---
name: "Valentina Cortese"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/valentina-cortese"
fi1m_id: "valentina-cortese"
imdb_id: "nm0181305"
tmdb_id: 24499
wikidata_id: "Q259986"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "1 January 1923"
died: "10 July 2019"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 1
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 1
updated: "2026-09-25T06:48:35.620887+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Valentina Cortese

## Identity

Valentina Cortese

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/valentina-cortese
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** valentina-cortese
- **IMDb ID:** nm0181305
- **TMDB ID:** 24499
- **Wikidata ID:** Q259986
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentina_Cortese, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q259986, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0181305/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/24499

Actor. Born 1 January 1923 in Milan, Lombardy, Italy. Died 10 July 2019.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 1 January 1923, Milan, Lombardy, Italy
- **Died:** 10 July 2019
- **Also known as:** Valentina Cortesa
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentina_Cortese, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q259986, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0181305/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/24499

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Barefoot Contessa*](https://film.one/film/the-barefoot-contessa.md) (74)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Valentina Cortese, also credited as Valentina Cortesa, was an Italian film and theatre actress. Born in Milan in 1923, she made her screen debut in 1941 and appeared in over 100 productions until 1993. She played Eleanora Torlato-Favrini in Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s *The Barefoot Contessa* (1954).

Cortese worked with directors including Michelangelo Antonioni, Federico Fellini, François Truffaut and Franco Zeffirelli. She received a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and an Academy Award nomination for her performance in Truffaut’s *Day for Night* (1973). Other notable films include *Thieves’ Highway* (1949), *Juliet of the Spirits* (1965) and *The Adventures of Baron Munchausen* (1988). She also had a substantial stage career.

In 2013 she was awarded the French Order of Arts and Letters.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, nytimes.com, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (1)

- *The Barefoot Contessa* (1954), Fi1m 74, as Eleanora Torlato-Favrini — [page](https://film.one/film/the-barefoot-contessa.md)

## Complete filmography (92)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Diva!* (2017), Actor
- *Sparrow* (1994), as Madre Superiora
- *La Classe américaine* (1993), as The Helicopter Man's Wife (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *Buster's Bedroom* (1991), as Serafina Tannenbaum
- *I promessi sposi* (1989), series, as Donna Prassede
- *The Adventures of Baron Munchausen* (1988), as Queen Ariadne / Violet
- *Young Toscanini* (1988), as Comparsa (uncredited)
- *Facciaffittasi* (1988), as Gina Grandi
- *Facciaffittasi* (1988), series, as Gina Grandi
- *Via Montenapoleone* (1987), as madre di Guido
- *Blue Tango* (1987), as Rachele Cigno
- *La Ferdinanda. Sonate für eine Medici-Villa* (1981), as Caterina de Dominicis
- *When Time Ran Out...* (1980), as Rose Valdez
- *Ring of Darkness* (1979), as Elena Merrill
- *Tanto va la gatta al lardo...* (1978), as Wilma/Leonilde Bosco Casagrande
- *Widows' Nest* (1977), as Dolores
- *Jesus of Nazareth* (1977), series, as Herodias
- *The Big Operator* (1976), as Witwe
- *Nick the Sting* (1976), as Regina
- *Son tornate a fiorire le rose* (1975), as Sabina Foschini
- *Kidnap Syndicate* (1975), as Grazia Filippini
- *Il cav. Costante Nicosia demoniaco, ovvero Dracula in Brianza* (1975), as Olghina Franchetti
- *The Kiss* (1974), as Elizabeth Blixen
- *Tender Dracula* (1974), Actor
- *Amore mio non farmi male* (1974), as Sabina Foschini
- *Appassionata* (1974), as Elisa Rutelli
- *Day for Night* (1973), as Séverine
- *The Assassination of Trotsky* (1972), as Natalia Trotsky
- *Brother Sun, Sister Moon* (1972), as Pica Di Bernardone
- *Chronicle of a Homicide* (1972), as Luisa Sola
- *The Iguana with the Tongue of Fire* (1971), as Madame Sobieski
- *The Boat on the Grass* (1971), as Catherine
- *The Love Mates* (1970), as Eva
- *First Love* (1970), as Mutter
- *Give Her the Moon* (1970), as Madeleine de Lépine
- *The Secret of Santa Vittoria* (1970), as Gabriella (uncredited)
- *Oh, Grandmother's Dead* (1969), as Ornella
- *Il killer* (1969), series, Actor
- *Listen, Let's Make Love* (1968), as Lallo's Mother
- *The Legend of Lylah Clare* (1968), as Countess Bozo Bedoni
- *Black Sun* (1966), as Maria
- *Juliet of the Spirits* (1965), as Valentina
- *The Possessed* (1965), as Irma
- *I grandi camaleonti* (1964), series, as Giuseppina Bonaparte
- *The Visit* (1964), as Mathilda Miller
- *The Girl Who Knew Too Much* (1963), as Laura Craven-Torrani
- *Story of San Michele* (1962), as Eleonora Duse
- *Barabbas* (1961), as Julia
- *Square of Violence* (1961), as Erica Bernardi
- *Love and Troubles* (1958), as Marisa
- *Kean: Genius or Scoundrel* (1957), as Fanny
- *The Rocket from Calabuch* (1956), as Eloísa, la maestra de escuela
- *Le Amiche* (1955), as Nene
- *Il Conte Aquila* (1955), as Teresa Casati
- *Adriana Lecouvreur* (1955), as Adriana Lecouvreur
- *Magic Fire* (1955), as Mathilde Wesendonk
- *The Barefoot Contessa* (1954), as Eleanora Torlato-Favrini — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/the-barefoot-contessa.md)
- *Jailbirds* (1954), as Luprandi's wife
- *Il matrimonio* (1954), Actor
- *Angels of Darkness* (1954), as Vally
- *Lulù* (1953), Actor
- *La passeggiata* (1953), as Lisa
- *Secret People* (1952), as Maria Brentano / Brent / Lena Collins
- *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, as Dr. Bruni
- *The House on Telegraph Hill* (1951), as Victoria Kowelska
- *Lux Video Theatre* (1950), series, as Emilie Gallatin
- *Shadow of the Eagle* (1950), as Elizabeth, Princess Tarakanova
- *Malaya* (1949), as Luana
- *Thieves' Highway* (1949), as Rica
- *Black Magic* (1949), as Zoraida
- *The Glass Mountain* (1949), as Alida Morrosini
- *Crossroads of Passion* (1948), as Maria Pilar
- *L'ebreo errante* (1948), as Ester
- *Les Misérables - Storm Over Paris* (1948), as Cosetta
- *Les Misérables* (1948), as Fantine
- *Il corriere del re* (1947), Actor
- *Il passatore* (1947), as Barbara
- *Rome: Free City* (1946), as La ragazza
- *Un americano in vacanza* (1946), as Maria
- *Chi l'ha visto?* (1945), as Luisella
- *No One Comes Back* (1945), as Valentina
- *4 girls dream* (1943), Actor
- *Giorni felici* (1943), as Marianna
- *Quarta pagina* (1942), as Valentina
- *Soltanto un bacio* (1942), as Maria Renda / Luisa Renda
- *La regina di Navarra* (1942), Actor
- *The Jester's Supper* (1942), as Lisabetta
- *Girl of the Golden West* (1942), as Madge
- *Orizzonte di sangue* (1942), Actor
- *Primo amore* (1941), as Nerina Redi
- *Il bravo di Venezia* (1941), as Alina
- *L'attore scomparso* (1941), Actor

## Gallery

- ![Valentina Cortese in una scena del film italiano Appassionata (1974)](https://film.one/media/person/3872732/gallery-9f9fdf9745bf.png) Valentina Cortese in una scena del film italiano Appassionata (1974) — Film diretto da Gianluigi Calderone e prodotto da P.A.C., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Appassionata_%28film_1974%29_Valentina_Cortese_%282%29.png/1280px-Appassionata_%28film_1974%29_Valentina_Cortese_%282%29.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Valentina Cortese in una scena del film italiano Appassionata (1974)](https://film.one/media/person/3872732/gallery-1c5e096aa1c0.png) Valentina Cortese in una scena del film italiano Appassionata (1974) — Film diretto da Gianluigi Calderone e prodotto da P.A.C., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Appassionata_%28film_1974%29_Valentina_Cortese.png/1280px-Appassionata_%28film_1974%29_Valentina_Cortese.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Valentina Cortese](https://film.one/media/person/3872732/gallery-dc670130758b.png) Valentina Cortese — Film diretto da Luigi Zampa e prodotto da Carlo Ponti per Lux Film, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/Un_americano_in_vacanza_-_Valentina_Cortese.png/1280px-Un_americano_in_vacanza_-_Valentina_Cortese.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Valentina Cortese in a scene from The Iguana with the Tongue of Fire (1971)](https://film.one/media/person/3872732/gallery-cb161dc407f9.png) Valentina Cortese in a scene from The Iguana with the Tongue of Fire (1971) — Variety Distribution, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Valentina_Cortese_-_The_Iguana_with_the_Tongue_of_Fire_%281971%29.png/1280px-Valentina_Cortese_-_The_Iguana_with_the_Tongue_of_Fire_%281971%29.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Valentina Cortese in una scena del film I miserabili - Tempesta su Parigi (1948)](https://film.one/media/person/3872732/gallery-bb11645ee498.png) Valentina Cortese in una scena del film I miserabili - Tempesta su Parigi (1948) — Riccardo Freda (director), Lux Film (production), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/I_miserabili_%281948%29_Valentina_Cortese.png/1280px-I_miserabili_%281948%29_Valentina_Cortese.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Valentina Cortese (2012)](https://film.one/media/person/3872732/gallery-2d9f2960770c.jpg) Valentina Cortese (2012) — Associazione Amici di Piero Chiara, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Valentina_Cortese_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Valentina_Cortese_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 1975: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *Day for Night*

### Other awards — 1 won

- Grolla d'oro for Best Leading Actress 1956: Grolla d'oro for Best Leading Actress (won), for *Le Amiche*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/valentina-cortese