Zeudi Araya
| Zeudi Araya | |
|---|---|
 Zeudi Araya in La ragazza dalla pelle di luna (1972). | |
| Born |
10 February 1951 Dekemhare, Eritrea |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1970s - 1980s |
| Spouse(s) |
Franco Cristaldi (1984 - 1992) Massimo Spano (1994 - ) |
| Children | Michelangelo Spano |
Zeudi Araya (born 10 February 1951 in Dekemhare, Eritrea) is an Eritrean-Italian actress and film producer.
Career
Araya became Miss Eritrea in 1969. On a journey to Italy in 1972, she recorded a commercial for coffee, and was discovered by the director Luigi Scattini, who cast her with Beba Lončar in La ragazza dalla pelle di luna shot in the Seychelles. In 1973, songs composed by Piero Umiliani she sang in the score of another Scattini film where she played the lead role (La ragazza fuoristrada) were released on a 45 rpm record. From 1973 to 1975, several roles in erotic-themed movies followed, most of them directed by Scattini. In 1976, she appeared with Paolo Villaggio in the Fantozzi-style comedy Il signor Robinson by Sergio Corbucci. She also appeared in the Italian version of Playboy magazine in February 1977.
Her last prominent appearance was in the epic Hearts and Armour, released in 1983. Araya subsequently withdrew from acting, and has since then been producing movies.
Personal life
Coming from a Westernised Tigrinya family, Araya's father was a politician and her uncle was a diplomat in Rome. She was married to film producer Franco Cristaldi from 1984 until his death in 1992. Araya now lives with the director Massimo Spano, with whom she has a son.
Selected filmography
- La ragazza dalla pelle di luna - "Simone" (1972)
- La ragazza fuoristrada - "Maryam" (1973)
- Il signor Robinson, mostruosa storia d'amore e d'avventure - "Venerdì" (1976)
- Giallo napoletano - "Elizabeth" (1978)
- Tesoro mio - "Tesoro Hoaua" (1979)
- I paladini - Storia d'armi e d'amori - "Marfisa" (1983)
Discography
- Oltre l'acqua del fiume/Maryam, Bla Bla Records, BBR 1338, 7, 1973)