Barbara Magnolfi was born in France to an Italian father and French mother, and was raised in Rome, Italy. She began studying ballet at age four and rose to the level of lead ballerina by age 10. Barbara made her screen debut at 13 in director Antonio Pietrangeli's film, Come, Quando, Perché.
As a teenager, Barbara was forced to leave an abusive home situation and supported herself by working as a couture model. She caught the eye of a fashion photographer and landed major print ads for Fiorucci and Coca-Cola.
Barbara's film career began in the mid 1970s with roles in Sergio Martino's The Suspicious Death of a Minor, Duccio Tessari's La Madama, and Giorgio Stegani's Ready for Anything.
Her most iconic role is as Olga, the scene-stealing gossipy girl in Dario Argento's Suspiria, which has become a classic of the horror genre. Barbara's performance earned her the nickname "La Mia Streghina" (my little witch) from Argento himself.
Barbara continued to work in film throughout the 1970s and 1980s, starring in films such as Difficile Morire, The Sister of Ursula, and Blazing Flowers. She also worked in television, co-starring in the series I figli dell'Ispettore and appearing in the miniseries Caccia al Ladro d'Autore.
In the 1990s, Barbara took a break from acting to focus on her family. She later returned to the screen, guest starring in the Australian television series Police Rescue and the short film Gotcha.
In 1996, Barbara was invited to attend a screening of Suspiria at the American Cinematheque, marking her arrival in Hollywood.
