Talk to an Italian about the renownedcommedia sexy all'italiana, the Italian sexy comedy, and you will likely find that the first name that comes to their mind is Lino Banfi. Banfi, who is closely associated with Edwige Fenech, has successfully acted in many movies in the celebrated genre.
Antonio De Curtis, or Totò as he is better known, is not well known outside of Italy, but in his home country is one of the most famous comedians in the history of television and film. Not surprisingly Italians refer to Totò as the Prince of Laughter. Born in Naples in February 1898, Totò would become a celebrated actor, writer, singer and songwriter, who for a long time was not valued by critics, some of whom are only now reevaluating what was once largely considered meaningless humor.
Italian cinema has been always labeled as intellectual and artistic, deep in its content and a benchmark for many filmmakers. Masters like De Sica and Rossellini created the neorealism that became worshipped by Hollywood and studied in every single film school in the world. Despite this claim to fame, the genre that has captured Italian moviegoers for decades, and lined the pockets of producers, is the comedy. Italian comedies are perhaps a bit different than your usual Hollywood comedic fare, yet they nonetheless continue to be both popular and lucrative within Italy.
Those who fell in love with Edwige Fenech in the 80s will remember her sex appeal, her femininity and the actress' seductive French accent. The star of the erotic comedies that were once all the rage in Italy had both teenage boys and grown men falling head over heels from her, although some had to do it while hiding from their wives. The comedies that Fenech starred in had basic plots that were built around a bedroom and featured several topless or full frontal nudity scenes, often in showers. Light sex was also shown and many of the storylines involved affairs.
Italy had excellent actresses in the past from the legendary Anna Magnani to Monica Vitti but for a while the talented female actress arena was pretty empty.
Did you ever dream that one day a genie came out of a bottle and gave a wish like 'you can marry whoever you want'. If such a thing existed probably Giovanna Mezzogiorno would be my first choice ( sorry Giovanna!).
Giovanna Mezzogiono, together with Margherita Buy and Asia Argento, is one of my preferred Italian actresses so we have to dedicate at least an article to her achievements.
The talented Giovanna was born in Rome on November 9, 1974.
"Comm'aggio accuminciato? Ecco... io ero 'nu guaglione... ero andato a vedere un grande film. Si trattava di Roma città aperta, chillo grande lavoro di Rossellini. Me n'ero uscito da o'cinema con tutte quelle immagini dint'a capa e tutte quante le emozioni dentro. Mi sono fermato 'nu mumento e m'aggio ditto...
When iconic Italian actress and showgirl Sandra Mondaini died on September 21, 2010, at age 79, the majority of Italians were saddened, but not many were surprised. Seeing Mondaini at the funeral of husband Raimondo Vianello, dead at 87 just five months earlier, it was clear how much of a toll the loss of her beloved had taken on the actress. The love and bond between the two proved too strong and the actress soon followed the husband she had met in 1958 and married in 1962.
To many it may seem like the Golden Age of Italian cinema has passed, especially if the yardstick by which greatness is measured is participation in and relevance to international projects and markets. The time of actors like Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni and the great directors like Federico Fellini has passed, but the love they receive from Italians and those around the world lives on. Roberto Benigni, Oscar-winner for Life is Beautiful (a statuette presented to him by the ageless Loren) then marked a brief resurgence of international success for Italian movies.
The land of Hollywood is sprinkled with some of the most prolific actors like Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Sophia Loren, and plenty of others who share one underlying common thread: they are Italian or have Italian heritage. Italian men and women are well known for their adventurous, 'never say die' spirit and it is this zeal which often prompts them to try their luck at acting.
The world of acting stretches far beyond the sound stages of Beverly Hills and picturesque film locations across Europe. Many of the world's most famous and well-known actors and actresses are of Italian descent, but here are a few Italian-born contributors who have added their flair to the world's entertainment catalog along with some impressive achievements.
Lamberto Bava was born on April 3, 1944 in Rome. He is the son of acclaimed Italian horror-film director, Mario Bava (Black Sunday and Diabolik); and, the grandson of Eugenio Bava. Eugenio was a cameraman and optic effects specialist who worked during the days of silent cinema in Italy.
Italy's Underappreciated Actress of the Silent Era
Her fans once included the likes of James Joyce, Anton Chekhov, Henrik Ibsen and Charlie Chaplin, but even today, Eleonora Duse, the great rival of Sarah Bernhardt, enjoys a profound acclaim though nearly all footage of her performances have been lost to time. Born October 3, 1858 in Vigevano, Italy, to a family of actors, Duse went on to enjoy a sensational acting career and made a lasting impact on the stage; her success in the acting world led her to become the first woman to be featured on the cover of Time Magazine in 1923.
Now, I'm not the kind of woman who drools over celebrities. Not usually. Not unless you count the likes of Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Vincent Perez...Okay! I guess I do drool over sexy male celebrities. I may be married; but, my eyes are in perfect working order.
On February 2, 2006, Ansa, the Italian news organization, announced that Raoul Bova, who recently made the move from Rome to Hollywood to focus on his burgeoning international film career, was "voted Italy's sexiest man in a snap radio poll."
Serena Grandi was born Serena Faggioli on March 23, 1958 in the town of Bologna, Italy. This Italian bombshell with the voluptuous measurements 39.5- 23.5 - 39.5 was once voted the sexiest woman in Italy. She is often referred to as the Italian Dolly Parton due to the ample size of her bosom.
Ms. Grandi has appeared in a variety of films, including the soft core erotic thrillers of Tinto Brass. She is not afraid to show some skin. Her beauty - and her bosom - is timeless - even if her films aren't always so highly regarded.
Rosalba Neri was born on June 19, 1939 in Furli (Emilia Romagna), Italy. When she was very young, she won a beauty pageant and attended il Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia (The Center for Experimental Cinematography). In 1956, she received an offer to go to Hollywood and attend the Actor's Studio but didn't take the offer for undisclosed reasons.
Daria Nicolodi - Italian Scream Queen Extraordinaire
Daria Nicolodi was born on June 19, 1950. She is the daughter of a lawyer and philologist. (A philologist is a person who studies ancient languages.) Her younger sister became a university professor. That's not the usual start for a creative genius, whose tastes run to the macabre, is it? Although Daria didn't get her love from the occult from her parents or sister, she did learn a great deal from her grandmother, who practiced white magic and had a strong intuitive, almost psychic sense.
Born in Rome on September 20, 1975, Asia Maria Vittoria begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting Rossa Argento's life has never been without controversy or drama. The local registry office would not acknowledge her as Asia due to a law remaining from Mussolini's Fascist Italy in which no child could be named after a foreign country or continent. She was therefore, re-named Aria. The independent actress prefers to use her original name; however.
She stripped naked to protest against harsh laws restricting IVF in Italy which are based on Catholic principles, has no qualms about appearing nude, and is an agnostic, but Monica Bellucci agreed to star in Mel Gibson's very Catholic movie, The Passion of the Christ (2004).
Monica Bellucci was born on September 30, 1968 in the village of Citta di Castello in Perugia. Her father ran a trucking company. At the age of 18, she enrolled in classes at University of Perugia, where she studied law. She began working as a model, part-time, to help pay her tuition. However, she dropped out of school after realizing that she could earn more as a model than she would as a lawyer. In 1988, she moved to Milan, Italy's major fashion capital. She signed on with Elite Model Management.
Maurizio Nichetti is one of Italy's best-loved comedic talents. Some consider him to be the 'Italian Woody Allen.' He was born in Milan on May 8, 1948. Nichetti was educated at the prestigious Leonard Da Vinci Scientific School. He graduated with a degree in architecture in 1975. While still in school, he began preparing for his career in show business. He studied under Marise Flach, a pupil of Decroux himself, at his Mime School at Milan's "Il Piccolo Teatro" (the Little Theater).
She stripped naked to protest against harsh laws restricting IVF in Italy which are based on Catholic principles, has no qualms about appearing nude, and is an agnostic, but Monica Bellucci agreed to star in Mel Gibson's very Catholic movie, The Passion of the Christ (2004).
