Biography Monica Bellucci

Monica Bellucci was born September 30, 1968, in the village of Citta di Castello, in Umbria, Italy. Her father owned a truck company. Not much is known about her growing up years.

After pursuing a career as a lawyer, in 1987 at 18 years of age, 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. A year later she left her studies as the glamorous life, travelling, fame etc beckoned.

In 1988, Monica moved to one of Europe's the Elite Modelling Agency. There, she signed with Elite Model Management and found plenty of modeling work Monica Bellucci is one of the few Italian models to have reached the top of her profession, but she decided to study acting, hoping to find parts in films. Bellucci appeared in international advertising campaigns for designers such as Dolce & Gabbana when her modeling career was in full swing.

She made her debuted on screen in 1990 in the television film Vita Coi Figli. Monica starred as Francesca in the film La Riffa, in 1991 and made her American film debut with the role of Dracula's Bride, in 1992's Bram Stoker's Dracula, co-starring Winona Ryder.

Monica also did a couple of Italian films but was frustrated with the failure of Italy's film industry to promote its projects abroad. 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.

In 1996 Monica was nominated for the César, the French Oscar, as best promising actress in the movie L'appartement which shot her to stardom. After roles in more European films such as L'Ultimo capodanno, A los que aman, and Méditerranées, she also starred in Comme un poisson hors de l'eau.

Her luck sustained and this stunning brunette bagged a role as Gene Hackman's wife in the movie Under Suspicion in 2000. She had appeared in a black & white TV commercial for Dolce & Gabbana. And it was this director Giuseppe Tornatore, who also directed her in the movie Malèna, 2000, where she captivated moviegoers with her beauty and talent.

Monica followed up Malèna's success with another international hit, Christophe Gans' genre hybrid Le Pacte des Loups (Brotherhood of the Wolf), 2002. She also starred in Astérix & Obélix: Mission Cléopatre, as the seductive Cleopatra.

Soon after, Bruce Willis personally chose Bellucci to play a humanitarian doctor whom he must save from war-torn Nigeria in Hostile Rescue, director Antoine Fuqua's follow-up to his hit Training Day, 2001. She starred with Keanu Reeves for The Matrix Reloaded, 1999, The Matrix Reloaded, 2003, and The Matrix Revolution, 2003.

Though this sultry icon is a well-established superstar and is at the heights of her career, her one dream remains unfulfilled as yet: that of working with Robert De Niro - the Hollywood Legend.