Enrica Soma
Enrica Soma (1930-1969), sometimes known as "Ricki" or "Ricky", was an Italian-American ballerina who came to prominence in modeling during the late 1940s. In July, 1947 she was brought to the attention of the entire nation by appearing on the cover of the July 1947 issue of Life magazine, but she had also been the subject of other photographers, such as Philippe Halsman.
Her public exposure as a young prima ballerina brought her to the attention of veteran filmmaker John Houston, who wooed Soma until she became his fourth wife in 1949[1]. Soma had two children soon after the marriage, Tony and Anjelica Houston, and moved to an estate known as "St Clerans", in County Galway, Ireland.
After Soma's separation from Houston, she and the two children remained living on the grounds of St Clerans in the "Little House", the steward's residence a kilometer from the "Big House"[2].
"Ricki encouraged us to be fantastical, said Joan Juliet Buck, childhood friend of Anjelica Houston. She was the kind of mother who didn't care if you used real potter's clay on the kitchen table — even when we discovered you could make it frizzy by putting it through the tea strainer."[3]
Ricki Soma passed away unexpectedly in 1969 due to a car accident[4].
