Paola Cortellesi, a multifaceted artist, has conquered the Italian entertainment scene, moving with agility between acting, writing, singing and directing. Her career, which began at a young age, is studded with successes in television, cinema and theatre, making her one of the most beloved and appreciated personalities by the Italian public.
The Early Years: "Cacao Meravigliao" and the Beginning of a Career
Paola Cortellesi's debut in the entertainment world dates back to when she was only 13 years old, when she recorded the song "Cacao Meravigliao," the theme song for Renzo Arbore's satirical program "Indietro Tutta!". "I went to high school and on TV in playback there was the beautiful Brazilian dancer on stage, I recorded that thing and then I went home to do my homework probably," she told Sky TG24. This experience, while seemingly casual, marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey. In an unprecedented version, the actress returned to singing Cacao Meravigliao, accompanied by the singer-songwriter Calcutta.
From Imitator to Leading Actress: Television Successes
After graduating from high school, Cortellesi began her acting career, making her debut in theatre and radio with Enrico Vaime. In 1998, she made her first appearances as an imitator on the program "Macao" conducted by Alba Parietti. The 2000s marked her consecration alongside the Gialappa's Band, thanks to the comic characters she played in "Mai Dire Gol" and subsequent editions. Those were the years of Vanette, the irreverent half of the duet with Olmo (played by Fabio De Luigi), of Silvana, the curious correspondent of La Vita in Diretta, of the dodgy funding of Strozus, of Sharon, the misunderstood voice actress of the Magica Trippy doll, of Stefania Prestigiacomo, of Daniela Santanché and of many other unforgettable characters.
Among her many television successes, Cortellesi has also starred alongside Gianni Morandi and Lorella Cuccarini in the variety show "Uno di noi" in 2002 and in 2004 she co-hosted the Sanremo Festival with Simona Ventura, Gene Gnocchi and Maurizio Crozza.
Cinema: From Comedies to Dramatic Roles
Cortellesi's film debut took place as co-star in the comedies of Aldo, Giovanni and Giacomo "Chiedimi se sono felice" and "Tu la conosci Claudia?". "I worshipped Aldo, Giovanni and Giacomo as a spectator at home and I watched all their sketches," she said.
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She was the star of the music videos for "La descrizione di un attimo" by Tiromancino, together with her then partner Valerio Mastandrea ("I think I laughed few times like those two days: it was the reproduction of the video of Sandra and Raimondo that I watched as a child, it was beautiful. I also got a processionary allergy on set"), and of "Ancora qui" by Renato Zero.
In 2004 she starred in the film "Il posto dell'anima" directed by Riccardo Milani, her current husband and father of her daughter Laura, in 2007 she played her first dramatic role in the film "Maria Montessori - Una vita per i bambini" and in 2010 she shot the comedy "Maschi contro femmine" directed by Fausto Brizzi.
Nominated several times for various film awards, in 2011 Cortellesi won the David di Donatello for the role of Best Leading Actress in "Nessuno mi può giudicare". In the same year she made her debut in the conduction of Zelig with Claudio Bisio and dubbed the Disney Pixar film Cars 2 with Alessandro Siani and Sabrina Ferilli.
In 2016 she shared the stage of the show Laura&Paola with Laura Pausini, in 2017 she wrote the screenplay for the film Come un gatto in tangenziale with Antonio Albanese and in 2020 she starred alongside Valerio Mastandrea in Figli, the last screenplay written by Mattia Torre before his death ("One of the greatest losses from a human point of view for those who had the fortune to love him and to know him and from an artistic point of view") and appeared in the miniseries Petra. Call My Agent Italia, from today on Sky.
Paola Cortellesi: A Complete Artist
Paola Cortellesi's career is a continuous evolution, marked by her ability to reinvent herself and to successfully deal with different genres and roles. Her talent, versatility and charisma have made her one of the most appreciated and beloved artists by the Italian public.
Leggi anche: Burro di Cacao: Usi nel Cioccolato e nella Cosmesi
From the Stage to the Screen: A Versatile Talent
Cortellesi's artistic journey is characterised by her ability to move with ease between different expressive forms. From theatre to cinema, from television to music, she has always demonstrated a remarkable versatility, interpreting comic and dramatic roles with equal skill.
Her experience in theatre has allowed her to develop a strong stage presence and an ability to connect with the audience, while her work in cinema has given her the opportunity to explore complex and nuanced characters.
"C'è ancora domani": The Directorial Debut
In 2023, Paola Cortellesi made her debut as a director with the film "C'è ancora domani", a project that has seen her involved on several fronts, as an actress, screenwriter and director. The film immediately met with great success with audiences and critics, confirming Cortellesi's talent and versatility.
Private Life
Paola Cortellesi was born in Rome. As she told Vanity Fair, in middle school Cortellesi was targeted by some classmates: "They were always ready to tell me that I was wrong, just like I felt. Reserved, shy, I used to give the 'lei': I must have seemed like a 'strange' type. At recess there was the prank, the shove, the slap, while I just wanted to have fun. I remember them very well, those moments. It happens. Always, still, in every area and environment. With often tragic and senseless epilogues". Raised by her family and older brothers, Cortellesi continued on her way, becoming Snow White of the Castle of Bracciano at the age of eighteen ("to round up, I stood dressed like her for hours with my eyes closed in a cold display case to suffer the kisses of hundreds of children waiting for my awakening") and later one of the most beautiful Italian voices, a compliment reiterated even by Mina.
Family Ties and Artistic Collaborations
Paola Cortellesi is not the only artist in the family. Her sister, Claudia Cortellesi, also works in the entertainment world, both as an actress and behind the scenes. Claudia also collaborated on the set of "C'è sempre domani", demonstrating the strong bond between the two sisters.
Leggi anche: Come fare la Torta al Cacao Senza Uova
It was Claudia's brother-in-law who helped Paola start her artistic career, as Vicenzo Salemme revealed in an interview: "I was having dinner with Claudio Mattone and this girl came with his partner Claudia. Not knowing about the relationship, I told her that she looked a lot like that girl I saw on TV. But it was her! We laughed about it." Paola made her first television appearance on Macao, where she sang Cacao Meravigliao, a song written by her brother-in-law.
Daniele Venturelli's Portraits: Capturing the Essence of Paola Cortellesi
Daniele Venturelli, a self-taught photographer, has captured Paola Cortellesi in several shots, immortalizing her talent and charisma. Venturelli, born in Reggio Emilia, has always shown a keen interest in photography, experimenting with black and white portraits and sports photography. His ability to capture the essence of the subject has made him one of the most appreciated photographers in the entertainment world.
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