Laura Francatelli
Laura Mabel Francatelli (April 21, 1880 - June 2, 1967) was a First Class passenger of the Titanic. She was a secretary to Lady Duff-Gordon. She escaped the sinking in Emergency Lifeboat 1.
She boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg as a secretary to Lady Duff-Gordon. She occupied cabin E-36 (ticket number PC 17485, £56 18s 7d).
During the sinking, she and the Duff-Gordons boarded Emergency Lifeboat 1, which only launched with 12 people onboard. Some time after the Titanic sank, around 03.00 am, Lady Duff-Gordon commented to her: "There is your beautiful nightdress gone".
On the Carpathia, she and all but one of that lifeboat's occupants posed for a group portrait, she and Lady Duff-Gordon appearing slightly dishevelled.
Portrayals[]
A Night to Remember (1958)[]
A possible appearence of Laura Mabel Francatelli in A Night to Remember (1958), portrayed by Audrey Pollitt
Laura make a possible appearence in A Night to Remember, portrayed by Audrey Pollitt. However, she served as Lady Richard's maid and was not seen boarding Emergency Lifeboat 1. Her seat in the boat was replaced by fictional character Mr. Hoyle. While Laura Francatelli survived in real life, her fate is unknown in the movie
Titanic (1997)[]
Laura Mabel Francatelli in the Titanic (1997)
In the 1997 film, she only appear twice. She first appear during the boarding at Cherbourg, she was seen standing behind the Duff-Gordon's. She appear again in one of the deleted scene: "Out of the Question", she was seen sitting shivering in the boat. Her actress is uncredited.
2012 Miniseries Titanic[]
Grainne Keenan as Laura Mabel Francatelli in Titanic (2012 Miniseries)
Laura Francatelli was portrayed by Grainne Keenan in the 2012 Miniseries Titanic. Before entering Emergency Lifeboat 1, she was terrified to get into the boat, saying to Lady Duff-Gordon that it looked very unsafe. Lady Duff-Gordon forced her to get into the boat, saying "Don't be a fool, Francatelli. This boat isn't sinking, that one is!". She agreed this and get onboard followed by Sir Cosmo and several other men. After the Titanic sank, Lady Duff-Gordon commented to her: "Well Francatelli, there goes that beautiful nightdress that you're so proud of".