Teresa gets her first taste of crime -- and its consequences -- when, during World War II, she is nabbed for robbing an apartment. But being poor and perpetually starving, the pretty petty thief doesn't give up her quest for ill-gotten gains and soon turns to pick-pocketing. Despite her questionable thieving skills, the bumbling crook tries scheme after scheme, pilfering from strangers and dodging the law as she searches for a way to fund an adequate meal.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Monica VittiTeresa | Teresa |
 Stefano Satta FloresErcoletto | Ercoletto |
 Isa DanieliDina | Dina |
 Carlo Delle PianeCarlo Occhilustri | Carlo Occhilustri |
 Michele PlacidoTonino Santità, detto Mortadella | Tonino Santità, detto Mortadella |
| VValeriano ValloneSisto | Sisto |
 Luciana TurinaGianna la boccona | Gianna la boccona |
 Anna BonaiutoNot listed | Not listed |
| GGeraldine HooperNot listed | Not listed |
 Nazzareno NataleFederico | Federico |
 Denise PéronNot listed | Not listed |
 Fiorenzo FiorentiniAlvaro "Ciancastorta" | Alvaro "Ciancastorta" |
| FFranco DiogeneNot listed | Not listed |
 Elisabetta GenoveseNot listed | Not listed |
 Ada PasseriDetenuta (uncredited) | Detenuta (uncredited) |
 Luigi Antonio GuerraNot listed | Not listed |
 Rosita ToroshNot listed | Not listed |
 Geraldine HooperNot listed | Not listed |