Paola Cortellesi
Encyclopedia
Paola Cortellesi is an eclectic Italian actress, singer, voice actress, and presenter. She has starred in about 20 movies as well as a number of theatrical shows, television shows, and radio shows.
TV show Indietro tutta! by Renzo Arbore
. At 19 she began studying as an actress at the Teatro Blu in Rome (the same theatre school that Kim Rossi Stuart
, Gianmarco Tognazzi, Claudia Gerini
, Stefania Rocca
, and Claudio Santamaria
, among others, have attended).
She began her career in television with the show Macao, presented by Alba Parietti
, but eventually reached nation-wide popularity as a comic actress in the TV show Mai dire Gol by the Gialappa's Band
(2000), which, in particular, showcased her skills at parodying famous people, a genre where she collected some of her most appreciated performances (the latest one being her parody of Milan
's mayor Letizia Moratti
in the 2010-2011 edition of the popular TV show Zelig).
After Mai dire Gol, Cortellesi has collaborated in several other TV Show of the Mai dire... franchise by Gialappa's Band. Other major performances of Cortellesi on television include the 2004 edition of the San Remo Music Festival
and the leading role in the TV movie Maria Montessori: Una vita per i bambini, a biography of Maria Montessori
, for which Cortellesi received the "Maximo Award" at the Roma Fiction Fest.
Her career in cinema includes several appreciates performances in comedies and comic movies, including a leading role in Tu la conosci Claudia?, a very popular production starring the comic trio Aldo, Giovanni e Giacomo
. In 2007, she was nominated for the David di Donatello
award for her role in the movie Piano, solo by Riccardo Milani. She was nominated again for the David di Donatello in 2011, for her leading role in Nessuno mi può giudicare.
One of her most appreciated theatrical performances was Gli ultimi saranno gli ultimi ("Last will be last") by Massimiliano Bruno, which has been staged 189 times from 2005 to 2007 in over 50 theatres, and for which Cortellesi has collected a number of awards.
As a singer, Cortellesi has been described by Mina
as "one of the best Italian voices" and has cooperated with several notable Italian musicians, including Elio e le Storie Tese
, Renato Zero
, Claudio Baglioni
, Frankie Hi-NRG MC
, and Neri per Caso.
Biography
Cortellesi debuted in the show business at the age of 13, as a singer for Cacao meravigliao, the jingle of the popular RAIRAI
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...
TV show Indietro tutta! by Renzo Arbore
Renzo Arbore
Lorenzo Giovanni Arbore is an Italian TV host, showman, singer, musician, film actor and film director.-Career:...
. At 19 she began studying as an actress at the Teatro Blu in Rome (the same theatre school that Kim Rossi Stuart
Kim Rossi Stuart
Kim Rossi Stuart is an Italian actor and director.-Career:Kim Rossi Stuart was born in Rome. His father, Giacomo, was also an actor. His mother was a former top model.He began acting at the age of 5...
, Gianmarco Tognazzi, Claudia Gerini
Claudia Gerini
Claudia Gerini is an Italian actress and showgirl.-Biography:Born in Rome from employees parents, in 1985 she won National Competition of Miss Teenager....
, Stefania Rocca
Stefania Rocca
Stefania Rocca is an Italian actress.Rocca is best known for her roles in the films Nirvana , The Talented Mr. Ripley and Dracula . She also was the lead in Dario Argento's The Card Player. Her most recent appearance was in the Italian movie, Commediasexi where she played the main character,...
, and Claudio Santamaria
Claudio Santamaria
Claudio Santamaria is an Italian actor best known for portraying the terrorist Carlos in Casino Royale 2006....
, among others, have attended).
She began her career in television with the show Macao, presented by Alba Parietti
Alba Parietti
Alba Parietti is an Italian film actress, television presenter, and entertainer.Her career began in 1977 with an appearance in the play, The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde. Although she did appear on television as early as 1975, her first role in a major picture was in 1983 with...
, but eventually reached nation-wide popularity as a comic actress in the TV show Mai dire Gol by the Gialappa's Band
Gialappa's Band
Gialappa's Band is the name used by Marco Santin , Carlo Taranto and Giorgio Gherarducci , the Italian trio of TV and radio commentators.-Overview:...
(2000), which, in particular, showcased her skills at parodying famous people, a genre where she collected some of her most appreciated performances (the latest one being her parody of Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
's mayor Letizia Moratti
Letizia Moratti
Letizia Brichetto-Arnaboldi Moratti is an Italian businesswoman and politician. She is the former mayor of Milan.-Biography:...
in the 2010-2011 edition of the popular TV show Zelig).
After Mai dire Gol, Cortellesi has collaborated in several other TV Show of the Mai dire... franchise by Gialappa's Band. Other major performances of Cortellesi on television include the 2004 edition of the San Remo Music Festival
Festival della canzone italiana
The Festival della canzone italiana di Sanremo is a popular Italian song contest, held annually in the city of Sanremo, in Italy, and consisting of a competition amongst previously unreleased songs...
and the leading role in the TV movie Maria Montessori: Una vita per i bambini, a biography of Maria Montessori
Maria Montessori
Maria Montessori was an Italian physician and educator, a noted humanitarian and devout Catholic best known for the philosophy of education which bears her name...
, for which Cortellesi received the "Maximo Award" at the Roma Fiction Fest.
Her career in cinema includes several appreciates performances in comedies and comic movies, including a leading role in Tu la conosci Claudia?, a very popular production starring the comic trio Aldo, Giovanni e Giacomo
Aldo, Giovanni e Giacomo
Aldo, Giovanni & Giacomo is a trio of Italian comedians and film actors consisting respectively of Aldo Baglio, Giovanni Storti and Giacomo Poretti.-Filmography:*Tre uomini e una gamba *Così è la vita *Chiedimi se sono felice...
. In 2007, she was nominated for the David di Donatello
David di Donatello
David di Donatello, named after Donatello's David, is a movie award assigned each year for cinematic performances and production by Ente David di Donatello, part of Accademia del Cinema Italiano. It is the Italian equivalent to the Academy Award. There are 24 categories as of 2006.- History :The...
award for her role in the movie Piano, solo by Riccardo Milani. She was nominated again for the David di Donatello in 2011, for her leading role in Nessuno mi può giudicare.
One of her most appreciated theatrical performances was Gli ultimi saranno gli ultimi ("Last will be last") by Massimiliano Bruno, which has been staged 189 times from 2005 to 2007 in over 50 theatres, and for which Cortellesi has collected a number of awards.
As a singer, Cortellesi has been described by Mina
Mina (singer)
Anna Maria Quaini, Grand Officer , known as Mina, is an Italian pop singer. She was a staple of Italian television variety shows and a dominant figure in Italian pop music from the mid-1960s to mid-1970s known for her three-octave vocal range, the agility of her soprano voice, and her image as an...
as "one of the best Italian voices" and has cooperated with several notable Italian musicians, including Elio e le Storie Tese
Elio e le Storie Tese
Elio e le Storie Tese , often abbreviated EelST, is an Italian band from Milan, formed in 1980, whose music is clearly inspired to the style of Frank Zappa, both in music and lyrics...
, Renato Zero
Renato Zero
Renato Zero is the stage name of Renato Fiacchini , an Italian singer-songwriter and showman whose career spans a full 6 decades, from the 1960s to the 2010s....
, Claudio Baglioni
Claudio Baglioni
Claudio Baglioni is an Italian musician. His various works include the official Anthem for the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin. He has also written for previous sporting events....
, Frankie Hi-NRG MC
Frankie Hi-NRG MC
Frankie HI-NRG MC, born Francesco Di Gesù , is an Italian rapper of Sicilian origins. Frankie HI-NRG has been active since the early stages of the Italian hip hop movement in the early 1990s, and predominantly discusses Politics and Society in his music.- Biography :Born in Turin, Italy, he...
, and Neri per Caso.
Partial filmography
- Chiedimi se sono felice by Aldo, Giovanni e GiacomoAldo, Giovanni e GiacomoAldo, Giovanni & Giacomo is a trio of Italian comedians and film actors consisting respectively of Aldo Baglio, Giovanni Storti and Giacomo Poretti.-Filmography:*Tre uomini e una gamba *Così è la vita *Chiedimi se sono felice...
and Massimo Venier (2000) - Se fossi in te by Giulio Manfredonia (2000)
- Bell'amico by Luca D'Ascanio (2000)
- Amarsi può darsi by Alberto Taraglio (2001)
- A cavallo della tigre by Carlo MazzacuratiCarlo MazzacuratiCarlo Mazzacurati is an Italian film director and screenwriter born in Padua. He started his cinema career in 1980.His better known film include Il Toro and La lingua del santo...
(2001) - Passato prossimo by Maria Sole TognazziMaria Sole TognazziMaria Sole Tognazzi is an Italian film director.-Biography:She is the daughter of actor and director Ugo Tognazzi and actress Franca Bettoia...
(2002) - Il posto dell'anima by Riccardo Milani (2002)
- Non prendere impegni stasera by Gianluca Maria Tavarelli (2006)
- Piano, solo by Riccardo Milani (2007)
- Due partite by Enzo Monteleone (2009)
- La fisica dell'acqua by Felice FarinaFelice farinaFelice Farina is an Italian director.Felice Farina is a Rome based artist. He grew through the ferment of Roman avant-garde theatre, both as an actor and backstage, developing - at the same time - a strong interest in animation and special/optical effects for film making...
(2009) - Maschi contro femmine by Fausto BrizziFausto BrizziFausto Brizzi is an Italian screenwriter, producer and film director.Fausto Brizzi got a Degree in directing at the "Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia" in July 1994...
([2010) - Femmine contro maschi by Fausto Brizzi (2011)
- Nessuno mi può giudicare by Massimiliano Bruno (2011)
- C'è chi dice no by Giambattista Avellino (2011)