Monica Bellucci
Biography
Monica
Bellucci was born September 30, 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 consists
of traveling and big money -- tempted Monica away from her law studies.
In 1988,
she 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, as well as across the Atlantic
in New York. But although she had achieved huge success in so little
time as a model, what with posing for Dolce & Gabbana and French
Elle, Monica thrived for something more. She made the transition
to acting -- a very popular trend that models Laetitia Casta, James
King and Ines Sastre have also done successfully -- and began taking
acting classes.
Then
in 1990, she made her debut in television, with a role in the film
Vita con I figli, as well as the film Briganti (a.k.a Bandits: Love
and Liberty), that same year. In 1991, 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
Winona Ryder.
Roles
began to pour in for the Italian beauty. After a role in Ostinato
destino, she was cast as I Mitici (a.k.a. The Heroes) in 1994 and
Palla di neve in 1995. She also starred as 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 made sure her name was known in European critics'
circles.
In 1996,
Monica was cast in Come mi vuoi (a.k.a As You Want Me), as well
as in Dobermann and Mauvais genre. After roles in more European
films such as L'Ultimo capodanno, A los que aman, and Méditerranées,
she starred in Comme un poisson hors de l'eau.
Luckily,
American audiences were able to catch a glimpse of the stunning
brunette in the drama, Under Suspicion, as Gene Hackman's trophy
wife. She then starred as Laura in the French film, Franck Spadone
and in Le Pacte des loups.
Monica
has also been cast in the highly-anticipated sequels to 1999's The
Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions.
Monica Bellucci Filmography
Centricity (2006)
Concile de Pierre, Le (2006)--Diane Siprien
Combien tu gagnes? (2005)
The Brothers Grimm (2005)--Queen Mirror
The Matrix Online (2005) (VG) (voice)--Persephone
... aka MxO (USA: promotional abbreviation)
Prince of Persia: Warrior Within (2004) (VG) (voice)--Kaileena
She Hate Me (2004)--Simona Bonasera
Agents Secrets (2004)--Barbara/Lisa
Passion of the Christ, The (2004)--Magdalene
Matrix Revolutions, The (2003)--Persephone
Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003) (voice: french version)--Marina
Enter the Matrix (2003) (VG)--Persephone
Matrix Reloaded, The (2003)--Persephone
Tears of the Sun (2003)--Dr. Lena Fiore Kendricks
Ricordati di me (aka Remember Me) (2003)
Irréversible (2002)--Alex
Astérix & Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre
(2002)--Cléopâtre (aka Asterix & Obelix: Mission
Cleopatra)
Le Pacte des loups(2001)--Sylvia (aka Brotherhood of the Wolf)
Malèna (2000)--Malena Scordia
Franck Spadone (2000)--Laura
Under Suspicion (2000)--Chantal Hearst
Comme un poisson hors de l'eau (1999)--Myrtille (aka Like a Fish
Out of Water)
Compromis (1998)
Méditerranées (1998)--Marguerite
A los que aman (1998)--Valeria (aka L'Heure des nuages, aka Those
Who Love)
L'Ultimo capodanno (1998)--Giulia (aka Humanity's Last New Year's
Eve)
Le Plaisir (et ses petits tracas) (1998)--La jeune fille éplorée
(aka Pleasure (And Its Little Inconveniences)) Stressati (1997)
Mauvais genre (1997)--Camille
Dobermann (1997)--Nat the gipsy
Come mi vuoi (1996)--Nellina (aka As You Want Me)
Sorellina e il principe del sogno (1996) (TV) (uncredited)--Princess
L'Appartement (1996)--Lisa (aka The Apartment)
Il Cielo è sempre più blu (1995) (aka Bits and Pieces)
Palla di neve (1995)--Melina (aka Snowball)
Joseph (1995) (TV)--Pharaoh's Wife
Mitici, I (1994)--Deborah (aka The Heroes)
Ostinato destino (1992)--Marina and Angela
Dracula (1992)--Dracula's Bride
La Riffa (1991)--Francesca
Briganti (1990) (aka Bandits: Love and Liberty)
Vita coi figli (1990) |
