Giorgio Albertazzi emerged onto the French art film scene in 1961, captivating audiences in Alain Resnais and Alain Robbe-Grillet's enigmatic film, Last Year at Marienbad. With his elegant demeanor, seductive charm, and hypnotic Italian accent, he attempted to persuade a woman, Delphine Seyrig, that he had been her lover the previous year in the same luxurious hotel. However, the lady seemed not to recall him, and it appeared as though Giorgio Albertazzi would vanish into oblivion, leaving behind only a haunting presence in a haunting film.
But, of course, that was not the case. The man behind the iconic performance in Last Year at Marienbad went on to make numerous films in his native Italy, although most were minor and unpretentious works, lacking the same level of artistic significance as his debut. Cinema helped him sustain himself, but it was not his primary focus. Instead, he devoted himself to Italian television, excelling as an actor, scriptwriter, and director.
His most notable television roles include Prince Myskin in Giacomo Vaccari's mini-series L'idiota, as well as portrayals of Dante Alighieri and Don Giovanni in TV films and series directed by Vittorio Cottafavi. He also donned the hats of actor, writer, and director in his successful adaptation of Jekyll and Hyde, wearing multiple personas as Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde.
However, his true passion and mainstay has always been the stage. As an actor since 1949, he continues to be active to this day, having debuted in William Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida under the direction of Luchino Visconti. He has since performed in numerous plays by Luigi Pirandello, George Bernard Shaw, Lillian Hellman, and Gabriele D'Annunzio, among others.
In addition to his impressive theatrical career, Giorgio Albertazzi has been running a dramatic school since the mid-1990s and has been the director of the Teatro di Roma since 2003. So, when Alain Resnais chose him for the role of X, the stranger, in Last Year at Marienbad, Giorgio Albertazzi did not emerge from nowhere, and he did not return to oblivion. He remains a beloved figure in Italian theatre, and his legacy continues to inspire and captivate audiences to this day.
