Best Italian Actress
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Monica Anna Maria Bellucci was born on September 30, 1964 in the Italian village of Città di Castello, Umbria, the only child of Brunella Briganti and Pasquale Bellucci. She originally pursued a career in the legal profession. While attending the University of Perugia, she modeled on the side to earn money for school, and this led to her modeling career. In 1988, she moved to one of Europe's fashion centers, Milan, and joined Elite Model Management. Although enjoying great success as a model, she made her acting debut on television in 1990, and her American film debut in Bram Stoker's Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992). Her role in the French thriller The Apartment (1996), shot her to stardom as she won the French equivalent of an Oscar nomination. Other credits include Malena (2000), Under Suspicion (2000) and Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001).- Alessandra Mastronardi was born on 18 February 1986 in Naples, Campania, Italy. She is an actress, known for To Rome with Love (2012), The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022) and Master of None (2015). She has been married to Gianpaolo Sannino since 8 July 2023.
- Actress
- Additional Crew
- Soundtrack
Daughter of the former speaker of the Italian Communist Party's delegation at the Lazio's Regional Council, Sabrina Ferilli never kept secret her leftism. Firm and stubborn, she did not care about the first unsuccessful attempts to come on to the stage. Her stubbornness was rewarded in the 1990, when she got a part in the Alessandro D'Alatri's film Americano rosso (1991). From that moment her success never ended. She lives with their two pets, a kitten and a tiny dog. Since she loves her privacy, she does not like to talk about their love affairs. She is also a big AS Roma's (Football Team) fan: she launched the official presentation of the team, in the summer of the 1999, at the Olympic Stadium, and she is a member of the AS Roma's Fans Council (a consultive board composed by famous Roma's fans like the actor Alberto Sordi). Typical Italian beauty - she also made an advertising campaign for a famous Spaghetti brand - a recent poll (in which Italian males from 15 to 34 yrs. were asked for to indicate one of the famous Italian women they would love) stated that Sabrina Ferilli is the most loved Italian woman.- Actress
- Producer
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Maria Grazia Cucinotta (born 27 July 1968) is an Italian actress who has featured in many films and television series since 1990. She has also worked as a producer, screenwriter and model. Cucinotta was born in Messina, Province of Messina, Sicily, Italy. She is well known in Italy as a movie and television actress, but internationally she is best known for her roles in Il Postino and as the Bond girl, credited as the Cigar Girl, in the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Sophia Loren was born as Sofia Scicolone at the Clinica Regina Margherita in Rome on September 20, 1934. Her father Riccardo was married to another woman and refused to marry her mother Romilda Villani, despite the fact that she was the mother of his two children (Sophia and her younger sister Maria Scicolone). Growing up in the slums of Pozzuoli during the second World War without any support from her father, she experienced great sadness in her childhood. Her life took an unexpected turn for the best when, at age 14, she entered into a beauty contest and placed as one of the finalists. It was here that Sophia caught the attention of film producer Carlo Ponti, some 22 years her senior, whom she later married. Perhaps he was the father figure she never experienced as a child. Under his guidance, Sophia was put under contract and appeared as an extra in ten films beginning with Le sei mogli di Barbablù (1950), before working her way up to supporting roles. In these early films, she was credited as "Sofia Lazzaro" because people joked her beauty could raise Lazzarus from the dead.
By her late teens, Sophia was playing lead roles in many Italian features such as La favorita (1952) and Aida (1953). In 1957, she embarked on a successful acting career in the United States, starring in Boy on a Dolphin (1957), Legend of the Lost (1957), and The Pride and the Passion (1957) that year. She had a short-lived but much-publicized fling with co-star Cary Grant, who was nearly 31 years her senior. She was only 22 while he was 53, and she rejected a marriage proposal from him. They were paired together a second time in the family-friendly romantic comedy Houseboat (1958). While under contract to Paramount, Sophia starred in Desire Under the Elms (1958), The Key (1958), The Black Orchid (1958), It Started in Naples (1960), Heller in Pink Tights (1960), A Breath of Scandal (1960), and The Millionairess (1960) before returning to Italy to star in Two Women (1960). The film was a period piece about a woman living in war-torn Italy who is raped while trying to protect her young daughter. Originally cast as the more glamorous child, Sophia fought against type and was re-cast as the mother, displaying a lack of vanity and proving herself as a genuine actress. This performance received international acclaim and was honored with an Academy Award for Best Actress.
Sophia remained a bona fide international movie star throughout the sixties and seventies, making films on both sides of the Atlantic, and starring opposite such leading men as Paul Newman, Marlon Brando, Gregory Peck, and Charlton Heston. Her English-language films included El Cid (1961), The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964), Arabesque (1966), Man of La Mancha (1972), and The Cassandra Crossing (1976). She gained wider respect with her Italian films, especially Marriage Italian Style (1964) and A Special Day (1977), both of which co-starred Marcello Mastroianni. During these years she received a second Oscar nomination and won five Golden Globe Awards.
From the eighties onward, Sophia's appearances on the big screen came few and far between. She preferred to spend the majority of her time raising sons Carlo Ponti Jr. (b. 1968) and Edoardo Ponti (b. 1973). Her only acting credits during the decade were five television films, beginning with Sophia Loren: Her Own Story (1980), a biopic in which she portrayed herself and her mother. She ventured into other areas of business and became the first actress to launch her own fragrance and design of eyewear. In 1982 she voluntarily spent nineteen days in jail for tax evasion.
In 1991 Sophia received an Honorary Academy Award for her body of work, and was declared "one of world cinema's greatest treasures." That same year, she experienced a terrible loss when her mother died of cancer. Her return to mainstream films in Ready to Wear (1994) was well-received, although the film as a whole was not. She followed this up with her biggest U.S. hit in years, the comedy Grumpier Old Men (1995), in which she played a sexy divorcée who seduces Walter Matthau. Over the next decade Sophia had plum roles in a few independent films like Soleil (1997), Between Strangers (2002) (directed by Edoardo), and Lives of the Saints (2004). Still beautiful at 72, she posed scantily-clad for the 2007 Pirelli Calendar. Sadly, that same year she mourned the death of her 94-year-old spouse, Carlo Ponti. In 2009, after far too much time away from film, she appeared in the musical Nine (2009) opposite Daniel Day-Lewis. These days Sophia is based in Switzerland but frequently travels to the states to spend time with her sons and their families (Eduardo is married to actress Sasha Alexander). Sophia Loren remains one of the most beloved and recognizable figures in the international film world.- Liana Balogun is known for Gomorrah (2014).
- Cristiana Dell'Anna was born on 24 August 1985 in Naples, Campania, Italy. She is an actress, known for Cabrini (2024), Toscana (2022) and The King of Laughter (2021).
- Daniela Virgilio was born on 26 December 1983 in Rome, Italy. She is an actress, known for Third Person (2013), Romanzo criminale - La serie (2008) and Shadows (2012).
- Irene Maiorino was born on 6 September 1985 in Naples, Campania, Italy. She is an actress, known for La luce oltre la gabbia (2021), Fatum (2011) and Baciati dall'amore (2011).
- Simona Cavallari was born on 5 April 1971 in Rome, Lazio, Italy. She is an actress, known for La piovra (1984), Squadra antimafia - Palermo oggi (2009) and Il capo dei capi (2007).
- Maria Pia Calzone was born on 10 October 1967 in Reino, Campania, Italy. She is an actress, known for Equilibrium (2002), The Final Inquiry (2006) and Gomorrah (2014).
- Michela Fruet was born on 28 February 1978 in Italy. She is an actress, known for Black Angel (2002), Seven Mummies (2006) and The Curse of El Charro (2005).
- Actress
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- Producer
Already a respected stage, TV, and film actress in her native Italy, Maddalena's breakthrough performance as the long-suffering and steadfast mother of U.S. Olympian and POW Louis Zamperini has garnered international acclaim. While still a teenager, Maddalena studied with Susan Strasberg in Rome. She quickly landed her first role, playing opposite Rupert Everett in Michele Soavi's Cemetery Man (1994)(aka "Cemetery Man") and began a national tour of "The Diary of Anne Frank" in the title role. Furthering her studies, Maddalena earned a Master's Degree in acting and directing from Teatro Emilia Romagna, she continued her career as an actress in Rome and Milan. Maddalena would go on to found "Racconti di Scena", a successful theater and event production company in Brescia. For her work, she has been awarded best director in Compagnie Bresciane al Teatro Santa Chiara. Maddalena is also the creator and artistic director of Shakespeare in Citta', an international festival inaugurated in 2008. In 2012, Maddalena was invited by Academy Award winning actor Martin Landau to become one of the few foreign finalists at the prestigious Actors Studio in Los Angeles where she continues to train. Maddalena was born in Savona and raised on her grandparent's vineyard in Tuscany. She currently makes her home in Los Angeles.- Gioia Spaziani was born on 8 November 1975. She is an actress, known for Il capo dei capi (2007), Don Matteo (2000) and Concorrenza sleale (2001). She is married to Vincenzo Maria Saggese. They have one child.
- Caterina Murino was born on September 15, 1977, in Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy. In 1996 she took fourth place in the Miss Italy contest. Then she moved to Milan, where she began working as a model in commercials for MasterCard, Swatch, Mercedes-Benz and Nescafe, among other gigs. From 1999-2000 she studied acting at the Scuola di Cinema e Teatro di Francesca de Sapio in Italy.
In 1999 she made her acting debut in a stage production of "Richard III" and appeared in several Italian-language plays. In 2002 she began her film and television career with bit parts in Italian, German and French productions. Her breakthrough came in 2004, when she co-starred opposite Jean Reno in the French comedy The Corsican File (2004).
She is trilingual, speaking French, English and Italian. She is a versatile actress and a good athlete. Her talents include singing, dancing tango, flamenco and oriental dances, as well as horseback riding. She co-starred as Solange, one of three Bond girls, opposite Daniel Craig in Casino Royale (2006). - Actress
- Writer
- Director
Greta Scarano was born on 27 August 1986 in Rome, Lazio, Italy. She is an actress and writer, known for Circeo (2022), La cena perfetta (2022) and Chiamami ancora amore (2021).- Giovanna Di Rauso was born on 29 December 1975 in Capua, Campania, Italy. She is an actress, known for Se chiudi gli occhi (2008), Romanzo criminale - La serie (2008) and Carta vetrata (1999).
- Actress
- Soundtrack
For Michèle Mercier, the role of Angélique, "the Marquise of the Angels," was both a blessing and a curse. It catapulted her to almost instant stardom, rivaling Brigitte Bardot in her celebrity and popularity, but ruined her acting career. The character of Angélique made to forget the other aspects of the career of Mercier, but it is true that general public discovered her only in "Angélique," and made her a real star of the French cinema of that time. By the end of the 1960s, the names Angélique and Michèle Mercier were synonymous, and to escape type-casting, Mercier was compelled to leave France and try to re-start her career in United States, unfortunately without any success.
Daughter of Nice's pharmacists, born on January 1, 1939 and named as Jocelyne Yvonne Renée, she initially wanted to be a dancer. Wartime, no money to buy food, but little Jocelyne wept all week, cadging father, well-known pharmacist in Nice, to buy her ballet skirts and points. In return she promised to work in drug-store. Father took this only as childish whim. But little girl got her wish through: of "small ballet-rat," as they call little dancers, who participate in stage shows, she grew up to soloist in Opera of Nice. Then came Paris. First she was engaged to the troupe of Roland Petit, then she danced in the company of the "Ballets of the Eiffel tower." At 15, she met Maurice Chevalier, who predicted her success and glory. They did arrive, but by another way that the dance. Parallel to her career as dancer, Jocelyne followed courses of dramatic art in the class of Solange Sicard. Her debut in French cinema was for Mercier another compromise: her birth name seemed too long and too old-fashioned for movie credits. What, if she'll take a name Michèle? She winced - this was name of her little sister, who died at the age of five by the fever typhoid, but she agreed. And it was also as in testimony of admiration for her partner Michèle Morgan, as she borrowed her name to her. After some romantic comedies and a small role in François Truffaut's "Shoot the pianist" (1960; her favorite role), she approaches the Sixties mainly in the cinema of district. She also worked in England and made then mainly small-budget films in Italy, always in the same register of easy girl. To this moment Michèle already competed with Sophia Loren and Gina Lollobrigida, continuously shooting in Italy. She needed a role, which could make her a star. Only in 1963, when was decided to make movie by sensational novel "Angélique," Michèle got this kind of chance.
Many actresses were approached to play the role of Angélique. The Producer Francis Cosne absolutely wanted Brigitte Bardot for the part. She refused, but later judged Michèle Mercier to be fantastic in it. Annette Stroyberg was considered next, but judged not to be sufficiently well-known. Catherine Deneuve was too pale, Jane Fonda spoke French with an American accent, and Virna Lisi was busy in Hollywood. The most serious actress considered was Marina Vlady. She almost sign a contract, but Michèle Mercier won the role after trying out for it - which she did not appreciate very much since she was being treated like a beginner while she was already a big star in Italy. At the time she was contacted to play Angélique, she had already acted in over twenty movies. During four years she made five Angélique-movies, enjoying the real success. Nevertheless the moment came, when she finally wanted to interrupt with this aggravating character. Michèle played with Jean Gabin in "The Thunder of God" of Denys de la Patellière. Then with Robert Hossein in "La second vérité" of Christian-Jaque... But the time has gone. That was also confirmed by Mercier's flop in Hollywood... What life didn't taught her, that's the skill how to dominate men. Every time Michèle captivated regardlessly. She was deceived, betrayed. She suffered. "Men in their way, shattered my life. What I wanted from them? Real, mutual love. What they wanted - no hard to guess," candidly confessed Michèle after sensational story with a shah, who overwhelmed actress with diamonds and bouquets of flowers, and then tryed to rape her. Press enjoyed Michèle's love affairs and divorces. For some reason or other, in real life this beautiful and kind woman met only rascals, without exception. First husband turned out to be alcoholic. With well known racer Claude Bourillot she lived together 12 years. And she was shocked, when in one day she found out that he vanished with her jewels. Full of dramatism was story of her romance with Italian prince N., who after many years of courtship got intimate with Michèle and at the end betrayed her, refusing to marry her. Incidentally, all these failures even more hardened the character of Michèle Mercier. After a very long eclipse, she decided to return to the cinema. In 1998, the actress made in Cuba and in Italy "La Rumbera," a feature film by Italian director Piero Vivarelli. In 1999, swindled of several million francs in a business venture, Mercier had serious financial problems. She even planned to sell famous wedding gown of the Marquise of the Angels. The actress confessed in Nice Matin: "I am ruined, I'll be obliged to sell part of my paintings, my furnitures, my properties, my jewels and the costumes of Angélique." In 2002, she presented at the Cannes Film Festival her second book of memories in which she affirms in the cover that "she's not Angélique!," entrusting her irritation to be summarized to this glamour-image of the Sixties. In this book Mercier also tells about how Italian actor Vittorio Gassman tried to take her by force, but remembers also the gentility of Marcello Mastroianni and the suppers of Bettino Craxi, former Prime Minister, and Silvio Berlusconi. In the end she admits: "All the men who have made the court of me, tried to seduce Angélique... not me. But then one day I understood that Angelique could not make more harm to me, therefore I have learned to consider she's like a little sister, with whom I had to live hand in hand."- Imma Piro was born on 8 December 1956 in Naples, Campania, Italy. She is an actress, known for Il capo dei capi (2007), Signora Volpe (2022) and Il maresciallo Rocca (1996).
- Cristina Donadio was born on 7 November 1954 in Naples, Campania, Italy. She is an actress, known for Gomorrah (2014), Razza selvaggia (1980) and Libera (1993).
- Alice Canzonieri is known for Walk with the Devil (2017), Detective Montalbano (1999) and La mafia uccide solo d'estate (2016).
- Eleonora Sergio was born on 31 March 1979 in Lecce, Apulia, Italy. She is an actress, known for Il capo dei capi (2007), Don Matteo (2000) and Sotto una buona stella (2014).
- Valeria D'Obici was born on 17 April 1944 in Lerici, Liguria, Italy. She is an actress, known for Passion of Love (1981), Escape from the Bronx (1983) and 45th Parallel (1986).
- Katia Greco born in Messina and graduated in Biological Sciences, in 2006 she moved to Rome where she continued her professional training as an actress, begun in her hometown, and began her career, first in television and theater and then in cinema. She starts her studies with the teacher Francesca Viscardi who has been Susan Batson's personal assistant for many years and debuts in TV in 2007 with the Rai TV movie "Noi Due" by Massimo Coglitore followed by "Il capo dei capi" (2007) by Enzo Monteleone and Alexis Sweet, "Ris 4" (2008) by Pier Belloni, "Crimini Bianchi" (2009) and "Distretto di Polizia 9" (2009) by Alberto Ferrari. In 2012 she will be the female protagonist in the series of "Il Giovane Montalbano" directed by Gianluca Tavarelli, in the role of Mery, first girlfriend of the young commissioner played by Michele Riondino. In 2012 she received the award "Oscar dei Giovani 2012" of the European Center for the Performing Arts. In the years from 2012 to 2014 Katia Greco continues her training with the American teacher Michael Margotta, member of the Actor's Studio in New York. In 2013 she makes her debut in cinema with the film "The Elevator", first work by Massimo Coglitore with Burt Young, Caroline Goodall and James Parks. This film was followed by "Back to Rome" (2013) by New York director Christopher Herrmann where Katia Greco plays the role of the female protagonist and "Bolgia Totale" (2014), a debut feature by Matteo Scifoni with Domenico Diele, Giorgio Colangeli, Gianmarco Tognazzi. In 2015 she returns to TV in the Rai series "Catturandi" by Fabrizio Costa, where she plays the role of Maria Catena. In the same year she will continue to perfect her studies with the American teacher Danny Lemmo, also a member of the Actor's Studio of New York. Other television work follows, such as "Don Matteo 10" (2016) and "Un passo dal Cielo 4" (2017). In 2016 Katia Greco will receive a special award as best actress at the 48th Fotogramma d'oro. In 2017 she returns to cinema as a female protagonist in "Cruel Peter", an English-language horror co-produced by Rai Cinema and directed by A. Malgarini and C. Bisceglia. Also in 2017 she received a special talent award at the Formia Film Festival and starred in episode in the Rai TV series "Il Cacciatore" directed by Davide Marengo and Stefano Lodovichi and starring Francesco Montanari, Paolo Briguglia, Edoardo Pesce. In 2018 he shoots the dramas L'Allieva 2 and Che Dio Ci Aiuti 5. In 2019 she shoots a new episode of Montalbano "Salvo Amato, Livia Mia" that sees her as the protagonist and takes part in the RAI TV movie about Rita Levi Montalcini, played by Elena Sofia Ricci directed by Alberto Negrin and that will be aired next fall. At the moment we can see her on the big screen in the film "Picciridda" based on a novel by Catena Fiorello directed by Paolo Licata and soon in L' île du pardon with Claudia Cardinale by the Tunisian director Ridha Behi.
- Ivana Lotito was born on 19 July 1983 in Manfredonia, Puglia, Italy. She is an actress, known for Letters to Juliet (2010), Fear of Loving (2010) and Gomorrah (2014).
- Ada Pometti was born on 13 May 1942 in Catania, Sicily, Italy. She is an actress, known for Watch Out, We're Mad (1974), Acts of the Apostles (1969) and La pelle sotto gli artigli (1975).
- Serena Grandi was born on 23 March 1958 in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. She is an actress, known for The Great Beauty (2013), Miranda (1985) and Donne sottotetto (Centro storico) (1992). She was previously married to Beppe Ercole.