Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1964-03-31
- Born Place: Ponte dell'Olio, Italy
Isabella Ferrari
Isabella Ferrari (born Isabella Fogliazza) is a distinguished Italian television, stage, and film actress with a career spanning over four decades. Born on March 31, 1964, in Ponte dell'Olio, Piacenza, she first rose to prominence at the age of 15 after winning a "Miss Teenager" contest, which led to her film debut at 17 in the popular 1982 comedy Sapore di mare. She quickly became a household name in Italy, eventually transitioning into more dramatic and complex roles that earned her significant critical acclaim. One of her most notable achievements came at the 1995 Venice Film Festival, where she won the Volpi Cup for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Ettore Scola's Romanzo di un giovane povero. She is also widely recognized for her leading role as Police Commissioner Giovanna Scalise in the hit drama series Distretto di Polizia (Police District), a role she portrayed from 2000 to 2001. Throughout her prolific career, Ferrari has collaborated with renowned directors and appeared in several landmark Italian films, including Paolo Sorrentino's Academy Award-winning The Great Beauty (2013), Ferzan Özpetek’s Saturn in Opposition (2007), and the Netflix series Baby (2018). Her talent has been consistently honored with multiple nominations for the David di Donatello award, specifically for her work in The Goodbye Kiss (2006) and Quiet Chaos (2008). In the upcoming 2026 romantic comedy You, Me & Tuscany, she takes on the role of Gabriella, the formidable Italian mother of the male lead, Matteo. This role highlights her continued versatility as she moves between high-stakes Italian drama and international English-language productions. Ferrari resides in Rome and has three children: a daughter, Teresa, from her first marriage to Massimo Osti, and a daughter, Nina, and son, Giovanni, with her second husband, director Renato De Maria.
