Abba, Marta (1900–1988)

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Abba, Marta (1900–1988)

Italian actress. Born June 25, 1900, in Milan, Italy; died June 24, 1988, in Milan; sister of Cele Abba (b. 1903, actress); m. Severance A. Millikin.

Appeared throughout major European cities in Italian classics and other plays, including As You Desire Me, The Enemy, Anna Karenina, A Month in the Country, Hedda Gabler; made London debut in Six Characters in Search of an Author (1925); made English-speaking debut in Bournemouth as the Duchess Tatiana in Tovarich (July 1936), and NY debut (Oct 1936) in the same role; was a favorite of Luigi Pirandello and often played the female lead in his plays.