Giovanna Mezzogiorno

Giovanna Mezzogiorno, born on November 9, 1974, is a renowned Italian theatre and film actress. She was born in Rome to celebrity parents – actors Vittorio Mezzogiorno and Cecilia Sacchi. As a child, Giovanna spent her time on film sets, originally aspired to become a ballerina, and even pursued a dance career for 13 years. After the death of her father at the age of 19, she shifted her focus onto acting and so relocated to Paris. There, she was part of the Peter Brook Workshop for two years and made her stage debut with Shakespeare's Hamlet, touring various European cities. In 1997, she made her film debut in Il viaggio della sposa (The Bride's Journey), which earned her various awards and solidified her status as a new talent in Italian cinema. Her career includes roles in numerous critically acclaimed films and TV series both in Italy and internationally. She won numerous awards for her role in La finestra di fronte ('Facing windows') and received international acclaim for Don't Tell, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2005. Giovanna is also known for producing a documentary celebrating the career of her late father, Vittorio. In 2010, she was a member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival and in 2011, she received the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress for her role in Vincere.