Born on May 4: Pia Zadora, a star whose talent has always been questioned...

Born as Pia Alfreda Schipani, she came into the world in May 1954 in Hoboken, New Jersey. With a father who was a violinist of Italian origin and a Polish mother, she was immersed in an artistic atmosphere from a very young age. She wouldn't always make the best decisions, but that's another story...

Even as a little girl, she trod the boards of Broadway, performing notably in "Fiddler on the Roof". She didn't yet shine in the limelight but was already fascinated by the spotlight. Pia Zadora began in films at the age of 10, and her very first role already indicated the direction her big screen career would take. She indeed portrayed a young playful Martian in "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians", which could at best be described as a kitsch flop!

At the beginning of the 80s, she finally achieved the fame she dreamed of thanks to a somewhat scandalous role in "Butterfly". She simultaneously won a Golden Globe (the American equivalent of the Cesar Awards) in the "New Star of the Year" category, but more importantly, she faced a barrage of criticism that would, in a way, become her daily lot. The majority of critics still maintain today that she undeservedly received this accolade thanks to the influence of her then-husband, the wealthy businessman Meshulam Riklis. The same year, she particularly shone in the Razzie Awards, which, if one could say it, rewarded the worst productions of the Seventh Art. Pia Zadora thus became someone people loved to mock! Sometimes with a touch of spite...

After a debut album that went unnoticed, Jermaine Jackson donned his knight’s armour and offered her "When The Rain Begins To Fall" in 1984. Although the unpalatable song reached number one in sales in France, it was also part of the soundtrack of "Rock Aliens". Heaven and hell, yet another flop in the lady's collection. Another poor choice once more!

Her robotic electro-pop, however, found commercial echoes in Germany, France, and Belgium. But one must admit that her most popular tracks from that era, like "Let’s Dance Tonight" (largely inspired by Modern Talking), are hardly audible today.

After many years of total eclipse, Pia Zadora came back from nowhere in 2020, portraying something she had never done before. With the album "All Or Nothing At All", she transformed into a jazz singer. With an excellent selection of classics like "Cry Me A River" (popularized by Julie London) or "Body & Soul" (straight out of the 30's), she finally takes on her most convincing role to date. And as she whispers to herself "The Best Is Yet To Come"; for once, we almost want to believe her…

(MH with Stéphane Soupart - Photo: © Etienne Tordoir)

Photo: Pia Zadora and Jermaine Jackson during an interview at the Hilton Hotel in Brussels (Belgium) in November 1984