Biography
Also known as Mara Beltrami-New
Born in Milan, Italy and hailing from the Beltrami House of Fashion that was launched in the early 1900's, Mara's family began as tailors and shoemakers and evolved into clothing designers and manufacturers in the early 1920's. To day the House of Beltrami is still active in Italy. In 2004, Mara's passion for clothes had her start the Golden Needle Awards to recognize and award emerging designers.
Moving from Italy to France, From France to Australia where she graduated in Architecture and Studied Acting at "Karnak Playhouse" in Mossman, Queensland, Australia with Diane Cilento and dance with Roger Hazel, at the American Dance and Musical Theater Academy in Brisbane. Mara Appeared in many live shows and television productions during her stay in Australia.
Moving to Canada to join a new Dance Group and being sidetracked into radio with her own Radio Show, she took a position with MTV (Multicultural Television) in Toronto, and during her stay in Canada, after seeing the Liberace show; she became friends with his protégée Marco Valenti who later became her brother in law. For two years she booked Marco Valenti on several national tours and got the title as "Road Manager" with the Liberace Show. (Thank you Lee for the introduction).
Believing always that "Giving is Receiving", Mara stays active on the board of several charities.
She was given an award, in 2004 as "One of the Most Influential Women in LA; along with Doris Roberts, Carol Connors, Alma Bloomberg, Rhonda Fleming, Barbara Fodor and Margaret Kott.
In June 2006, she was given the Y.E.S. Award (Young Educated Singers) along with Dionne Warwick and Chief Bernard Parks at the LA Blues Festival.
Also in June 2006 she received the "Angel Award" from Reef Check honoring Jean Michel Custeau, along with Cheryl Holdridge-Post and Suzan Hughes.
On December 1, 2006, on the 70th Anniversary of the Southern California Motion Picture Council, she received the Golden Star Halo Award for her performance in theater in the role of "Wife" in the play by A. R. Guerney "The Problem". Other recipients were: Jayne Meadows, A.C. Lyles, Stella Stevens, Anne Jeffreys, Katie West, Gregg Palmer, Richard Anderson, Billy Davis Jr. and Marilyn McCoo, Morgan Woodward and Richard Anderson.
Other awards are listed under the category "Awards". www.imdb.me/maranew
She is an accomplished Painter having won several European Competitions and she had the privileged to meet Pablo Picasso with her mentor Huala Dio whom she became good friends after she was one of the judges at the Pro Loco Painting Competition.
Mara and her husband are involved in producing CD's for Jazz/Blues Artist Barbara Morrison and recently promoted the "LA Blues Festival" with great success and with the great international recording star Asha Puthli.
She is busy with her Internet TV show called "Boutique Discovery" and the hit TV series "Swedish Hollywood Wives" and acting roles in several major movie productions.
Board Member of: FAB (Film Advisory Board)
Odvisory Board for: American Musical Academy.
