Monica Bellucci Biography

Monica Anna Maria Bellucci (born 30 September 1964) is an Italian actress and fashion model. Monica Bellucci was born in Città di Castello, Umbria, Italy as the only child of Luigi Bellucci. Monica Bellucci began modeling at age 13 by posing for a local photo enthusiast. In 1988, Bellucci moved to one of Europe's fashion centers, Milan, where she signed with Elite Model Management.

Monica Bellucci

By 1989, Monica Bellucci was becoming prominent as a fashion model in Paris and across the Atlantic, in New York City. Monica Bellucci he posed for Dolce & Gabbana and French Elle, among others. In that year, Bellucci made the transition to acting and began taking acting classes. The February 2001 Esquire's feature on Desire featured Bellucci on the cover and in an article on the five senses. In 2003, she was featured in Maxim. In 2004, she topped AskMen's 100 Most Beautiful Women in the World annual list. Bellucci's modelling career is managed by Elite+ in New York City. She is considered an Italian sex symbol. She is currently a face of a range of Dior Cosmetics. Bellucci is signed to D'management group in Milan and also to Storm Model Management in London.

In 2004, while pregnant with her daughter Deva, Bellucci posed nude for the Italian Vanity Fair Magazine in protest against Italian laws that prevent the use of donor sperm. She posed pregnant and semi-nude again for the magazine's April 2010 issue.

Acting
Monica Bellucci's film career began in the early 1990s. She played some minor roles in La Riffa (1991) and Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992). In 1996 she was nominated for a César Award for best supporting actress for her portrayal of Lisa in L'Appartement and strengthened her position as an actress. She became known and popular with worldwide audiences, following her roles in Malèna (2000), Brotherhood of the Wolf, and Irréversible (2002). She has since played in many films from Europe and Hollywood like Tears of the Sun (2003), The Matrix Reloaded (2003), The Passion of the Christ (2004), The Brothers Grimm (2005), Le Deuxième souffle (2007), Don't Look Back (2009), and The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010).

She was supposed to be seen portraying Indian politician Sonia Gandhi in the biopic Sonia, originally planned for release in 2007, but it has been shelved.

Bellucci dubbed her own voice for the French and Italian releases of the film Shoot 'Em Up (2007). She also voiced Kaileena in the video game Prince of Persia: Warrior Within, and the French voice of Cappy for the French version of the 2005 animated film Robots.

Monica Bellucci

Personal life
Bellucci is married to French actor Vincent Cassel, with whom she has appeared in several films. They have two daughters, Deva (born 2004) and Léonie (born 2010).

In the documentary movie The Big Question, about the film The Passion of the Christ, Monica Bellucci stated: "I am an agnostic, even though I respect and am interested in all religions. If there's something I believe in, it's a mysterious energy; the one that fills the oceans during tides, the one that unites nature and beings."

Awards and Nominations

Wins
2003 - Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists: Silver Ribbon for Best Supporting Actress (Ricordati di me)
2005 - Golden Globes, Italy: European Golden Globe

Nominations
1997 - César Awards for Best Promising Actress (L'appartement)
2001 - European Film Awards: Audience Award for Best Actress (Malèna)
2002 - Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films: Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress (Brotherhood of the Wolf)
2003 - Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films: Cinescape Genre Face of the Future Award for Best Female (The Matrix Reloaded) and (The Matrix Revolutions)
2003 - David di Donatello Awards for Best Supporting Actress (Ricordati di me)
2003 - Teen Choice Awards for Choice Movie Female Breakout Star (The Matrix Reloaded) & (Tears of the Sun)
2004 - MTV Movie Awards for Best Kiss (The Matrix Reloaded)
2005 - Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists: Silver Ribbon for Best Supporting Actress (The Passion of the Christ)
2007 - Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists: Silver Ribbon for Best Supporting Actress (N (Io e Napoleone))

Filmography
1990 Vita coi figli (Life With the Sons)
1990 Briganti – Amore e libertà (Bandits – Love and Liberty)
1991 La riffa
1992 Bram Stoker's Dracula
1992 ostinato destino
1994 I Mitici
1995 Pala di Neve
1995 Il cielo é sempre piú blu
1995 Joseph
1996 L'Appartement
1996 Sorellina e il principe del sogno (uncredited)
1997 Stressati
1997 Dobermann
1997 Mauvais genre
1997 Come mi vuoi
1998 Le plaisir
1998 Compromise
1998 Ultimo capodanno dell'umanità
1998 A los que aman
1999 Comme un poisson hors de l'eau
1999 Mediterranées
2000 Under Suspicion

Monica Bellucci

2000 Franck Spadone
2000 Malèna
2001 Brotherhood of the Wolf
2002 Astérix & Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre
2002 Irréversible
2003 Remember Me, My Love
2003 Tears of the Sun
2003 The Matrix Reloaded
2003 Enter the Matrix (video game)
2003 The Matrix Revolutions
2004 The Passion of the Christ
2004 Secret Agents
2004 She Hate Me
2005 The Brothers Grimm
2005 How Much Do You Love Me?
2006 Sheitan
2006 N (Io e Napoleone)
2006 The Stone Council
2007 Heartango
2007 Manuale d'amore 2
2007 Shoot 'Em Up
2007 Le deuxième souffle
2008 Sanguepazzo
2008 L'uomo che ama
2009 Don't Look Back
2009 The Private Lives of Pippa Lee
2009 Baarìa – La porta del vento
2009 Omaggio a Roma
2010 The Whistleblower
2010 The Sorcerer's Apprentice
2010 Rose, c'est Paris
2011 Manuale d'amore 3
2011 Guardian of the Harem
2011 That Summer