Quick Facts
Born:
1923-01-01
Birthplace:
Milan, Lombardy, Italy
Credits:
95 Total Roles
Valentina Cortese
Acting
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Biography
Valentina Cortese (January 1, 1923 - July 10, 2019) was an Italian film actress.
The Milan-born actress starred in The House on Telegraph Hill (1951) directed by Robert Wise, and costarring Richard Basehart and William Lundigan. Cortese, aged 28, married Basehart in 1951, and had one son with him before they divorced in 1960.
She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1975 for her performance in François Truffaut's Day for Night.
Cortese appeared in Jules Dassin's Thieves' Highway (1949), Joseph L. Mankiewicz's The Barefoot Contessa (1954), Michelangelo Antonioni's Le Amiche (1955), GĂ©rard Brach's The Boat on the Grass, Terry Gilliam's The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988), and in the Franco Zeffirelli projects such as the 1972 film Brother Sun, Sister Moon, his 1977 miniseries, Jesus of Nazareth and the 1993 film Sparrow.
The Milan-born actress starred in The House on Telegraph Hill (1951) directed by Robert Wise, and costarring Richard Basehart and William Lundigan. Cortese, aged 28, married Basehart in 1951, and had one son with him before they divorced in 1960.
She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1975 for her performance in François Truffaut's Day for Night.
Cortese appeared in Jules Dassin's Thieves' Highway (1949), Joseph L. Mankiewicz's The Barefoot Contessa (1954), Michelangelo Antonioni's Le Amiche (1955), GĂ©rard Brach's The Boat on the Grass, Terry Gilliam's The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988), and in the Franco Zeffirelli projects such as the 1972 film Brother Sun, Sister Moon, his 1977 miniseries, Jesus of Nazareth and the 1993 film Sparrow.
Known For
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
Queen Ariadne / Violet
Day for Night
SĂ©verine
Jesus of Nazareth
Herodias
Juliet of the Spirits
Valentina
The Barefoot Contessa
Eleanora Torlato-Favrini
La Classe américaine
The Helicopter Man's Wife (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Girl Who Knew Too Much
Laura Craven-Torrani
Barabbas
Julia
Full Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Diva! MOVIE | Self |
| 2007 | Le ragazze di Milano MOVIE | Self |
| 2001 | Michelangelo Antonioni: The Eye That Changed Cinema MOVIE | Self (archive footage) |
| 2000 | Federico Fellini's Autobiography MOVIE | Self |
| 1994 | Sparrow MOVIE | Madre Superiora |
| 1993 | La Classe américaine MOVIE | The Helicopter Man's Wife (archive footage) (uncredited) |
| 1991 | Buster's Bedroom MOVIE | Serafina Tannenbaum |
| 1989 | I promessi sposi TV | Donna Prassede |
| 1988 | The Adventures of Baron Munchausen MOVIE | Queen Ariadne / Violet |
| 1988 | Facciaffittasi MOVIE | Gina Grandi |