KC Hill
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Oracle of DelphiMonica Bellucci: image of Magdalene
July 23rd 2006 23:46
Monica Bellucci is one of my favourite continental actresses. She is beautiful and possesses an amazing ability to convey feeling through not only dialogue but also through her body. Here's some info about the star:
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, international audiences were able to catch a glimpse of the stunning brunette in 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.
Bellucci also made her first large part in an American feature in 2000 opposite Gene Hackman and Morgan Freeman. The film was Under Suspicion and Monica portrayed Chantal Hearst. She also starred in the French film Franck Spadone before taking on Giuseppe Tornatore's Malèna, the film that still defines her career today. Monica is Malena Scordia, a mysterious beauty who is the object of lust of every man and envy of every woman in a small Italian village during the 1940s. Malèna won a number of prestigious awards, including a Golden Globe nomination for Best Foreign Language Film and an Academy Award nomination in two different categories. "The idea of the film was a challenge", said Monica. "I wanted to see if I could make this part exist just by a body. It was possible to do it. There's so many things that come out of Malena. I learned how a body could speak. Acting is not words. Holly Hunter didn't speak in The Piano, and she won an Oscar."
In 2001, Bellucci starred as Sylvia in Le Pacte des loups (co-starring Cassel) and as Cleopatra in Astérix & Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre as she tried her hand at a comedic role the following year. While the latter was considered lighter fare, Monica really took a risk and stretched her acting muscle in Irréversible, directed by Gaspar Noé. The film premiered at Cannes in 2002 and immediately received a strong response because of its 8 minute rape scene and gritty use of violence. "People told me just horrible things about it, they told me that after this movie you won't work any more", Monica said. Even though a lot of people plain hated Irréversible, no one could deny Monica's powerful performance. She gained fame and name as a risk taker and serious actress.
2003 was a big year for Monica Bellucci. First, she took on the role of Alessia in the acclaimed Italian picture, Ricordati di me. "For me, as an Italian, the film is very important. I needed to meet my roots again and speak my language," Monica said. "In the end, it's a role I never had the opportunity to play. A generous, maternal, mature woman. To compose her, I got made some wrinkles around my eyes. Often, I play ideal women, except the role in Irréversible, and in Ricordati di me, I finally have the opportunity to play a real woman! It is a moving and strong role." Next, Monica was cast as an Italian born doctor in the blockbuster Tears of the Sun, opposite Bruce Willis. It was her impressive performance in Malèna that made the American producers want to hire her for this role. Last but not least, Monica was hired for one of her biggest projects to date as she played Persephone in the two sequals for The Matrix: The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. "She's very mysterious and sensual, more glamour, but dangerous, very dangerous", Monica said of her character.
Next Monica took on another controversial role as she portrayed Mary Magdalene in Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. Originally turned down by nearly all major studios, The Passion ended up being a huge hit and the most controversial movie of the year. For Monica it was both a stretch as an actress - the role even required her to speak Latin - and also a spiritual journey, even though Monica is not religious herself. For the first time Monica started to feel maternal instincts and the Bellucci-Cassel couple started on planning a child of their own... But not before completing work together as two secret agents in the French thriller Agents secrets and Monica having a small role Spike Lee's sex comedy She Hate Me as the lesbian daughter of a Mafioso who pays to be impregnated by the film's lead character.
Monica Bellucci is one of the most famous and acclaimed actresses in Europe.She is known as a risk taker and a strong actress who has portrayed everything from a baroness to a prostitute - always with integrity and class."In 10 years I've done so many things. In the beginning I didn't know if I was still a model, if I was an actress. I knew I wanted to be an actress, but it was so difficult to be believed. Now things are going better and better and the proposals I have are much more interesting than five years ago. It's like getting older is getting better," Monica said.
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, international audiences were able to catch a glimpse of the stunning brunette in 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.
Bellucci also made her first large part in an American feature in 2000 opposite Gene Hackman and Morgan Freeman. The film was Under Suspicion and Monica portrayed Chantal Hearst. She also starred in the French film Franck Spadone before taking on Giuseppe Tornatore's Malèna, the film that still defines her career today. Monica is Malena Scordia, a mysterious beauty who is the object of lust of every man and envy of every woman in a small Italian village during the 1940s. Malèna won a number of prestigious awards, including a Golden Globe nomination for Best Foreign Language Film and an Academy Award nomination in two different categories. "The idea of the film was a challenge", said Monica. "I wanted to see if I could make this part exist just by a body. It was possible to do it. There's so many things that come out of Malena. I learned how a body could speak. Acting is not words. Holly Hunter didn't speak in The Piano, and she won an Oscar."
In 2001, Bellucci starred as Sylvia in Le Pacte des loups (co-starring Cassel) and as Cleopatra in Astérix & Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre as she tried her hand at a comedic role the following year. While the latter was considered lighter fare, Monica really took a risk and stretched her acting muscle in Irréversible, directed by Gaspar Noé. The film premiered at Cannes in 2002 and immediately received a strong response because of its 8 minute rape scene and gritty use of violence. "People told me just horrible things about it, they told me that after this movie you won't work any more", Monica said. Even though a lot of people plain hated Irréversible, no one could deny Monica's powerful performance. She gained fame and name as a risk taker and serious actress.
2003 was a big year for Monica Bellucci. First, she took on the role of Alessia in the acclaimed Italian picture, Ricordati di me. "For me, as an Italian, the film is very important. I needed to meet my roots again and speak my language," Monica said. "In the end, it's a role I never had the opportunity to play. A generous, maternal, mature woman. To compose her, I got made some wrinkles around my eyes. Often, I play ideal women, except the role in Irréversible, and in Ricordati di me, I finally have the opportunity to play a real woman! It is a moving and strong role." Next, Monica was cast as an Italian born doctor in the blockbuster Tears of the Sun, opposite Bruce Willis. It was her impressive performance in Malèna that made the American producers want to hire her for this role. Last but not least, Monica was hired for one of her biggest projects to date as she played Persephone in the two sequals for The Matrix: The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. "She's very mysterious and sensual, more glamour, but dangerous, very dangerous", Monica said of her character.
Next Monica took on another controversial role as she portrayed Mary Magdalene in Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. Originally turned down by nearly all major studios, The Passion ended up being a huge hit and the most controversial movie of the year. For Monica it was both a stretch as an actress - the role even required her to speak Latin - and also a spiritual journey, even though Monica is not religious herself. For the first time Monica started to feel maternal instincts and the Bellucci-Cassel couple started on planning a child of their own... But not before completing work together as two secret agents in the French thriller Agents secrets and Monica having a small role Spike Lee's sex comedy She Hate Me as the lesbian daughter of a Mafioso who pays to be impregnated by the film's lead character.
Monica Bellucci is one of the most famous and acclaimed actresses in Europe.She is known as a risk taker and a strong actress who has portrayed everything from a baroness to a prostitute - always with integrity and class."In 10 years I've done so many things. In the beginning I didn't know if I was still a model, if I was an actress. I knew I wanted to be an actress, but it was so difficult to be believed. Now things are going better and better and the proposals I have are much more interesting than five years ago. It's like getting older is getting better," Monica said.
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