Irina Sanpiter, Magda in «Bianco, Rosso, Verdone»: the audition, loves, illness and altruism and other curiosities

“Magda, do you adore me?” «Yes» «So you see that the thing is mutual?». The dialogues between Magda and Furio in the 1981 film directed and interpreted by Carlo Verdone (tonight on Cine 34 at 21) are unforgettable. A much-loved road movie whose dialogues and jokes have taken root in Italian culture to the extent that they have almost become idioms. Alongside the protagonist was Irina Sanpiter, born in Moscow on 27 September 1957. Before acting in Verdone’s film she took part in a few short and feature films, to then work as an extra in “Mani di Velluto” in 1979 and the the following year in «La Terrazza», a film by Ettore Scola. Then the great success of her in the role of Magda, a character who gave her great success. During the same period she played the role of Amalia in «Lacrime napulitane», a film by Ciro Ippolito. Three years later she discovered she had lymphoma and her illness forced her to abandon her film career at 27. She has been battling cancer for about 30 years. She passed away in 2018 at the age of 60.