Trivia

As a West Hollywood landlord in 1985, she filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court to exempt her 15-unit apartment building from the city's freeze on rents because she was suffering a net loss of $1,600 a month. It was the first legal action taken against West Hollywood's rent control law.

In 2012 she retired from a successful, long-time career as a California real estate agent and returned to Italy.

Came to the U.S. in late 1958 with her father Vittorio Nino Novarese, when he was was hired to design costumes for Spartacus (1960) and stayed on to do The Story of Ruth (1960), Cleopatra (1963), and other films.

Was engaged to Aaron Spelling. The two broke it off when Aaron met Carol Candy Spelling.

Speaks five languages: her native Italian, French, Spanish, German, and English. She learned English when she came to the U.S.

Former actress. Has a career as a prominent real estate broker in Beverly Hills, California (c. 1969) under the name Letizia Gelles.

Became a naturalized U.S. citizen in December 1970.

As of 1986 she was a Beverly Hills real estate broker, exclusively representing the Ten Five Sixty Wilshire building since October 1985. Since 1982, she took over sales at the 82-unit Westford at 10750 Wilshire Blvd., and subsequently sold its 67 remaining units.

Former president of Italy-America Chamber of Commerce West (IACCW) in Los Angeles, California.

Schooled in Switzerland.

When 20th Century-Fox offered her a contract at a tiny salary, Roman refused and signed instead with producer Hal B. Wallis, who cast her in his G.I. Blues.

Her parents did not want her to become an actress.

Daughter of costume designer Vittorio Nino Novarese and actress Giuliana Gianni.

As of 2011, her son Oliver John Gelles was a director of global marketing for Ormco Corp (since 2003). He is married to Jennifer Gelles, a real estate negotiator in short sales and foreclosure properties. They live in Orange County, CA.

Studied drama under famed acting coach Sanford Meisner for about four months.