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Monica Bellucci Profile |
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Birth Date: September 30, 1964
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Birth Place: Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy
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Birth Name: Monica Bellucci
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Height: 5'10½"
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Monica Bellucci Wallpapers |
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Biography |
Monica Bellucci was born on September 30, 1964, 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.
Monica and her husband will soon be parents, as they are
expecting their first child in the fall of 2004. |
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Other
Information |
She appeared in a black & white TV commercial for Dolce &
Gabbana. The director was Giuseppe Tornatore, who also
directed her in the movie Malèna (2000).
Measurements: 35C-24-35 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine.)
Fluent in French, English and Italian.
Daughter-in-law of Jean-Pierre Cassel.
Made a nude calendar for the Italian magazine Max in 1998
and another one for the Italian magazine GQ in 2000.
Was originally cast as Mina Harker in The League of
Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003) but had to drop out due to a
scheduling conflict. The part then went to Peta Wilson.
Wears a size 10 shoe.
Studied jurisprudence for a short time.
Daughter, Deva Cassel (b. 12 September 2004 in Rome, Italy).
Engaged to actor Nicola Farron from 1989 to 1995.
She was elected the most beautiful woman in the world by
French viewers on a TV show "La Plus belle femme du monde"
on 8th November 2004.
One of the world's top fashion models.
Favourite poem is "A Silvia" by Giacomo Leopardi.
Has her look-alike puppet in the French show _Guignols de
l'info, Les (1988)_ .
She ranked #6 in Maxim's '50 Sexiest Women' (1999).
She ranked #9 in Maxim's '100 Sexiest Women' (2002).
She ranked #1 in Askmen's 'Most Desirable Woman' (2002).
Italian citizen.
Shares birthday with Marion Cotillard, Deborah Kerr and
Angie Dickinson.
Favorite movie is Giornata particolare, Una (1977) by Ettore
Scola.
Her role as Chantal in "Under suspicion" was held by Romy
Schneider in the original film:"Garde à vue".
Owns an apartment in London.
Doesn't always live with her husband Vincent Cassel, for
avoiding routine the two live in separate apartments; she
lives most of the time in London and he lives in Paris.
Bellucci is a typical surname from center Italy, it comes
from the Latin word "Bellutus", and has the same root as
surnames like Belluto, Belluti, Belluzzo, Belluccio, or the
aristocratic surname of Belluzzi.
She speaks to her daughter Deva Cassel in Italian.
She has said in an interview that Sophia Loren and Claudia
Cardinale have inspired her acting career. |
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