Valentina Cortese
Biography
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.
Known For
Jesus of Nazareth
Appassionata
I promessi sposi
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
Barabbas
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Day for Night
The Barefoot Contessa
All Movies (89)
- Diva!2017
- Le ragazze di Milano2007 · as Self
- Michelangelo Antonioni: The Eye That Changed Cinema2001 · as Self (archive footage)
- Federico Fellini's Autobiography2000 · as Self
- Sparrow1994 · as Madre Superiora
- La Classe américaine1993 · as The Helicopter Man's Wife (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Buster's Bedroom1991 · as Serafina Tannenbaum
- The Adventures of Baron Munchausen1988 · as Queen Ariadne / Violet
- Facciaffittasi1988 · as Gina Grandi
- Via Montenapoleone1987 · as madre di Guido
- Blue Tango1987 · as Rachele Cigno
- La Ferdinanda. Sonate für eine Medici-Villa1981 · as Caterina de Dominicis
- When Time Ran Out...1980 · as Rose Valdez
- Ring of Darkness1979 · as Elena Merrill
- Tanto va la gatta al lardo...1978 · as Wilma/Leonilde Bosco Casagrande
- Widows' Nest1977 · as Dolores
- The Big Operator1976 · as Witwe
- Nick the Sting1976 · as Regina
- Son tornate a fiorire le rose1975 · as Sabina Foschini
- Kidnap Syndicate1975 · as Grazia Filippini
- Il cav. Costante Nicosia demoniaco, ovvero Dracula in Brianza1975 · as Olghina Franchetti
- The Kiss1974 · as Elizabeth Blixen
- Tender Dracula1974
- Amore mio non farmi male1974 · as Sabina Foschini
- Appassionata1974 · as Elisa Rutelli
- Day for Night1973 · as Séverine
- The Assassination of Trotsky1972 · as Natalia Trotsky
- Brother Sun, Sister Moon1972 · as Pica Di Bernardone
- Chronicle of a Homicide1972 · as Luisa Sola
- The Iguana with the Tongue of Fire1971 · as Madame Sobieski
- The Boat on the Grass1971 · as Catherine
- The Love Mates1970 · as Eva
- First Love1970 · as Mutter
- Give Her the Moon1970 · as Madeleine de Lépine
- The Secret of Santa Vittoria1970 · as Gabriella (uncredited)
- Oh, Grandmother's Dead1969 · as Ornella
- Listen, Let's Make Love1968 · as Lallo's Mother
- The Legend of Lylah Clare1968 · as Countess Bozo Bedoni
- Black Sun1966 · as Maria
- Juliet of the Spirits1965 · as Valentina
- Antonioni: Documents and Testimonials1965 · as Self
- The Possessed1965 · as Irma
- Reporter’s Diary: 'Zoom on Fellini'1965 · as Self
- The Visit1964 · as Mathilda Miller
- The Girl Who Knew Too Much1963 · as Laura Craven-Torrani
- Story of San Michele1962 · as Eleonora Duse
- Barabbas1961 · as Julia
- Square of Violence1961 · as Erica Bernardi
- Love and Troubles1958 · as Marisa
- Kean: Genius or Scoundrel1957 · as Fanny
- The Rocket from Calabuch1956 · as Eloísa, la maestra de escuela
- Le Amiche1955 · as Nene
- Il Conte Aquila1955 · as Teresa Casati
- Adriana Lecouvreur1955 · as Adriana Lecouvreur
- Magic Fire1955 · as Mathilde Wesendonk
- The Barefoot Contessa1954 · as Eleanora Torlato-Favrini
- Jailbirds1954 · as Luprandi's wife
- Il matrimonio1954
- Angels of Darkness1954 · as Vally
- Lulù1953
- La passeggiata1953 · as Lisa
- Secret People1952 · as Maria Brentano / Brent / Lena Collins
- The House on Telegraph Hill1951 · as Victoria Kowelska
- Shadow of the Eagle1950 · as Elizabeth, Princess Tarakanova
- Malaya1949 · as Luana
- Thieves' Highway1949 · as Rica
- Black Magic1949 · as Zoraida
- The Glass Mountain1949 · as Alida Morrosini
- Crossroads of Passion1948 · as Maria Pilar
- L'ebreo errante1948 · as Ester
- Les Misérables - Storm Over Paris1948 · as Cosetta
- Les Misérables1948 · as Fantine
- Il corriere del re1947
- Il passatore1947 · as Barbara
- Rome: Free City1946 · as La ragazza
- Un americano in vacanza1946 · as Maria
- Chi l'ha visto?1945 · as Luisella
- No One Comes Back1945 · as Valentina
- 4 girls dream1943
- Giorni felici1943 · as Marianna
- Quarta pagina1942 · as Valentina
- Soltanto un bacio1942 · as Maria Renda / Luisa Renda
- La regina di Navarra1942
- The Jester's Supper1942 · as Lisabetta
- Girl of the Golden West1942 · as Madge
- Orizzonte di sangue1942
- Primo amore1941 · as Nerina Redi
- Il bravo di Venezia1941 · as Alina
- L'attore scomparso1941
All TV Shows (6)
- I promessi sposi1989 · as Donna Prassede
- Facciaffittasi1988 · as Gina Grandi
- Jesus of Nazareth1977 · as Herodias
- Il killer1969
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars1951 · as Dr. Bruni
- Lux Video Theatre1950 · as Emilie Gallatin