Bice Valori

Maria Beatrice Valori, known professionally as Bice Valori, was an Italian actress, comedian, and radio and television personality born in Rome. She trained at the Silvio d'Amico Academy of Dramatic Arts, completing her studies in 1948. That same year, she joined the stage company of the Piccolo Teatro of Rome, which was directed by Orazio Costa.

After performing in a range of classical productions, Valori developed a specialty in comedic performance and found her greatest stage successes in musical theatre. Her work in Rugantino brought her to Broadway in 1964, marking her appearance in the New York production of that Italian musical. She also appeared in the musical Aggiungi un posto a tavola among her notable stage credits.

Beyond the theatre, Valori maintained a prolific career in film, where she worked frequently as a character actress in humorous roles. On television, she appeared in multiple capacities — as a comedian, a presenter, and an actress in dramatic series. Her radio work also earned her considerable recognition, particularly through her creation of the character "Sora Bice," a shrewish telephone operator for the Italian broadcaster RAI.

In 1952, Valori married the actor and comedian Paolo Panelli, with whom she frequently shared the stage throughout her career. The couple's daughter, Alessandra, also pursued a career as an actress. Valori died in 1980 at the age of 52 following an illness caused by a tumor.