Laura Antonelli and Helmut Berger on welfare

The German newspaper, Bild has reported that famed Austrian actor Helmut Berger, most loved by director Luchino Visconti, is impoverished.

The star of such films as The Damned, Ludwig, and The Garden of The Finzi-Continis, is forced to live with friends since he cannot afford to rent on the 200 euros per month pension he receives from the Italian state. He is currently residing on the island of Ibiza in the villa of his friend Countess Sylvia Serra Cassano.

He has starred in over 80 films, yet the huge sums of money he earned went to pay axes. to pay taxes made delinquent by various producers. Consequently, he's had to request the intervention of a lawyer.

The actor claims to have a valuable art collection and jewellery inherited from his mother. "I cannot part with these things," he says, "When I will not have anything, I will go to the hospice." He claims that his lack of current film offers is due to the fact that "they're all afraid of me".

In a related story, Italian actress Laura Antonelli, is in a similar situation, living off a 510 euros a month pension and the kindness of her local church.

An appeal by friend and fellow actor, Lino Banfi, was published in an Open Letter in the Corriere della Sera a couple of weeks ago, addressing the the Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi amongst others, to take care of these celebrities that are part of the fabric of Italian culture and cinema.

After a botched facelift that left her disfigured, as shown here, she disappeared from the public eye. Her career ended and her income diminished.