Monica Bellucci has appeared in films ranging from low-budget arthouse to major blockbusters for the past three decades. If you were a teen in the 1990s, you probably remember Bram Stoker’s Dracula, a film with a star-studded cast released when the vampire movie genre was at its most popular. And man, oh man… She is as gorgeous there as she is in any other movie she has appeared in. And yes, that includes the super famous Malena.
But we are not here to talk about her movies and how sexy she is in each one. Now, we are going to dive in deeper… Her life. What was it like for someone as hot as here growing up? So let’s go…
Monica Bellucci Before Fame
Monica Anna Maria Bellucci was born on September 30, 1964, in the Italian village of Città di Castello, Umbria, as the only child of Brunella Briganti and Pasquale Bellucci. Monica was raised by a farmer father and an artist mother. Her father enjoys talking about his daughter and thinking back on her early years.
Monica Bellucci preferred to spend time with her parents and disliked playing in the yard with the other youngsters. The future celebrity preferred to study and read books, and she was soon prepared to attend law school. After finishing school, she attended the University of Perugia to complete her studies. Monica worked as a waitress to support her parents while she was still in school. Later, a friend suggested she try modeling instead, and Monica now credits that individual for helping her start a new chapter in her life.
Monica began her career as a model at the age of 13, posing for local photo enthusiasts. She then relocated to Milan Fashion Center and obtained a deal with Elite Model Management. Aside from Milan fashion, she has modeled for Dolce and Gabbana and French Elle.
Her Journey to Fame
Monica Bellucci began her career as a fashion model in her native Italy in the 1980s, before moving on to professional acting in the early 1990s. Since her small-screen debut in Dino Risi’s television miniseries Vita coi Figli, Monica has appeared in Italian, American, and French film productions, including her breakthrough role in the 1996 Gilles Mimouni-directed arthouse film The Apartment, for which she received a César Award nomination for Most Promising Actress.
Monica’s Modeling Career
Monica’s successful modeling career began in the late 1980s with a contract with Elite Model Management agency. She starred in advertising and campaigns for various luxury fashion labels, including Dior, Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent, Versace, and, most notably, Dolce & Gabbana, which used Italian beauty as their inspiration. Monica has also served as a brand ambassador for a number of well-known firms, including L’Oreal and Nivea cosmetics, Cartier luxury jewelry, and Éric Bompard cashmere items.
“My home of Perugia was a vacuum when it came to style. So I didn’t start to appreciate fashion until I moved away when I was older. Italian women have a gossamer of femininity that is very strong. All of the world’s big fashion brands have offices in Milan and the women there are hugely into their fashion – although the style is much more reserved, traditional, and elegant than Rome.”
Monica’s Film Career
Monica rose to worldwide recognition in 2000 for her roles as Malèna Scordia in the Italian sensual drama Malèna and Chantal Hearst in the American thriller Under Suspicion. She has appeared in various French films, including Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001), Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra, and Irréversible (2002). She’s also recognized for her roles in big-budget action blockbusters such as The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, as well as the James Bond film Spectre. Monica was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Nastro d’Argento Awards in 2004 for her portrayal of Mary Magdalene in Mel Gibson’s movie The Passion of Christ.
“I’m very lucky I’ve had the chance to work with so many directors. That’s the richness of my work.”
Her Personal Life
Monica is currently dating the iconic Tim Burton, the director of Beetlejuice, thus it appears that the casting was not entirely random. The two supposedly met during the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, and their paths crossed again nearly two decades later at France’s Lumière Film Festival in October 2022, when Monica presented Burton with a lifetime achievement award. The actress revealed their long-rumored affair in ELLE France’s June 2023 cover story, and she made her first public appearance with her filmmaker lover during the Rome Film Festival in October of the same year.
Monica has been married two times. Her first husband was Italian photographer Claudio Carlos Basso, who she met when he recruited her for a photographer session in 1987; she married in Monte-Carlo in January 1990 and divorced a year later.
Her second marriage was much longer: after meeting French actor Vincent Cassel in 1995 on the set of their film The Apartments, the couple married in Monaco in August 1999 and remained married until they mutually agreed to separate in 2013.
The Italian actress shares two daughters—Deva (born on Sept. 12, 2004) and Léonie (born May 21, 2010)—with ex-husband Vincent Cassel.
Deva, 21, has followed in her mother’s runway footsteps, making her modeling debut at the age of 14 in a Dolce & Gabbana fragrance campaign and appearing in high-fashion shows for Jacquemus, Alta Moda, and Coperni. Like her renowned mother, she is a Cartier brand spokesperson. And given that both of her parents are actresses, it’s no surprise that Deva has caught the acting bug: she appeared in the 2023 period drama The Beautiful Summer and the Netflix series The Leopard.
Less is known about younger sister Léonie, who is rarely seen in public, despite being on the cover of Italian Vanity Fair alongside Monica when she was only five months old.
Facts and Trivia
Monica Bellucci speaks French fluently in addition to her mother tongue, Italian, which is no doubt the result of her personal relationship with French actor Vincent Cassel for almost a decade, as well as living in France and working regularly in the French film business. The actress also speaks fluent English and is adept in Portuguese and Spanish.
Her rape scene in Irreversible continues to shock viewers to this day. Though the film received praise for its directing and performances, audiences are nonetheless horrified by vivid, unbroken sequences of savage murder and rape.
Despite its dark, nihilistic tone, the picture has remained a cultural touchstone, influencing anniversary pieces and blockbuster films to this day. The film received outstanding public reviews and was a surprising box office hit. Many people attended to watch. Not everyone made it to the end.
Monica Bellucci Photos
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