🎬 Sydne Rome – Comprehensive Biography
Basic Information
- Full Name: Sydne Rome (occasionally spelled Sydney or Sidney)
- Date of Birth: March 17, 1951
- Birthplace: Akron, Ohio, USA
- Current Residence: Italy (since early 1970s)
Early Life & Education
- Born into an affluent family in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. Her father was president of a plastics company; her mother described as “a born hippie.”
- Attended Carnegie Tech School of Acting (now Carnegie Mellon University), then honed her craft at Pasadena Playhouse in California.
Career Highlights
Film & Television
- Debut: Some Girls Do (1969), a British comedy film.
- Gained fame in European cinema—starred in Italian, French, and German films including What? (directed by Roman Polanski, 1972), Creezy (1974), Sexy with a Smile (1976), The Pumaman (1980), and Just a Gigolo (1979).
- Later appearances include participation in German and Italian TV films/series like Don Matteo (2021–22) and Padre Pio: Between Heaven and Earth (2000).
Athletic / Music Phase
- Became a recognizable figure in the early 1980s aerobics craze, releasing workout videos and the album Aerobic Fitness Dancing, sung in German, Spanish, and Italian.
- As a singer, she also recorded Angelo prepotente (1980), plus versions in English (“For You”) and German (“Wozu”), and covered Marty Balin’s hit “Hearts.”
Personal Life
- Marriages: First to photographer Emilio Lari (1973), later to renowned gerontologist Roberto Bernabei. She converted to Catholicism after their marriage, and has lived in Italy since the early 1970s.
- Family: Adopted two sisters, Vanessa and Jesse, from a Sao Paulo favela. Bernabei was appointed personal physician to Pope Francis in 2021.
Tragedy & Later Years
- In 2009, Sydne Rome was in a severe car accident. The airbag deployment caused significant facial injuries, leaving the left side of her face paralyzed for about two years.
- Despite this, she continued performing in Italian cinema and TV. Her latest notable role was in Roman Polanski’s The Palace (2023). She also appeared in 53 episodes of the Italian TV series Don Matteo between 2021 and 2022.
The actress’ transformation was truly a pain and sadness for those who remember her youth. An Italian-American, Sydney was a true beauty – different, feminine and sweet. Not wanting to accept the inevitable aging process, she began undergoing plastic surgery over and over again, becoming a prime example of what happens if you don’t stop in time.
- Known as an icon of 1970s European cinema, often compared to Brigitte Bardot and Raquel Welch. Dubbed “a ticking sex bomb of the 1980s.”
- Pioneered early cross-cultural acting success, combining American roots with a lasting career in European show business.
- Despite tragedy, her resilience and continued public presence illustrate a compelling narrative of personal strength.