Background
Born in Rome as Andreina Gentili, the daughter of a dresser, at young age Pagnani studied harp and piano, then she devoted herself to theater entering the stage companies Artistica Operaia e Giovanni Emanuel.
Born in Rome as Andreina Gentili, the daughter of a dresser, at young age Pagnani studied harp and piano, then she devoted herself to theater entering the stage companies Artistica Operaia e Giovanni Emanuel.
In a short time Pagnani became a primadonna of Italian theater, working among others with Totò, Gino Cervi, Gabriele Ferzetti, Lauretta Masiero. She made her film debut in 1924, in the silent film L’osteria di Mozzadita. Her film activity was long but very irregular, and almost enterely consisting of supporting roles.
She obtained a large popularity as the Maigret"s wife in the television series Le inchieste del commissario Maigret, broadcast on Radiotelevisione Italiana from 1964 to 1972.
She was also very active as a voice actress and a dubber.