Silvana Pampanini (25 September 1925 – 6 January 2016) was an Italian actress and director. She was Miss Italy in 1946 and the following year she started her movie career.
Pampanini was Miss Rome of 1947. A caption in a 1952 newspaper said, "She is considered Italy's all-time beauty."
Pampanini became one of the most popular movie actresses in her country and was considered a sex symbol in the 1950s. In 1955 she visited New York, Denver and Hollywood but rejected job offers because she could not speak English properly and had some problems with the tax office.
She was well-liked in France, where they nicknamed her Ninì Pampan, Spain, where she appeared in Tirma, South America, especially in Mexico, where she starred in Sed de Amor with Pedro Armendáriz, and Egypt. She worked with other internationally important actors and directors such as Buster Keaton, Vittorio Gassman, Marcello Mastroianni, Alberto Sordi, Totò, Jean Gabin, Henri Vidal, Abel Gance, Vittorio De Sica. The film O.K. Nero, in which Pampanini starred, was banned in certain places because of scenes that were considered indecent.
Recordare, Jesu pie,
quod sum causa tuae viae;
ne me perdas illa die.
Quaerens me sedisti lassus,
redemisti crucem passus;
tantus labor non sit cassuc.
Juste judex ultionis,
donum fac remissionis,
ante diem rationis.
Think, kind Jesus, my salvation
Caused thy wondrous incarnation;
Leave me not to reprobation.
Faint and wary thou has sought me,
on the cross of suffering bought me,
Shall such grace be vainly brought me?
Righteous judge, for sin's pollution,
Grant thy gift of absolution,
Ere that day of retribution.