Anna Kanakis

Anna Kanakis (Greek: Άννα Κανάκη; 1 February 1962 – 19 November 2023) was an Italian actress, novelist, model and beauty pageant titleholder.

Born in Messina from a Greek father from Crete and a Sicilian mother, in 1977 Kanakis was Miss Italy at 15 years old, being the younger winner at the time. In 1981, she entered the Miss Universe competition. Kanakis worked in cinema as early as 1980, being mainly active in comedy films. In later years, her career transitioned to television, where she had leading roles in series and TV-movies.

Starting from You're So Mine When You Sleep, a 2010 novel about George Sand's life, Kanakis specialized in historical novels. Her last work was Don't judge me ("Non giudicarmi"), a novel about the life events of Jacques d'Adelswärd-Fersen.

Kanakis also had a brief political experience as national leader of Culture and Entertainment in the Democratic Union for the Republic.

In 1981, Kanakis married the composer Claudio Simonetti, but their marriage only lasted a few years. From 2004, she was married to Marco Merati Foscarini, a descendant of Marco Foscarini, one of the last Doges of Venice. Kanakis had no children. She died of lymphoma on 19 November 2023, aged 61.