How to become “the most beautiful woman of the world”: Lina Cavalieri between voice, body and cinema

Known as "the most beautiful woman in the world", Lina Cavalieri (1875 -1944) embodies the myth of the poor provincial girl who, thanks to her talent and beauty, becomes one of the most famous stars in Europe and America. First and entertainer in music halls and then a lyric soprano in the major theaters of the world, Cavalieri combined her vocal talents with great stage skills and a considerable ability in managing her body. While many factors contributed to her legend–the famous kiss given to the tenor Caruso during Fedora at the Met is one example–in general it was her grace and her skills as a dancer and as a sportive and elegant woman that characterized her fame. Her image, one of the most representative of the “belle époque”, circulated globally through postcards, gossip, articles and pictures. Furthermore, the actress understood the importance of advertising to promote her image and endorsed numerous commercial products. This contribution explores Lina Cavalieri’s short film career (that took place in Europe and America), giving attention to both the permanent characteristics and the variations in her star image. It also attempts to shed light on the relationship between the construction of the myth of Lina Cavalieri operated by the cinema and by contemporary media such as print (newspapers, photography, etc.), giving attention to the autobiographical reconstruction made by the star herself.