Lina Romay

Biography

Lina Romay was born in Barcelona in 1954. After completing her high school education, she pursued her passion for the arts and eventually married actor and photographer Ramón Ardid, also known as Raymond Hardy, although they divorced in 1978. Her acting career took off when she met filmmaker Jesús Franco in 1972, leading to her participation in over a hundred feature films, predominantly directed by Franco himself. Some of her notable works in the horror genre include "The Bare Breasted Countess" (also known as "Female Vampire") released in 1973, "Barbed Wire Dolls" from 1975, and "Jack the Ripper" in 1976.

Romay adopted her stage name from a 1940s actress and jazz musician. While credited as a co-director on several of Franco's films, actor Antonio Mayans later clarified that these credits were primarily for business purposes, as she did not co-direct any films. Nevertheless, she contributed creative ideas and assisted in editing various projects.

Lina Romay and Jesús Franco shared a loving partnership that spanned nearly four decades, culminating in their official marriage on April 25, 2008. Tragically, Romay passed away from cancer at the age of 57 on February 15, 2012, in Málaga, Spain. Franco followed her in death in 2013, marking the end of an era for the couple.