[2] Franca Rame was born in Parabiago, Lombardy, Italy, in 1929,[3] into a family with a long theatre tradition.

[4] Rame continued working with Fo through many plays and several theatre companies, popular success and government censorship.

She was active in Soccorso Rosso (Red Aid), writing letters and providing books for prisoners and assisting their families and lawyers.

In March 1973, fascists who were reportedly commissioned by high-ranking officials in Milan's Carabinieri (Italian gendarmerie) abducted Rame, held her at gunpoint and dumped her in a van.

[9] In 2006, she was designated candidate for President of Italy by IdV's leader, Antonio Di Pietro, but she obtained only 24 votes on the first ballot of the presidential election.