Ġemma Portelli

Portelli's interest in drama started at a young age, when she would set up her own stage and produce her own plays to entertain other children.[3]

Her professional career took off in 1957, when she joined the Rediffusion show titled Radju Muskettieri together with fellow actors Charles Clews and Johnny Catania.[3] During the sixties she founded a production company together with her husband; the company, which was called The Bluebirds, produced and presented a children's programme.[3]

In the late seventies, Portelli starred in the first Maltese language television series F'Baħar Wieħed (1976).[3][4] On this show, she played a character named Ġoma, an outspoken, gossiping but good-natured woman.[1][5] In an interview, writer and co-star of F'Baħar Wieħed, Lino Grech, once said that he wrote the part especially for her.[6]

Portelli is also known for presenting a series of Maltese comedy shows titled Fuq Tlieta Toqgħod il-Borma (1980).[3]

Portelli also played major roles at the Royal Opera House in Valletta (now known as It-Teatru Rjal[7]), including Ġesù ta' Nazzarett, Is-Salib tal-Fidda and It-Tieġ ta' Karmena Abdilla.[3]

After the death of her husband, Paul Portelli, on 29 January 2001, her health began to decline.[5] In spite of health issues, she took part in what would be her final production – a Maltese television series titled Ta' Ħorrox Borrox.[5]

In the year 2000, Portelli was awarded the Medal for Service to the Republic (Midalja Ġieħ ir-Repubblika) while in 2007 she was awarded the Charles Arrigo Lifetime Achievement Award during the Malta Television Awards.[3]

Portelli died on 22 February 2008 at the age of 75, with the funeral being held at St Joseph Parish Church in Msida on 24 February 2008.[3]

• Radju Muskettieri (1957)
• F'Baħar Wieħed (1976)
• Fuq Tlieta Toqgħod il-Borma (1980)