Born Elisa Tia in Grosseto, Tuscany, she moved to Rome with her family and in 1953 was discovered by Roberto Capucci who introduced her to the world of fashion. She became a model and began playing small roles in films. She appeared in Claude Autant-Lara's Le Rouge et le Noir (1954), but her first important film role came the following year with The Indian Fighter opposite Kirk Douglas, who claimed to have spotted her on a magazine cover and hired her for his production company, Bryna Productions.
Martinelli was first married to Count Franco Mancinelli Scotti di San Vito, by whom she has a daughter, Cristiana Mancinelli (born 1958), also an actress. In 1968 she married the Paris Matchphotographer and 1970s furniture designer, Willy Rizzo.
Death
Martinelli died of cancer in Rome on 8 July 2017, at the age of 82.
Filmography
Actress
2004
Orgoglio (TV Series) as
Duchessa di Monteforte (2005)
1999
Cabiria, Priscilla e le altre (Short)
1995
Il barone (TV Mini Series) as
Maria de Martigny
1994
Alles Glück dieser Erde (TV Series) as
Carlotta Pirri
1992
Once Upon a Crime... as
Carla the Agent
1990
Arrivederci Roma (Short)
1988
Pigmalione 88
1986
Atelier (TV Mini Series) as
Anastasia
- Business Game (1987) - Anastasia
- Venerdì 17 (1987) - Anastasia
- Gioielli e vecchi merletti (1987) - Anastasia
- Scampato pericolo (1986) - Anastasia
- Computer Fashion (1986) - Anastasia
- Una top diversa (1986) - Anastasia
- Vanità (1986) - Anastasia
- L'atelier di Anastasia (1986) - Anastasia
1985
Sono un fenomeno paranormale as
Carla Razzi
1979
Astuzia per astuzia (TV Mini Series) as
Annelise
- Episode #1.2 (1979) - Annelise
- Episode #1.1 (1979) - Annelise
1979
Return of the Saint (TV Series) as
Renata Lucci
- Vicious Circle (1979) - Renata Lucci
1976
Garofano rosso as
Zobeida
1971
La part des lions as
Annie
1971
La araucana as
Inés de Suárez
1970
OSS 117 prend des vacances as
Elsa
1969
L'amica as
Carla Nervi
1969
The Pleasure Pit as
Martine
1969
One on Top of the Other as
Jane Bleeker
1969
Maldonne as
Gilberte de Baer
1969
If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium as
Maria - Woman on Venetian Bridge
1968
Elsa Martinelli: Il a pris (Music Video short)
1968
Candy as
Livia
1968
Madigan's Millions as
Vic Shaw
1968
The Belle Star Story as
Belle Starr
1968
French Mistress as
Annie
1967
Every Man Is My Enemy as
Laureen
1967
Woman Times Seven as
Pretty woman (segment "Super Simone")
1967
The Oldest Profession as
Domitilla (segment "Nuits romaines, Les")
1967
Maroc 7 as
Claudia
1966
Come imparai ad amare le donne as
Monica - the rallye driver
1965
The 10th Victim as
Olga
1965
L'or du duc as
Sonia
1965
Diamonds Are Brittle as
Juliette
1965
Hail, Mafia as
Sylvia
1965
Marco the Magnificent as
The Woman with the Whip
1964
De l'amour as
Mathilde
1964
The Rogues (TV Series) as
Maria Kuzenkov
- The Real Russian Caviar (1964) - Maria Kuzenkov
1963
Rampage as
Anna
1963
The V.I.P.s as
Gloria Gritti
1962
Pelle viva
1962
The Trial as
Hilda
1962
The Pigeon That Took Rome as
Antonella Massimo
1962
Hatari! as
Anna Maria 'Dallas' D'Allesandro / Mama Tembo
1961
La menace as
Lucile
1960
Un amore a Roma as
Fulvia
1960
Captain Blood as
Gisèle d'Angoulême
1960
Il carro armato dell'8 settembre as
Mirella
1960
Blood and Roses as
Georgia Monteverdi
1960
I piaceri del sabato notte as
L'indossatrice romana
1959
The Big Night as
Anna
1959
Costa Azzurra as
Doriana
1959
Tunis Top Secret as
Kathy Sands
1959
Ciao, ciao bambina! (Piove) as
Diana
1959
Prisoner of the Volga as
Mascha
1958
La mina as
Lucia
1957
Stowaway Girl as
Manuela Hunt
1957
Four Girls in Town as
Maria Antonelli
1956
Donatella as
Donatella Guiscardi
1956
Rice Girl as
Elena Nardi
1955
The Indian Fighter as
Onahti
1954
Se vincessi cento milioni as
Anna (segment "L'indossatrice")
1954
The Red and the Black (uncredited)
Costume Department
1979
Return of the Saint (TV Series) (wardrobe designer - 1 episode)
- Vicious Circle (1979) - (wardrobe designer: Miss Martinelli)
Soundtrack
1971
V.I.P.-Schaukel (TV Series documentary) (performer - 1 episode)