Fiorella Colpi was born in São Paulo, Brazil, to Italian parents.

The daughter of a surgeon, Colpi soon moved to Rome where in the 1950s she made her acting debut using the surname of her American husband of the time (Jess Maxwell, from whom she divorced shortly after).

[1][2] She later adopted the stage name Mari and appeared in a number of stage plays, radio programs, television films and films.

She is probably best known for her roles in Camillo Mastrocinque's Are We Men or Corporals?

[1] In 1957 Mari hosted the 7th edition of the Sanremo Music Festival alongside Nunzio Filogamo and Marisa Allasio;[1][2][3] a short time later she retired from showbusiness.