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Valentina Cortese

Actor

Valentina Cortese

Born January 1, 1923 in Milan, Lombardy, ItalyDied July 10, 201983 films

Valentina Cortese (January 1, 1923 - July 10, 2019) was an Italian film actress.

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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), Gérard 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.

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The best way into Valentina Cortese's work
Day for Night posterFirst watchDay for Night19737.8as SéverineA committed filmmaker struggles to complete his latest project while coping with a myriad of crises, personal and professional, among the cast and crew.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen poster7.0The Adventures of Baron Munchausen1988Juliet of the Spirits poster7.2Juliet of the Spirits1965The Barefoot Contessa poster6.8The Barefoot Contessa1954The Girl Who Knew Too Much poster6.9The Girl Who Knew Too Much1963Barabbas poster6.9Barabbas1961Brother Sun, Sister Moon poster7.1Brother Sun, Sister Moon1972Thieves' Highway poster7.3Thieves' Highway1949Le Amiche poster6.7Le Amiche1955

Filmography

83 films as actor
  1. 1994SparrowMadre Superiora
  2. 1991Buster's BedroomSerafina Tannenbaum
  3. 1988The Adventures of Baron MunchausenQueen Ariadne / Violet
  4. 1988Young ToscaniniComparsa (uncredited)
  5. 1988FacciaffittasiGina Grandi
  6. 1987Via Montenapoleonemadre di Guido
  7. 1987Blue TangoRachele Cigno
  8. 1981La Ferdinanda. Sonate für eine Medici-VillaCaterina de Dominicis
  9. 1980When Time Ran Out...Rose Valdez
  10. 1979Ring of DarknessElena Merrill
  11. 1978Tanto va la gatta al lardo...Wilma/Leonilde Bosco Casagrande
  12. 1977Widows' NestDolores
  13. 1976The Big OperatorWitwe
  14. 1976Nick the StingRegina
  15. 1975Son tornate a fiorire le roseSabina Foschini
  16. 1975Kidnap SyndicateGrazia Filippini
  17. 1975Il cav. Costante Nicosia demoniaco, ovvero Dracula in BrianzaOlghina Franchetti
  18. 1974The KissElizabeth Blixen
  19. 1974Tender Dracula
  20. 1974Amore mio non farmi maleSabina Foschini
  21. 1974AppassionataElisa Rutelli
  22. 1973Day for NightSéverine
  23. 1972The Assassination of TrotskyNatalia Trotsky
  24. 1972Brother Sun, Sister MoonPica Di Bernardone
  25. 1972Chronicle of a HomicideLuisa Sola
  26. 1971The Iguana with the Tongue of FireMadame Sobieski
  27. 1971The Boat on the GrassCatherine
  28. 1970The Love MatesEva
  29. 1970First LoveMutter
  30. 1970Give Her the MoonMadeleine de Lépine
  31. 1970The Secret of Santa VittoriaGabriella (uncredited)
  32. 1969Oh, Grandmother's DeadOrnella
  33. 1968Listen, Let's Make LoveLallo's Mother
  34. 1968The Legend of Lylah ClareCountess Bozo Bedoni
  35. 1966Black SunMaria
  36. 1965Juliet of the SpiritsValentina
  37. 1965The PossessedIrma
  38. 1964The VisitMathilda Miller
  39. 1963The Girl Who Knew Too MuchLaura Craven-Torrani
  40. 1962Story of San MicheleEleonora Duse
  41. 1961BarabbasJulia
  42. 1961Square of ViolenceErica Bernardi
  43. 1958Love and TroublesMarisa
  44. 1957Kean: Genius or ScoundrelFanny
  45. 1956The Rocket from CalabuchEloísa, la maestra de escuela
  46. 1955Le AmicheNene
  47. 1955Il Conte AquilaTeresa Casati
  48. 1955Adriana LecouvreurAdriana Lecouvreur
  49. 1955Magic FireMathilde Wesendonk
  50. 1954The Barefoot ContessaEleanora Torlato-Favrini
  51. 1954JailbirdsLuprandi's wife
  52. 1954Il matrimonio
  53. 1954Angels of DarknessVally
  54. 1953Lulù
  55. 1953La passeggiataLisa
  56. 1952Secret PeopleMaria Brentano / Brent / Lena Collins
  57. 1951The House on Telegraph HillVictoria Kowelska
  58. 1950Shadow of the EagleElizabeth, Princess Tarakanova
  59. 1949MalayaLuana
  60. 1949Thieves' HighwayRica
  61. 1949Black MagicZoraida
  62. 1949The Glass MountainAlida Morrosini
  63. 1948Crossroads of PassionMaria Pilar
  64. 1948L'ebreo erranteEster
  65. 1948Les Misérables - Storm Over ParisCosetta
  66. 1948Les MisérablesFantine
  67. 1947Il corriere del re
  68. 1947Il passatoreBarbara
  69. 1946Rome: Free CityLa ragazza
  70. 1946Un americano in vacanzaMaria
  71. 1945Chi l'ha visto?Luisella
  72. 1945No One Comes BackValentina
  73. 19434 girls dream
  74. 1943Giorni feliciMarianna
  75. 1942Quarta paginaValentina
  76. 1942Soltanto un bacioMaria Renda / Luisa Renda
  77. 1942La regina di Navarra
  78. 1942The Jester's SupperLisabetta
  79. 1942Girl of the Golden WestMadge
  80. 1942Orizzonte di sangue
  81. 1941Primo amoreNerina Redi
  82. 1941Il bravo di VeneziaAlina
  83. 1941L'attore scomparso