Giovanna

Giovanna Mezzogiorno is one of the most treasured and acclaimed talents of her generation to come out of Italy. Her presence on both the stage and big screen has garnered many accolades including the Coppa Volpi for Best Actress at the 62nd Venice Film Festival on behalf of her heart-wrenching performance in “La Bestia nel cuore” (Don’t Tell). The film was also nominated for an Oscar in the category of Best Foreign Language Film. Next month, Giovanna stars in her first American film, as the female lead in Mike Newell’s adaptation of the best selling novel by Nobel Prize-winning author Gabriel Garcia Marquez, “Love in the Time of Cholera.” Giovanna portrays ‘Fermina Daza’, a young, beautiful woman who becomes the object of a telegraph clerk’s affection named ‘Florentino’ (played by Javier Bardem), but who is forbidden by her father to be with him. The film follows their separate journeys as they grow older, with ‘Fermina’ marrying a sophisticated aristocrat (Benjamin Bratt) and ‘Florentino’ longing to be with the love of his life ‘Fermina.’ “Love in the Time of Cholera” was filmed on location in Cartagena, Colombia, where the story takes place. New Line will release the film nationwide on November 16th.Currently, Giovanna is in production in the Sicilian City of Palermo on the Wim Wenders directed film entitled “The Palermo Shooting”. In this romantic thriller, Giovanna will portray an angelic art restorer who catches the eye of a slick German photographer, played by German rock star Campino, who has traveled to Palermo in the throes of an existential crisis and ultimately falls in love. The film will contain cameos by Dennis Hopper, Patti Smith and Lou Reed.Born in Rome, Giovanna is the daughter of actors Vittorio Mezzogiorno and Cecilia Sacchi. Giovanna made her stage debut in Paris at Bouffes Du Nord Theatre playing the role of ‘Ofelia’ in “Qui est la,” created and directed by Peter Brook. Based on Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” Giovanna received the 1996 Premio Coppola-Prati award.Giovanna made her film debut in 1997 in “Il Viaggio della sposa” (The Bride’s Journey) written, starring and directed by Sergio Rubini. She was awarded the Targa d’Argento for New Talent in Italian Cinema as well as the Grolla d’Oro and the Globo d’Oro by the Foreign Press Association and the Premio Flaiano for Best Actress of the 1997-1998 season.In 1998 she starred in the film “Del perduto amore” directed by Michele Placido, with Fabrizio Bentivoglio and Sergio Rubini. She was awarded the Nastro d’Argento, the Ciak d’Oro and Premio Pasinetti for Best Actress in a starring role. Also in 1998, Giovanna played the role of a young girl with muscular dystrophy for the Italian National Television Network, RaiDue.In 2000, Giovanna traveled between Prague and Paris for work in the television film, “Les Miserables,” directed by Josee Dayan, with Gerard Depardieu and John Malkovich. She then worked in Denmark in “Nobel” directed by Fabio Carpi, with Hector Alterio. In Italy she worked with Eros Puglielli in “Tutta la conoscenza del mondo” (All There Is to Know) and then, “L’Ultimo bacio” (The Last Kiss) directed by Gabriele Muccino with Stefano Accorsi and Stefania Sandrelli (winning the Premio Flaiano).In 2001, she played the role of Francesca in the film “Malefemmene” with Angela Molina and directed by Fabio Conversi.. She also worked on “Stai con me” with Adriano Giannini and directed by Livia Giampalmo, in the role of the mother of twins.In 2002, Giovanna starred as Ilaria Alpi, a murdered journalist, in the feature film “Ilaria Alpi - Il piu crudele dei giorni” (The Cruelest Day) directed by Ferdinando Vicentini Orgnani (winning Nastro d’Argento). She then worked in France on the television series “Entrusted,” directed by Giacomo Battiato, starring Klaus Maria Brandauer. Upon her return back to Italy in late 2002, Giovanna starred in the film “La Finestra di fronte” (Facing Windows), directed by Ferzan Ozpetek, for which she earned many awards, including: the David di Donatello (the Italian Oscar), the Ciak d’Oro, the Nastro d’Argento, the Globo d’Oro by the Foreign Press (Italian Golden Globe), the Flaiano Award and the Karlovy Vary Award.In 2003, Giovanna starred in “L’amore ritorna” (Love Returns), directed by Sergio Rubini and in the French film “Au secours, j’ai 30 ans!,” (Last Chance Saloon) directed by Marie-Anne Chazel, with Pierre Palmade.The following year, Giovanna starred in “Virginia,” directed by Alberto Sironi before returning to the theatre to work with director Piero Maccarinelli in “4.48 Psicosi,” by Sarah Kane, a one woman performance to much acclaim.In 2006 she played the leading role in “ Lezioni di volo” (Flying Lessons) directed by Francesca Archibugi and in “Notturno Bus” (Night Bus) directed by Davide Marengo, starring Valerio Mastandrea and Ennio Fantastichini . With a highly anticipated bright future ahead of her in American cinema after “Love in the Time of Cholera” releases, for now, Giovanna is still happy to call her native country of Italy, home.