those judges openly menaced theinspectors in order to be cleared. The chief of that poolshowed them a letter he had written to both CSM (SuperiorMagistracy Council) and the President about the criterionto follow in giving top secrets documents to theinspectors. He did not share their action as regards theinvestigation upon political corruption, in fact theywere suspected of violating the legal procedure sincethey were inspired by a strange idea of justice. Somejudges had largely exploited remand so as to make apsychological pressure on a convict and so get usefulinformation from him. Other judges did not turnimprisonment into remand when due and, eventually, one ofthem who had contributed to the suicide of a convict,too. The chief of that pool had openly trespassedinvestigating secret by informing in advance both thePresident and a Police General about the impendinginvestigation upon 1994 prime minister. I chaired aministerial committee investigating upon Home Secretarieswho had got 100 million dollars per month fromIntelligence during the 80s. The President served as HomeSecretary between 1983 and 1987, so he could not but knowsomething about that dark event. On January 17, 1995 Iwas appointed Minister of Justice and immediatelypromoted some disciplinary actions by sending myinspectors to all the districts, according to what ourrepublican constitution said (article 107 to be precise).In Naples, four judges were charged of having caused aconvict’s death in prison, while Palermo pool had used

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strange methods to investigate upon mafia and, inBologna, a judge had got documents about several murdersin a very strange way. In Milan there were excess inremand, systematic trespass of discretion, non –observance of principles and procedural laws preventingdefense. There was an illegal use of investigatingdevices, that is why I sent my inspectors to check theregularity of phone interceptions carried out by a judgeon a politician’s line. I sent the dossier to both CSMand the General Attorney, then I talked about the strangemethod employed by those judges at the Senate. Myinspectors did not find any irregularities and underlinedthe extreme transparency of that judicial action, but itcould not be possible and so they were quickly removedfrom their charge. Fifteen inspectors openly criticizedme in a letter, and they were immediately transferredelsewhere, then I sent other inspectors to Milan one moretime, and I also announced a second inspection to PalermoDistrict. But nobody was suspended since I only wanted tostop those judges in order to prevent the achievement oftruth according to the Council, and my charge was agroundless one. Some politicians asked for myresignation, but I went on with my action since I wantedto deepen those menaces against my inspectors,transparency was necessary at the ministry. I dealt withjustice organization and the efficiency of its servicesby running all the ministry departments (juridicalaffairs, publication of laws and decrees, juvenilejustice, prisons, mafia, notary archives and thejuridical libraries) with an iron fist. Law Courts wereall put under control, then I authorized the meetingbetween a convict and his beloved daughter. On October

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19, I was removed from my office by the Senate and,during my speech, I accused the President of beinginvolved in a dark case which had invested Intelligence.I tried to get ministry again, but in vain, though Iproduced several documents about law violation on severaloccasions. In 1996 I was elected to the ItalianParliament (its Low Chamber), and I remained there until2006, then I silently disappeared in order to take careof myself. Eventually, I peacefully passed away on May30, 2011 and now I can say I have reached my place in thesun.

QUAESTOR BRUNO CONTRADA

Being a policeman is not an easy task at all, since itrequires a total engagement, a great spirit of sacrificeand renunciation, solid moral principles and good nerves.In 1951 I joined Army as a soldier in its light infantry,then I took my degree in law and, in 1958, I joinedPolice by attending Rome Academy. Between 1959 and 1962 Iserved as an inspector several peaceful headquarters andstations inside Lazio. But I wanted to fight againstcrime in a borderland and so, in 1962, I was sent toPalermo where I dealt with both organized crime andterrorism in difficult quarters. I soon learnt howimportant the international traffic of drug and moneyrecycling were there. Secret mechanisms of contracts wereextensively analyzed thanks to an obstinate investigatingactivity, so causing disorder everywhere. Many peoplewent into hiding, and then I discovered that they all hada close relationship with politicians. Criminal

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investigation was possible thanks to an efficientdetective branch upon violent and terrible crimesperpetrated by mafia. I persecuted mafia clansspecialized in murders with rigor, inflexibility andirreproachability, everybody appreciated and trusted me.Mafia planned several times of murdering me since I was aterrible enemy fighting against all those bloody anddangerous people with intense investigations. Theymenaced me because I had persecuted them without pause,but I had no bodyguards around me and personally joineddangerous actions and operations since I was not afraidof them. As an officer, I ran Palermo Flying Squad,Western Sicily Criminal Police Bureau and Mafia HighCommissioner Staff. In 1982 I joined Intelligence andSecurity Bureau to run its centers in Sicily andSardinia, as well as an efficient operative team made oftwenty highly trained policemen in Rome. We arrestedseveral outlaws, prevented the kidnapping of the son of abuilder, and discovered drug coming from both the Balkansand Morocco, as well as estates, money and sharesbelonging to mafia between Rome and Milan. I tried toreinforce Intelligence in the most dangerous regions,thanks to a team of chosen policemen trained by severedrill sergeants, and so ready to everything, even to die.Several men could perfectly reproduce others’ voices andgestures with several disguises, silence and cunning weretheir favorite weapons during our operations. I was anextremely discreet and confidential spy whoseextraordinary diplomatic and dialectic skills were wellknown everywhere. I gathered information about mafia andits activities, and often went abroad on important anddelicate missions to find out the secrets of other mafia

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organizations. That high official everybody trusted wasalso a skillful mediator, often proved to be crucial tomaintain the delicate balance inside Intelligence andprevent secrets from being discovered. I took severalprecautions to protect Italy from spying by involving allthe local boards such as border agencies and prefectures.Security forces undertook a deep reinforcement, and I wasappointed Palermo vice – prefect after receiving awardseven from USA who considered me as a model to imitate.Eventually, I began investigating upon two judges’ murderin Palermo, but that severe and incorruptible policemanwas annoying somebody powerful and so he had to beremoved from Intelligence somehow. In fact I was jailedon December 24, 1992, Christmas Eve, a vile operationwhich caused my suspension from Intelligence. I wasaccused of helping mafia members on several occasions bywarning them on time, and so stopping any state actionagainst them.

SENATOR ADRIENNE POLI BORTONE

On May 10, 1994 I was appointed Minister of Agriculture,Food and Forestry, my first EU meeting took place inGreece and dealt with the abolition of the Germanpractice of adding sugar to wine in order to increase itsalcoholic level. EU had had abolished 2, 5 km deepfishing – nets, but everybody could use them until 1997,they were considered to be too dangerous for shipping(boats and ships). I proposed to make them 9 km deep anduse them until 2004 in order to protect the sea, thosenets could reach until 6 meters into the sea, but they

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openly violated all the international treaties and soItaly risked EU embargo as regards all its sea products(fish, coral), because of them. I asked for new rules asregards fishing with everybody’s help, reorganizedagriculture by using new machinery, supported viticultureand wine industry. There was apparently no money, but Ieulogized the Mediterranean products, changed rules asregards fruit and vegetables market, and eventually putpoplar, olive oil, cereals, sugar, tomato and tobaccounder control. Then I sent my inspectors to a statecompany dealing with agricultural money, to checkharvests so as to avoid that wine might be got from biggrapes, to agricultural cooperatives, and eventually tocheck seed sales. Wine had to be distilled, several birdscould no longer be hunted, slaughtering activities for EUanimals were modernized, as well as irrigation agencies.There was a new list for cooperative societies with aland evaluation, as well as fiscal easy terms for allthose farmers who invested their money in the ruraldevelopment. EU established a price for sea products, Isupported vegetable biotechnologies and mountainagriculture, then issued decrees to face with both aflood in Piedmont and Liguria, and cholera, so preservingagriculture and fishing. National Farmers Unions joinedmy meetings at the ministry, but regions turned a deadeye because they did not want to work together with us soas to modernize agriculture once forever, according toFAO rules. I ran all the ministry departments (marketpolicy, consumers’ protection, fraud repression, qualityof food and services, foresters) with an iron fist. TheAgricultural Research Council carefully followed forest,mountain and water resources under my supervision.

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Farmers found a hope for their future in my actions, Iunderlined several times the huge importance ofdevolution in modernizing all the sectors I was in chargewith. I joined meetings, events, lectures to talk aboutmy decrees, trade unions were happy with my job aftereight months from my appointment. I managed to create agood dialogue with all my executives, and my undersecretary of State in particular, then I collected all myproposals into a book I sent to several people. A poorGreek and Latin teacher was running an important ministrywith good results, I thanked above all my belovedPlatters for that lucky moment I was living in mypolitical career. My prime minister resigned on December22, 1994 because of a deep political crisis nobody couldsolve, but I left my office on January 17, 1995 only.

M.E.P. JULIAN FERRARA

I was appointed Minister of Relations with Parliament onMay 10, 1994 after leaving the European Parliament I hadbeen a member of since 1989. The Senate had to vote itstrust on us, and I wished that operation to start onTuesday but, since it was on May 17, I chose for anotherdate. I tried to find a loyal agreement with the majorityof Parliament, but they were uncertain and whimsicalpeople with no political experience about the presidencyof several committees. Sometimes, we did not negotiatewith parties, but good politics foresaw that practice.Who had conquered the majority of Parliament had both theright and the duty to rule Italy, but lobbies inside thePalace were a constant danger to us all. I was chosen as

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gubernatorial spokesman by the prime minister so as totell only the truth to the press. I might change mycolleagues’ declarations according to what were the realdecisions taken by the Ministers’ Council, for instanceabout people’s retirement. RAI (Italian radio television)was run by unfit managers and was openly against us, thatis why it needed a deep but gradual change. A renewal wasabsolutely necessary, but nobody wished to annihilatethat state business. How could I destroy the place I hadbegun my TV career in 1987 by hosting programs such asHot Line, The Witness and London Radio? No way! Critics wrotethat I proposed a total, blazing and defiant journalism,a way of making partisan and arrogant information byemploying hubris and excess to ban common places andventure into complex discourses. I their view, I tendedto represent topics more than exposing them, my learnedand spectacular pleadings became famous. In 1989 I passedto Channel 5 and Italy 1 to host programs such as The Cat,London Radio, The Inquest and Love Lessons. During TV debates,my strong presence forced guests’ opinions to passthrough thought and contradiction, which was always agood and coherent exercise. I made debates spectacular byhosting them with an aggressive style, I also developedjournalistic enquiry as a talk show, but neitherpartisanship nor provocative candor were among my ethicalprinciples. Even for programs such as War Diary and Half PastEight (I would host them on Channel 7), critics arguedthat I played with treacherous smiles, tricky questionsand trap breaks. I became famous everywhere for my redsilk braces and sweaty hair, I used to smoke my belovedcigars during my programs. RAI President openlycriticized me, but I only wished to rescue it from a

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failure by means of a brave decree proposing a financialrestructuration. RAI could not finish in a tribunalotherwise, and there was no a war against us who proposeda triennial plan to financially rescue it. But thosemanagers refused our help and resigned, event thePresident criticized that brave decree, but RAI was ourcompetence, not his alas! A possible failure would bringto 406 million dollars deficit, managers had to reducecosts a strict rigor was necessary, always respecting theParliament. The President invited us to reflect upon thatdecree’s reiteration. On July 13, the Keeper issued adecree recuing custody for crimes such as corruption andconcussion, so provoking a boring debate aboutmagistracy’s role. Government and Parliament issueddecrees and laws, not judges, ours was a struggle forfreedom and rights against a pool ruthlessly abusingtheir position. I hoped Parliament would approve of thatdecree since I did not want to have it withdrawn, but itwas quickly replaced by a law proposal. Article 105 ofour constitution prevented judges from ruling Italy,custody was then applied to crimes which might bepunished with four years in prison. The prime minister’sbrother was jailed, but that event did not affect ouraction since there was a personal responsibility in thatcase. I was charged of writing prime minister’s speeches.Milan District made a law proposal solving politicalcorruption once forever, so openly violating ourconstitution. The President urgently summoned both theprime minister and the presidents of the twoparliamentary chambers to talk about the huge quantity ofdecrees Parliament was examining on those days. 191decrees over 225 belonged to us, but they were too many

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all the same, and the financial law had to be debated butnot in a hurry as opposition believed. I asked CSM(Superior Magistracy Council) President to start adisciplinary action against Milan District Chief, a mafiaboss in my view who wished to disintegrate the Keeper bycharging him of fraud about a bank failure. The Keeperinitially resigned, then he remained with us, while thatjudge argued that I was a whimsical man making flatdeclarations. Left parties asked for my resignation, Idenounced that man and the prime minister talked aboutthat event at the Senate, since that judge’s action was aclear attack on us with the clear aim of stopping us, butCSM decided not to suspend him. Then a political leadercharged the Minister of Defense of being a mafia member,and wanted him to clarify everything at the Low Chamber,but my colleague had flown to Egypt for an internationalmeeting. That great lawyer was denounced for things whichhad nothing concrete at their basis, but I realized itwas another occasion to attack on us, so preventing ademocratic dialogue with the opposition over seriousproblems. As I once said in Venice, a state could workwell only if there were precise rules to follow, wewished to change parliamentary rules so as to increasedemocracy even inside the Palace. We chose two EUministers and did not wish to deny magistracy’sindependence. Even the extreme right wing of theParliament was necessary to our survival, but it had tochange something inside its own ideology. Only peoplecould choose who would them by voting, not magistracy,and only the Parliament could send us away, not a generalstrike. Trade unions had the right to manifest theirperplexity about the financial law, even with a general

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strike. If other parties wished to support us, they mightdo it without problems, in particular about institutionalreforms, but I perceived there was a plot against theprime minister, organized by lobbies inside the Palace.Milan District was investigating upon him, and that poortycoon received that news while he was busy working inNaples. Judges did not impose the Parliament to issuelaws, a plot had to be legitimated only by people, thatis why there might not be any political crisis. ThePresident stopped us all the time, a Milan Districtmember suddenly resigned and I wrote a letter to him, MyDear Enemy, to eulogize his continuous abuse of power. ThePresident never defended democracy at all, a violentpolitical storm deriving from that plot was going toannihilate us. If the Parliament did not trust us anylonger, people had to vote again, a party wished toabandon us since loyalty was not among its ethicalprinciples. And it behaved that way, alas! The primeminister resigned on December 22, but I left my officeonly on January 17, 1995. The President tried to recreatea dialogue with me by clenching my hands at a party, butin vain.

PROFESSOR ANTHONY GUIDI

On May 10, 1994 I was appointed Minister for Family andSocial Solidarity, immediately supporting young familieswho had handicapped people to look after, and singlepeople wishing to adopt kids. I granted a financial helpto all the old and ill people who could be treated athome in that way. I thought about who had no a voice, to

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my battles for the civil rights into my trade union whenI was still a doctor. I wished to change that law aboutadoptions since it was totally dominated by bureaucracy,the true obstacle to a country’s development. Abortionwas a crime to the Church, but 194 Law regulated it, inmy opinion it was not a contraception but a couple’schoice. If their fetus had several problems, they mightfreely choose to stop pregnancy.

M.P. JOHN CHARLES CITO

On December 5, 1993 I was elected Mayor of Taranto, soinheriting several unsolved problems from mypredecessors, but I tried to find an answer to them all.I had the city radically cleaned, including the cemetery,the promenade with the covering of all the holes on theasphalt. Streets had sun lamps again, as well as newgreen spaces where to breathe oxygen. In a few weekstime, I gave new life to a historic fountain, while therewere fines for who parked their cars on the pavements.Several families occupied town houses without payinganything, and so they were immediately sent away, as wellas illegal immigrants, gypsies and the young of a socialcenter. I had several buildings restored, and faced withrubbish emergency in summer, too. Then I created anarchaeological park, and had the three pools of a churchrebuilt. The price of bus tickets increased, and peoplehad to pay in order to exploit new parking areas I hadbuilt. There was a restyling operation for all themonuments, and inside the Palace I continuously shiftedmy executives. I issued fines for who dirtied or occupied

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the pavements, and planned a submarine conduct, atheater, a casino, an underground station, a new, modernstructure for the town library and a touristic port. Butmy political action went against the Power. On December19, 1995 I was removed from my charge by the Home Office,it was a terrible moment to me since all my hopesvanished all at once. In 1996 I was elected to theItalian Parliament (its Low Chamber), and I remainedthere until 2001, then my life became a hell, anightmare.

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