The Five Roles That Made Monica Bellucci an Unforgettable Icon

Monica Bellucci has proven her immense versatility over decades, seamlessly transitioning from the high-octane sci-fi world of The Matrix Reloaded in 2003 to more experimental and international roles.

The actress has remained consistently active in the industry since the 1990s, most recently gracing the screen as a standout presence in the long-awaited supernatural comedy Beetlejuice 2.

Reflecting on her successful career, Bellucci has discussed some of her most iconic, defining performances with A. Frame. She cites Bram Stoker’s Dracula as a major turning point, even though her role as one of Dracula’s brides was relatively minor.

The actress explained that when she accepts a character, it is because she wants to share a moment of acting that feels interesting, regardless of the role’s size. For her, the experience is often more about meeting interesting people and working alongside creative directors and talented artists on set.

Giuseppe Tornatore’s Malèna was another project that held profound significance for the Italian star. Bellucci described the 2000 film as an incredible story and was eager to work with Tornatore after seeing his masterpiece, Cinema Paradiso.

The two had previously collaborated on a commercial, during which the director promised he would contact her for a future film project. Bellucci noted that the movie was a massive cultural event, describing it as an important movie because it allowed an Italian story to travel all over the world.

Her foray into major Hollywood blockbusters came with The Matrix Reloaded, a role she secured after being mesmerized by the first installment of the series. She recalled thinking she wanted to make a movie like that before being contacted by the Wachowski sisters for the part of Persephone.

She views her career through the lens of coincidences and unpredictable situations, a philosophy that led her to Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. Much like her work in the controversial Irréversible, this project sparked an intense global conversation that exceeded everyone’s initial expectations.

Bellucci admitted that she seems to make controversial movies, a trend that continued into her more recent work. She highlighted her 2015 role as Lucia Sciarra in the James Bond film Spectre as a particularly groundbreaking moment for the industry.

When she was first approached for the project at age 50, she jokingly asked if she was being cast as the veteran character M. She ultimately viewed her casting as a revolutionary thing, proving that a woman in her fifties could still command a powerful presence in a major action franchise.

Beyond her legacy as a “Bond lady,” Bellucci has remained a fixture of European cinema, recently starring in the crime action film Diabolik: Who Are You? as Altea di Vallenberg. Her 2024 performance in Beetlejuice 2 saw her reunite with director Tim Burton, playing the “soul-sucking” ex-wife of the titular ghost, a role that required hours of intricate makeup and prosthetic work.

Looking toward the future, Bellucci is set to star in Ketticè, a Sicilian drama produced by Luca Guadagnino and directed by Giovanni Tortorici. Set in 2012 Palermo, the film follows the lives of two teenagers and features Bellucci as the matriarch of an aristocratic family.

She is also expected to appear in several international co-productions throughout the year, continuing her trend of working with visionary directors across various languages. In February, she made a high-profile appearance at the BAFTAs in London, where she remains a celebrated icon of global film and fashion.

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