Stefania Sandrelli was born on June 5th, 1946, in Viareggio, Tuscany, Italy. At the tender age of 15, she won a beauty contest, which led to her first role in the film "Il federale" alongside the renowned Italian actor Ugo Tognazzi. This early success was followed by her casting in Germi's Italian comedy "Divorzio all'Italiana," where she shared the screen with Marcello Mastroianni.
However, it was her performance in the movie "Sedotta e abbandonata" that brought her widespread recognition. At just 16 years old, she had a romantic relationship with the Italian musician Gino Paoli, and in 1964, she gave birth to her first daughter, Amanda.
The 1970s saw Sandrelli collaborate with acclaimed directors such as Bernardo Bertolucci, Ettore Scola, and Comencini, and she shared the screen with notable actors like Vittorio Gassman, Dustin Hoffman, Robert De Niro, and Gerard Depardieu in films like "Novecento."
In the 1980s, she played her most sultry role to date in Tinto Brass's "La chiave," cementing her status as an erotic icon for generations to. come She also appeared in several significant Italian films, including "Speriamo che sia femmina" alongside Catherine Deneuve and Liv Ullmann.
During the 1990s, Sandrelli focused more on television, becoming a household name as the fiancée of Gigi Proietti in the popular series "Il Maresciallo Rocca." Although she slowed down her film work, she still managed to appear in notable projects like Bertolucci's "Io ballo da sola" and Muccino's "L'ultimo bacio," where she portrayed a woman navigating a midlife crisis.
On September 10th, 2005, Sandrelli received the Golden Lion at the 62nd Venice Film Festival in recognition of her remarkable career. Today, she remains one of the few actresses who have aged gracefully and continue to secure intriguing roles. Regarded as one of the most beautiful women in Italy, she still captivates audiences with her radiant smile and sparkling eyes.
