Person

Valentina Cortese

Acting · 1923–2019 · Milan, Lombardy, Italy

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

  Herodias

• Lux Video Theatre

  Emilie Gallatin

• 

  Appassionata

  Elisa Rutelli

• 

  The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

  Queen Ariadne / Violet

• 

  Barabbas

  Julia

• 

  Day for Night

  Séverine

• 

  I promessi sposi

  Donna Prassede

• 

  Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

  Dr. Bruni

• 

  Brother Sun, Sister Moon

  Pica Di Bernardone

• 

  The Barefoot Contessa

  Eleanora Torlato-Favrini

• 2017Diva!
• 2007Le ragazze di MilanoSelf
• 2001Michelangelo Antonioni: The Eye That Changed CinemaSelf (archive footage)
• 2000Federico Fellini's AutobiographySelf
• 1994SparrowMadre Superiora
• 1993La Classe américaineThe Helicopter Man's Wife (archive footage) (uncredited)
• 1991Buster's BedroomSerafina Tannenbaum
• 1989I promessi sposiDonna Prassede
• 1988The Adventures of Baron MunchausenQueen Ariadne / Violet
• 1988Young ToscaniniComparsa (uncredited)
• 1988FacciaffittasiGina Grandi
• 1988FacciaffittasiGina Grandi
• 1987Via Montenapoleonemadre di Guido
• 1987Blue TangoRachele Cigno
• 1981La Ferdinanda. Sonate für eine Medici-VillaCaterina de Dominicis
• 1980When Time Ran Out...Rose Valdez
• 1979Ring of DarknessElena Merrill
• 1978Tanto va la gatta al lardo...Wilma/Leonilde Bosco Casagrande
• 1977Widows' NestDolores
• 1977Jesus of NazarethHerodias
• 1976The Big OperatorWitwe
• 1976Nick the StingRegina
• 1975Son tornate a fiorire le roseSabina Foschini
• 1975Kidnap SyndicateGrazia Filippini
• 1975Il cav. Costante Nicosia demoniaco, ovvero Dracula in BrianzaOlghina Franchetti
• 1974The KissElizabeth Blixen
• 1974Tender Dracula
• 1974Amore mio non farmi maleSabina Foschini
• 1974AppassionataElisa Rutelli
• 1973Day for NightSéverine
• 1972The Assassination of TrotskyNatalia Trotsky
• 1972Brother Sun, Sister MoonPica Di Bernardone
• 1972Chronicle of a HomicideLuisa Sola
• 1971The Iguana with the Tongue of FireMadame Sobieski
• 1971The Boat on the GrassCatherine
• 1970The Love MatesEva
• 1970First LoveMutter
• 1970Give Her the MoonMadeleine de Lépine
• 1970The Secret of Santa VittoriaGabriella (uncredited)
• 1969Oh, Grandmother's DeadOrnella
• 1969Il killer
• 1968Listen, Let's Make LoveLallo's Mother
• 1968The Legend of Lylah ClareCountess Bozo Bedoni
• 1966Black SunMaria
• 1965Juliet of the SpiritsValentina
• 1965Antonioni: Documents and TestimonialsSelf
• 1965The PossessedIrma
• 1965Reporter’s Diary: 'Zoom on Fellini'Self
• 1964I grandi camaleontiGiuseppina Bonaparte
• 1964The VisitMathilda Miller
• 1963The Girl Who Knew Too MuchLaura Craven-Torrani
• 1962Story of San MicheleEleonora Duse
• 1961BarabbasJulia
• 1961Square of ViolenceErica Bernardi
• 1958Love and TroublesMarisa
• 1957Kean: Genius or ScoundrelFanny
• 1956The Rocket from CalabuchEloísa, la maestra de escuela
• 1955Le AmicheNene
• 1955Il Conte AquilaTeresa Casati
• 1955Adriana LecouvreurAdriana Lecouvreur
• 1955Magic FireMathilde Wesendonk
• 1954The Barefoot ContessaEleanora Torlato-Favrini
• 1954JailbirdsLuprandi's wife
• 1954Il matrimonio
• 1954Angels of DarknessVally
• 1953Lulù
• 1953La passeggiataLisa
• 1952Secret PeopleMaria Brentano / Brent / Lena Collins
• 1951Schlitz Playhouse of StarsDr. Bruni
• 1951The House on Telegraph HillVictoria Kowelska
• 1950Lux Video TheatreEmilie Gallatin
• 1950Shadow of the EagleElizabeth, Princess Tarakanova
• 1949MalayaLuana
• 1949Thieves' HighwayRica
• 1949Black MagicZoraida
• 1949The Glass MountainAlida Morrosini
• 1948Crossroads of PassionMaria Pilar
• 1948L'ebreo erranteEster
• 1948Les Misérables - Storm Over ParisCosetta
• 1948Les MisérablesFantine
• 1947Il corriere del re
• 1947Il passatoreBarbara
• 1946Rome: Free CityLa ragazza
• 1946Un americano in vacanzaMaria
• 1945Chi l'ha visto?Luisella
• 1945No One Comes BackValentina
• 19434 girls dream
• 1943Giorni feliciMarianna
• 1942Quarta paginaValentina
• 1942Soltanto un bacioMaria Renda / Luisa Renda
• 1942La regina di Navarra
• 1942The Jester's SupperLisabetta
• 1942Girl of the Golden WestMadge
• 1942Orizzonte di sangue
• 1941Primo amoreNerina Redi
• 1941Il bravo di VeneziaAlina
• 1941L'attore scomparso