Maria Christina “Tina” Aumont (February 14, 1946 – October 28, 2006) was a French-American actress known for her striking screen presence and for her extensive body of work in Italian and European cinema during the late 1960s and 1970s. The daughter of film stars Jean-Pierre Aumont and Maria Montez, she became one of the era’s most recognizable cult actresses, appearing in films by directors such as Federico Fellini, Francesco Rosi, Sergio Martino, and Tinto Brass.
Early Life
Aumont was born in Hollywood, California, to French actor Jean-Pierre Aumont and Dominican actress Maria Montez. With both parents internationally famous, she spent her early life surrounded by film culture. Her mother died when Tina was five years old, and she later divided her time between the United States and Europe.
At age 17, she married French actor Christian Marquand in 1963. She was billed under her married name, Tina Marquand, in her earliest films.
Career
Aumont made her screen debut in the British comedy–spy pastiche Modesty Blaise (1966), directed by Joseph Losey. Her beauty, charisma, and unconventional, bohemian aura quickly made her a sought-after performer in European genre cinema.
Throughout the late 1960s and 1970s, she became a prolific leading lady, especially in Italian productions. She worked with major directors and co-stars in projects ranging from thrillers and Westerns to erotic dramas and arthouse films.
Among her many notable roles:
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Texas Across the River (1966) as Lonetta
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Scusi, lei è favorevole o contrario? (1966), opposite Alberto Sordi
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Man, Pride and Vengeance (1967)
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Torso (1973), a cult giallo directed by Sergio Martino
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Drama of the Rich (1974), directed by Mauro Bolognini
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Illustrious Corpses (1975), directed by Francesco Rosi
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Salon Kitty (1975), directed by Tinto Brass
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Lifespan (1975), opposite Klaus Kinski
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Fellini’s Casanova (1976), as Henriette and other roles
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A Matter of Time (1976), as Valentina, co-starring with Liza Minnelli
In addition to film work, Aumont became a photographic icon of late-1960s European glamour. A 1968 session with photographer Angelo Frontoni—featuring her signature ankle-length hair—led to several semi-nude images published in Playboy in 1969.
Aumont’s career slowed significantly in the 1980s. She continued working sporadically, including in low-budget European productions and documentaries, before retiring from acting in 2000.
Death
Tina Aumont died on October 28, 2006, in Port-Vendres, Pyrénées-Orientales, France, from a pulmonary embolism at the age of 60.
Partial Filmography (Selected Highlights)
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Modesty Blaise (1966) – Nicole
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The Game Is Over (1966) – Anne Sernet
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Texas Across the River (1966) – Lonetta
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Man, Pride and Vengeance (1967)
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Partner (1968) – Salesgirl
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Satyricon (1969) – Circe
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The Howl (1970) – Anita Annigoni
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Torso (1973) – Daniela
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Malicious (1973) – Luciana
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The Murri Affair (1974) – Rosa Bonetti
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Lifespan (1975) – Anna
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Illustrious Corpses (1976) – The Prostitute
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Salon Kitty (1976) – Herta Wallenberg
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A Matter of Time (1976) – Valentina
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Fellini’s Casanova (1976) – Henriette
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Victoire (2000)
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La mécanique des femmes (2000) – Final film role
