Barbara Matera
Encyclopedia
Barbara Matera is an Italian
television announcer
, actress and MEP
for the centre-right The People of Freedom
(PdL) party.
in the Province of Foggia
,
in the Apulia
, southern Italy.
She studied Educational Sciences from the University of Rome La Sapienza
, without graduating.
In 2000, she was a contestant in the Miss Italia
beauty contest.
Later, in September 2003, she became an announcer for Rai Uno
, the primary television station of RAI
, Italy's state-owned national public service broadcaster
. She remained with RAI until 2007.
In 2003, she appeared in the film Ma che colpa abbiamo noi, directed by and starring Carlo Verdone
. In 2007, she starred in the role of a journalist in the Rai Uno miniseries
La terza verità, directed by Stefano Reali. Thereafter, she held the role of Francesca Rossini on the seventh season of Carabinieri, broadcast on Canale 5
, and guest starred in an episode of Don Matteo
. In 2009, she appeared in the Canale 5 television film Due mamme di troppo, directed by Antonello Grimaldi
.
was presented by Silvio Berlusconi
's centre-right political party, The People of Freedom
(PdL), in the 2009 European Parliament elections
.
Her accession to the short list
of candidates came as part of an effort by Berlusconi to reshape the PdL's image for the European Parliament elections: "I want young faces, new faces, to renew the image of Italy and the PdL in Europe".
In response to criticism of the initiative, Matera said "I've never been a showgirl", and expressed hope that her candidacy would challenge the "prejudic[ial]" dichotomy about women of intellect versus beauty.
She identified Mara Carfagna
, Italy's Minister for Equal Opportunity, as her "political role model".
She was elected with 129.994 direct votes in the electoral college of the South.
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
television announcer
Announcer
An announcer is a presenter who makes "announcements" in an audio medium or a physical location.-Television and other media:Some announcers work in television production , radio or filmmaking, usually providing narrations, news updates, station identification, or an introduction of a product in...
, actress and MEP
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
for the centre-right The People of Freedom
The People of Freedom
The People of Freedom is a centre-right political party in Italy. With the Democratic Party, it is one of the two major parties of the current Italian party system....
(PdL) party.
Biography
Matera was born on 9 December 1981 in LuceraLucera
Lucera is a town and comune in the Province of Foggia, in the Apulia region of southern Italy.-Ancient era and early Middle Ages :Lucera is an ancient city founded in Daunia, the centre of Dauni territory . Archeological excavations show the presence of a bronze age village inside the city boundaries...
in the Province of Foggia
Province of Foggia
The Province of Foggia is a province in the Apulia region of Italy.This province is also known as Capitanata, originally Catapanata, because during the Middle Ages it was governed by a catapan, as part of the Catapanate of Italy...
,
in the Apulia
Apulia
Apulia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. Its most southern portion, known as Salento peninsula, forms a high heel on the "boot" of Italy. The region comprises , and...
, southern Italy.
She studied Educational Sciences from the University of Rome La Sapienza
University of Rome La Sapienza
The Sapienza University of Rome, officially Sapienza – Università di Roma, formerly known as Università degli studi di Roma "La Sapienza", is a coeducational, autonomous state university in Rome, Italy...
, without graduating.
In 2000, she was a contestant in the Miss Italia
Miss Italia
Miss Italia is the name of a beauty pageant awarding prizes every year to young, female contestants from Italy. Since the first edition of the contest in 1939 many of the contestants have gone on to notable careers in television and film.-History:...
beauty contest.
Later, in September 2003, she became an announcer for Rai Uno
Rai Uno
Rai 1 is the primary television station of RAI, the national public service broadcaster, and the most watched television channel in Italy. It was born as Rai Tv from 1954 to 1961, called Programma Nazionale from 1961 to 1979, after called Rete 1 from 1979 to 1982, then called Rai Uno from 1982 to...
, the primary television station of RAI
RAI
RAI — Radiotelevisione italiana S.p.A. known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane, is the Italian state owned public service broadcaster controlled by the Ministry of Economic Development. Rai is the biggest television company in Italy...
, Italy's state-owned national public service broadcaster
Public broadcasting
Public broadcasting includes radio, television and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including license fees, individual contributions, public financing and commercial financing.Public broadcasting may be...
. She remained with RAI until 2007.
In 2003, she appeared in the film Ma che colpa abbiamo noi, directed by and starring Carlo Verdone
Carlo Verdone
Carlo Verdone is an Italian actor, screenwriter and film director.-Early life:Carlo Verdone was born in Rome to Mario Verdone, an important Italian film critic, and during his youth he earned a degree in Modern Literature at Sapienza University of Rome and a degree in Film Direction at the Centro...
. In 2007, she starred in the role of a journalist in the Rai Uno miniseries
Miniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
La terza verità, directed by Stefano Reali. Thereafter, she held the role of Francesca Rossini on the seventh season of Carabinieri, broadcast on Canale 5
Canale 5
Canale 5 is an Italian private television network of Mediaset, the media branch of Fininvest. Canale 5 was the first private television network to have a national coverage in Italy in 1980, based on a local channel, TeleMilano 58, founded in 1978....
, and guest starred in an episode of Don Matteo
Don Matteo
Don Matteo is an Italian television series that has been airing since 2000 on the premier channel of Italian national television, Rai 1. Protagonist of the series is Father Matteo , a Catholic priest in a parish of the town of Gubbio , who is also known for his unrivaled talent in investigating...
. In 2009, she appeared in the Canale 5 television film Due mamme di troppo, directed by Antonello Grimaldi
Antonello Grimaldi
Antonio Luigi Grimaldi, known as Antonello Grimaldi is an Italian actor, film and television director, and screenwriter.-Biography:Grimaldi was born on 14 August 1955 in Sassari,...
.
European Parliament election
Matera's candidacy for Member of the European ParliamentMember of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
was presented by Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi , also known as Il Cavaliere – from knighthood to the Order of Merit for Labour which he received in 1977 – is an Italian politician and businessman who served three terms as Prime Minister of Italy, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011. Berlusconi is also the...
's centre-right political party, The People of Freedom
The People of Freedom
The People of Freedom is a centre-right political party in Italy. With the Democratic Party, it is one of the two major parties of the current Italian party system....
(PdL), in the 2009 European Parliament elections
European Parliament election, 2009 (Italy)
European elections to elect 72 members of the European Parliament representing Italy were held on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June 2009, as decided by the Italian government on December 18, 2008...
.
Her accession to the short list
Short list
A short list or shortlist is a list of candidates for a job, prize, award, political position, etc., that has been reduced from a longer list of candidates . The length of short lists varies according to the context.-U.S...
of candidates came as part of an effort by Berlusconi to reshape the PdL's image for the European Parliament elections: "I want young faces, new faces, to renew the image of Italy and the PdL in Europe".
In response to criticism of the initiative, Matera said "I've never been a showgirl", and expressed hope that her candidacy would challenge the "prejudic[ial]" dichotomy about women of intellect versus beauty.
She identified Mara Carfagna
Mara Carfagna
Maria Rosaria Carfagna is an Italian politician and former showgirl and topless model. After obtaining a degree in law, Carfagna worked for several years on Italian television shows and as a model. She later entered politics and was elected to the Chamber of Deputies for Forza Italia party in 2006...
, Italy's Minister for Equal Opportunity, as her "political role model".
She was elected with 129.994 direct votes in the electoral college of the South.
Film
| Year | Film | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Ma che colpa abbiamo noi | Danka | What Fault Is It of Ours? Directed by Carlo Verdone Carlo Verdone Carlo Verdone is an Italian actor, screenwriter and film director.-Early life:Carlo Verdone was born in Rome to Mario Verdone, an important Italian film critic, and during his youth he earned a degree in Modern Literature at Sapienza University of Rome and a degree in Film Direction at the Centro... |
Television
| Year | Television series | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | La terza verità | Rai Uno Rai Uno Rai 1 is the primary television station of RAI, the national public service broadcaster, and the most watched television channel in Italy. It was born as Rai Tv from 1954 to 1961, called Programma Nazionale from 1961 to 1979, after called Rete 1 from 1979 to 1982, then called Rai Uno from 1982 to... TV miniseries Miniseries A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term... Directed by Stefano Reali |
|
| 2008 | Carabinieri | Francesca Rossini | Aired on Canale 5 Canale 5 Canale 5 is an Italian private television network of Mediaset, the media branch of Fininvest. Canale 5 was the first private television network to have a national coverage in Italy in 1980, based on a local channel, TeleMilano 58, founded in 1978.... |
| Don Matteo Don Matteo Don Matteo is an Italian television series that has been airing since 2000 on the premier channel of Italian national television, Rai 1. Protagonist of the series is Father Matteo , a Catholic priest in a parish of the town of Gubbio , who is also known for his unrivaled talent in investigating... |
Laura | Guest appearance Guest appearance In show business , a guest appearance is a participation of an outsider performer , usually called guest artist , in an event , i.e., the participation of a performer which does not belong to the regular crew In performance... |
|
| 2009 | Due mamme di troppo | Viola | Canale 5 television film Directed by Antonello Grimaldi Antonello Grimaldi Antonio Luigi Grimaldi, known as Antonello Grimaldi is an Italian actor, film and television director, and screenwriter.-Biography:Grimaldi was born on 14 August 1955 in Sassari,... |