Winni Riva was an Italian actress and voice actress known for her work in film, television, and dubbing. She was born in Turin in 1918 and, after being fascinated by theater from a young age, made her stage debut in 1938 as Signorina Buonasera with the Macario Revue Company. Following World War II, she moved to Rome and enrolled in the National Academy of Dramatic Arts, where she studied alongside notable contemporaries such as Luigi Squarzina, Vittorio Gassman, and Nino Manfredi.

Riva's career in cinema began in 1951 with a role in the film "Il bivio" directed by Fernando Cerchio. She went on to appear in numerous significant Italian films, often in supporting roles. Her filmography includes work with renowned directors like Luchino Visconti, appearing in his films "Senso" (1954), "Le notti bianche" (1957), and "Il Gattopardo" (1963). She also acted in films starring Anna Magnani, such as "Nella città l'inferno" (1959) and "Correva l'anno di grazia 1870" (1971), as well as Bernardo Bertolucci's "Novecento" (1976). Her television work during the 1960s and 1970s included appearances in prestigious Italian series like "I miserabili" (1964), "Il giornalino di Gian Burrasca" (1964), and "Le inchieste del commissario Maigret" (1966).

Alongside her on-screen performances, Winni Riva built an extensive career as a voice actress, primarily with the CID dubbing company starting in the 1960s. She is well-recognized for providing the Italian voice for several characters in classic anime series. One of her most notable roles was dubbing the character Tinette, the maid in the beloved series "Heidi". In response to the specific query, she also voiced the character Coniglietta in the Italian-language adaptation of the anime "The Wonderful Adventures of Nils" (known in Italian as "Nils Holgersson"). Her work on this series extended to other characters as well, including Asa and Greyfan. Additionally, she was the first voice for the character Ylva in the Italian version of "Vicky the Viking" ("Vicky il vichingo"). Her dubbing work was not limited to animation; she also voiced actresses in live-action films, such as Rashel Novikoff in "Lenny" and Ajita Wilson in "Inferno dietro le sbarre".

Winni Riva passed away in 1996. Her career, spanning several decades, highlights her as a versatile performer who contributed significantly to both Italian cinema and the world of anime dubbing, leaving a legacy of beloved vocal performances for Italian audiences.