| Monica Bellucci (born September 30,
1964) is an Italian supermodel and actress, born in Città di
Castello, Italy. She is married to fellow actor Vincent Cassel, with
whom she has appeared with in several films and had a daughter,
named Deva. |
Monica Bellucci was born on September 30th, 1968, in the village
of Citta di Castello, in Umbria, Italy. Initially pursuing a career
as a lawyer, Monica decided to start modeling in order to help pay
for her tuition while at the University of Perugia. But of course,
the glamorous life of a model -- which includes travel and a sweet
income -- tempted Monica away from her law studies.
In 1988, Monica moved to one of Europe's fashion centers -- Milan.
There, she signed with Elite Model Management and found plenty of
modeling work.
By 1989, Monica was making it big in Paris and across the Atlantic,
in New York. But although she had achieved huge success in so little
time as a model (posing for Dolce & Gabbana and French Elle), Monica
thrived for more.
She made the transition to acting -- a very popular trend that
models Laetitia Casta, James King and Estella Warren have done
successfully -- and began taking acting classes.
She made her film debut in 1990, with roles in Vita coi figli and
Briganti (a.k.a Bandits: Love and Liberty). The following year,
Monica starred as Francesca in the film La Riffa, and made her
American film debut with the role of Dracula's Bride in 1992's Bram
Stoker's Dracula, co-starring Gary Oldman and Winona Ryder.
Roles began to pour in for the Italian beauty. After a role in
Ostinato destino, she appeared in I Mitici (a.k.a. The Heroes) in
1994, and Palla di neve in 1995. She also starred as the Pharaoh's
wife in the made-for-TV movie, Joseph.
But it was her role in the 1996 film, L'Appartement, that earned
Monica her acting accolades. Her role as Lisa earned her a Cesar
nomination (French equivalent of the Oscar) in the Most Promising
Young Actress category, and ensured that audiences and film critics
would take notice of this up-and-coming starlet. The movie also
co-starred her husband, Vincent Cassel, whom she later married in
1999.
In 1997, Bellucci was cast in Come mi vuoi (a.k.a As You Want Me),
Dobermann and Mauvais genre. After roles in more European films such
as 1998's L'Ultimo capodanno, A los que aman, and Compromis, she
starred in 1999's Comme un poisson hors de l'eau (a.k.a. Like a Fish
Out of Water).
Luckily, American audiences were able to catch a glimpse of the
stunning brunette in the 2000 drama, Under Suspicion, as Gene
Hackman's trophy wife. She followed that up with a role in the
French film, Franck Spadone.
But it was the critical success of the Italian film Malena (2000),
in which Monica starred in the title role, that really catapulted
her to fame. The movie was nominated for 14 awards, including a
Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film, and continues to be one
of the roles to best showcase her dramatic talent.
In 2001, Bellucci starred in Brotherhood of the Wolf (co-starring
her husband Cassel) and as Cleopatra in Asterix & Obelix: Mission
Cleopatre the following year. While the latter was considered
lighter fare, Monica really stretched her acting muscle in the
gritty 2002 film Irreversible, in which she portrays a rape victim.
If American audiences still weren't familiar with Bellucci, they
were sure to catch her in 2003's Tears of the Sun, with Bruce
Willis, and of course, as Persephone in the highly anticipated
sequels to 1999's The Matrix: The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix
Revolutions. She also had the honor of gracing AskMen.com's top spot
in its 99 Most Desirable Women in the World of 2002.
In 2004, Monica Bellucci was seen as Magdalene in Mel Gibson's
controversial blockbuster, The Passion of the Christ, and returned
to French film with Agents secrets. She can also add 2004's The
Brothers Grimm (with Matt Damon and Heath Ledger), Spike Lee's She
Hate Me, and 2005's Lord of War (with Nicolas Cage) to her
filmography.
Although the model-turned-actress has reached incredible heights in
both streams of her career, she still dreams of working with the
legendary Robert De Niro. |
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