Monica Bellucci

Monica Anna Maria Bellucci, born on September 30, 1964, is a renowned Italian actress and model. She initially gained fame as a fashion model before transitioning into acting, starring in Italian, American, and French films across various genres and languages. In 2018, Forbes Italy recognized her as one of the 100 most successful Italian women.


Bellucci began her acting career with roles in Italian television and horror films before gaining international attention for her performances. She received critical acclaim for her role in the arthouse film "The Apartment" (1996), earning a César Award nomination for Most Promising Actress. Her breakthrough came with "Malèna" (2000), where she portrayed the titular character, and she later starred in notable films such as "Brotherhood of the Wolf" (2001), "Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra" (2002), and "Irréversible" (2002).


In addition to her film work, Bellucci garnered praise for her portrayal of Mary Magdalene in "The Passion of the Christ" (2004). She has taken on diverse roles in films like "Shoot 'Em Up" (2007), "The Whistleblower" (2010), and "The Wonders" (2014). Notably, at the age of 50, she became the oldest Bond girl in the James Bond franchise with her appearance in "Spectre" (2015).


Bellucci has continued to pursue a varied career, starring in films such as "On the Milky Road" (2016) and "The Man Who Sold His Skin" (2020). She has also ventured into television, appearing in series like "Mozart in the Jungle" (2016) and "Dix pour cent" (2018). In 2019, she made her stage debut in interpretations of the Letters and Memoirs of Maria Callas.
Throughout her career, Bellucci has maintained her involvement in modeling and served as an ambassador for luxury brands like Cartier and Dior. She has been recognized with numerous awards, including two Globo d'oro Awards, two Nastro d'Argento Awards, and knight insignias from the Order of Arts and Letters and the Legion of Honour. Bellucci represents Italy as a permanent member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and continues to captivate audiences with her talent and beauty.


Monica Anna Maria Bellucci was born on September 30, 1964, in Città di Castello, Umbria. Her father, Pasquale Bellucci, ran a trucking company, while her mother, Brunella Briganti, was a homemaker and amateur painter. Bellucci is their only child, as her parents did not wish to have more children.
Growing up in Selci-Lama, located in the municipality of San Giustino along the banks of the Tiber River, Bellucci received a Catholic education. Described as an intelligent child, she developed an interest in fashion from a young age and began modeling at the age of 13, initially posing for a photographer who was a family friend in Città di Castello.


Bellucci's childhood was marked by a sense of isolation from her peers, often taking alternate routes home from school and avoiding spending time with other children in public spaces. Despite this, her father provided support and helped her build self-confidence.
Her passion for cinema blossomed during her youth, as she immersed herself in films by renowned Italian directors such as Vittorio De Sica, Federico Fellini, Roberto Rossellini, and Luchino Visconti, as well as works by Marcel Carné and Jean-Luc Godard. Bellucci credits her upbringing and the positive environment created by her parents for shaping her personality.


Monica Bellucci began her modeling career at the age of 16, initially doing photographic sessions arranged by her father's friend, the director of a fashion agency. She made her modeling debut at 16 and traveled periodically to Milan and Paris for modeling gigs while continuing her studies in Città di Castello.
During this time, she met Piero Montanucci, a local hairdresser, who encouraged her to pursue modeling. Bellucci's striking presence and ability to captivate audiences visually garnered attention, leading her to become a local model in her teenage years. Despite her burgeoning modeling career, Bellucci continued her education, studying philosophy, literature, Latin, and Greek.


In 1983, Bellucci attracted attention at a fashion show in Città di Castello, dressed by fashion entrepreneur Pina Alberti. Subsequently, she debuted on the runway during fashion shows in Florence and Milan while still in high school.
Bellucci later studied law at the University of Perugia with the intention of becoming a lawyer. However, her modeling career flourished, and she decided to pursue modeling full-time to finance her studies. Encouraged by a friend, she applied to Milan modeling agencies and ultimately moved to Milan to further her modeling career.


She signed with Elite Model Management agency and gained international recognition, appearing on the covers of Elle France and Vogue Spain in 1988. Dolce & Gabbana recruited her as their muse, and she became a prominent figure in the fashion world, appearing in numerous advertising campaigns and walking the runways for prestigious fashion houses.
Bellucci's modeling career took her to New York, Milan, Paris, and other fashion capitals, where she worked with renowned photographers and became a symbol of Mediterranean beauty. She represented brands such as Dior, Fendi, L'Oréal, Givenchy, and Cartier, and her association with Cartier marked the first time the luxury brand closely associated an actress with their house.
Despite her success as a model, Bellucci decided to pursue her passion for acting and transitioned to acting while still remaining active in the fashion industry. She continued to appear in advertising campaigns and calendar shoots while also making her mark in the world of cinema.

References

1.  "Monica Bellucci". Karin Models agency. Paris. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
2. ^ Lussier, Marc-André (1 October 2015). "Monica Bellucci: l'envie d'émotions fortes" [Monica Bellucci: the desire for strong emotions]. La Presse (in Canadian French). Archived from the original on 29 July 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
3. ^ Silvestri, Giuseppe (6 December 2019). "Monica Bellucci, la 55enne che fa impazzire il mondo" [Monica Bellucci, the 55-year-old who is driving the world crazy]. Corriere dell'Umbria (in Italian). Archived from the original on 14 August 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
4. Lévy-Frébault, Tiphaine (11 October 2013) [First published 11 April 2013]. "Monica Bellucci est célibataire" [Monica Bellucci is single]. L'Express (in French). Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
5. Williams, Sally (15 July 2017). "Monica Bellucci on life after divorce and finding herself in her 50s". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
6. Christopher R. (11 December 2014). "Monica Bellucci à 18 ans: La nymphe italienne, beauté incandescente et naturelle" [Monica Bellucci at 18: The Italian nymph, incandescent and natural beauty]. Interview with Pasquale Bellucci and Brunella Briganti. Purepeople (in French). Webedia. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
7. ^ Couvreur, Daniel (14 January 2020). "Monica Bellucci, star des Magritte" [Monica Bellucci, Magritte star]. Le Soir (in French). Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
8. a b Carnovalini, Riccardo (19 January 2013). "In marcia alla scoperta" [On the march to discover]. La Stampa (in Italian). Archived from the original on 17 November 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
9. a b Morgoglione, Claudia (17 October 2006). "L'altra faccia di Monica Bellucci 'Ma quella sono proprio io?'" [The other side of Monica Bellucci 'But is that really me?']. la Repubblica (in Italian). Archived from the original on 26 June 2007. Retrieved 17 February 2023. See: 5th paragraph.
10. Flynn, Gaynor (10 August 2009). "Monica Bellucci's beautiful mind". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
11. ^ "Monica Bellucci posta una foto su Instagram di quando aveva 13 anni: era già una incredibile bellezza" [Monica Bellucci posts a photo on Instagram from when she was 13: she was already an incredible beauty]. HuffPost (in Italian). 24 August 2017. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
12. Hattersley, Giles (22 February 2015). "The spy who loved me | Not Shaken or Stirred". Interview. Style (The Sunday Times supplement). London, UK: Times Newspapers Ltd. p. 24. OCLC 1368155993. Her father, Pasquale, said: One day, I asked her why she didn't want to be in the square with the others, and she said, 'When I go in the piazza, everyone looks at me. The men look at me. The women look at me. All the kids from school. I feel ashamed.' ... She had a starter marriage to a photographer in the early 1990s
13. ^ Bradfer, Fabienne (25 January 2020). "Monica Bellucci au 'Soir': 'J'ai mis ma beauté au service du cinéma'" [Monica Bellucci to 'Le Soir': 'I have put my beauty at the service of cinema']. Le Soir (in French). Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
14. ^ Laura Giovagnini, Maria (6 August 2010). "'Ottengo sempre quello che voglio'" ['I always get what I want']. Interview. IO Donna (in Italian). Archived from the original on 9 November 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2023 – via Corriere della Sera. See: 3rd paragraph