Take a closer look at some of Hollywood's top-tier talent at the beginning of their careers.

Child Stars, Then and Now

Take a closer look at some of Hollywood&#39;s top-tier talent at the beginning of their careers.

Check out our calendar of everything coming to streaming during the month of August.

August 2025 TV and Streaming Premiere Dates

Erika Blanc in Sartana's Here... Trade Your Pistol for a Coffin (1970)

Erika Blanc and Marina Malfatti in The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave (1971)

Erika Blanc in The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave (1971)

Erika Blanc, Adolfo Celi, and Peter Lee Lawrence in The Long Arm of the Godfather (1972)

Erika Blanc and Peter Lee Lawrence in Love and Death in the Garden of the Gods (1972)

Erika Blanc, Franco Nero, and Gioia Pascal in The Third Eye (1966)

Jean-Louis Trintignant, Carroll Baker, and Erika Blanc in So Sweet... So Perverse (1969)

Enrica Bianchi Colombatto (known professionally as Erika Blanc) is an Italian actress recognized for her versatile performances across European cinema, particularly within the horror and exploitation genres of the 1960s and 1970s. She was born in Brescia, Italy, and trained in dramatic arts before entering the entertainment industry, although details of her early education remain limited in public records.

Blanc began her film career in the early 1960s and gained prominence with her portrayal of the first onscreen Emmanuelle in Io, Emmanuelle (1969), a role that predated the more widely known French adaptations. Her career spanned a diverse range of genres, but she became especially associated with Italian Gothic horror, Giallo thrillers, and poliziotteschi films. Notable appearances include Kill, Baby, Kill directed by Mario Bava, The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave, and The Devil's Nightmare. She frequently collaborated with prominent directors of the European exploitation and genre cinema movements, contributing significantly to their enduring cult status. Though often cast in roles that emphasized sensuality, Blanc demonstrated a consistently nuanced screen presence, earning her respect as a character actress across Italy, France, and Germany.

In later years, she transitioned to television and stage work, further showcasing her dramatic range beyond her early cult associations. She has continued to participate in retrospectives and film festivals dedicated to classic European genre cinema, reinforcing her standing as a key figure in that era's artistic output.

Blanc's body of work has left a lasting mark on international cult cinema, and she is frequently cited in scholarly discussions of female representation in European horror and erotica. Her legacy is defined by a fearless screen presence and a diverse filmography that continues to engage both academic and fan-based audiences.

Photos

Erika Blanc

More from this person

More to explore

Recently viewed