Monica Bellucci, Cartier's First Actor Ambassador, 'Malena' Fame, Faced Tax Invasion Charges

Legendary Italian actress, Monica Bellucci recently revealed she was ‘loving’ the vibrant Coolie song ‘Monica’ featuring Pooja Hegde. The song paid a nod to the iconic actress, and now her reaction to the song has sparked an unexpected but heartwarming moment. Pooja had been thrilled by the praise, and called it the ‘biggest compliment ever,’ expressing her long-standing admiration for Monica’s timeless elegance and iconic presence.

Monica Bellucci is, without any doubt, one of Europe’s most celebrated cinematic icons. For decades now, she has captivated audiences with her striking beauty, magnetic screen presence, and effortless sophistication. From her early days as a fashion model to her fabulous acting performances in films like Malèna, The Matrix Reloaded, and The Passion of the Christ, Monica has always left her fans in awe. Here’s all you need to know about her life, career, relationships and more.

Monica Bellucci’s early life 

Monica Anna Maria Bellucci was born in Città di Castello, Umbria, Italy, on September 30, 1964. She was the only child, to her father, Pasquale Bellucci, the owner of a trucking company, and her mother, Brunella Briganti, who was a housewife and an amateur painter. Growing up, Monica received a catholic education, and from a very young age, she showed a keen interest in fashion and film.

Monica’s first modelling gig came her way when she was only 13 years old, posing for a photographer in Città di Castello. Initially, Monica was a shy and introverted kid who would keep to herself. It was her father who helped her gain self-confidence. As for cinema, Monica developed a taste for movies by watching films by legends like Vittorio De Sica, Federico Fellini, and Roberto Rossellini.

Monica Bellucci’s journey as a model

Monica Bellucci’s journey from a small-town girl to an internationally acclaimed model professionally began when she was just 16 years old. She was invited to pose for photography sessions by her father's friend, who was a fashion agency director. Monica was studying philosophy, literature, Latin, and Greek, at the liceo classico in Città di Castello, simultaneously she began modelling locally. People had started to recognise her and she would often turn heads with her striking presence. 

Monica was encouraged by her hairdresser, Piero Montanucci, to take up more modelling gigs, and she was soon modelling at fashion shows in Florence and Milan, even though at this time she was also pursuing law at the University of Perugia and had hopes of becoming a full-time lawyer. Monica worked as a model to support her studies, but fate had different plans for her as she eventually moved to Milan for modelling.

Monica’s breakthrough came when Elite Model Management signed her in the late 1980s. By 1989, she was living in New York, and making appearances on the covers of Elle France and Vogue Spain. She has also started working with luxury brands like Dolce & Gabbana, Dior, Givenchy, and L'Oréal. She became a muse for Dolce & Gabbana and Cartier, and was photographed by legendary photographers like Richard Avedon and Fabrizio Ferri.

However, Monica gave up on full-time modelling in the early 1990s to pursue her acting dreams. Many were sceptical about this move, but she had faith in herself and shined even brighter in her acting career. Meanwhile, her presence in fashion still remained as prevalent. She became Cartier’s first actress ambassador, and graced plenty of red carpets and luxury campaigns for the brand.

Monica Bellucci’s acting career

It was the Italian director, Carlo Vanzina, who noticed a photo of Monica Bellucci in a magazine and recommended her to Dino Risi, for his Vita coi figli. Monica began her acting career in the early 1990s after transitioning from modelling. After working on a few Italian projects, she quickly gained attention with her international debut in Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992). Her breakthrough came with the French film The Apartment (1996), earning her a César nomination and establishing her as a serious actress in European cinema. 

Monica received global recognition for her standout performances in Malèna (2000), where she played a silent but powerful wartime widow. The controversial film Irréversible (2002) further cemented her reputation for taking bold and emotionally intense roles. She proved to critics and fans alike that she was more than just a pretty face. Monica soon expanded her career into Hollywood with appearances in movies like The Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions (2003), Tears of the Sun, and The Passion of the Christ (2004).

Throughout her career, Monica maintained a balance between commercial films and auteur-driven projects. She played 'Cleopatra' in the hit French comedy Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra (2002), voiced characters in animated movies, and earned critical praise for performances in Ville-Marie (2015), On the Milky Road (2016), and The Wonders (2014). At 50, she made history as the oldest Bond woman in Spectre (2015). In recent years, Bellucci received further acclaim for her stage portrayal of opera legend, Maria Callas in Letters and Memoirs. 

Monica Bellucci’s relationship timeline

Monica Bellucci's personal life has often drawn public interest, and she has been in the headlines time and again for her high-profile relationships. She married Italian photographer, Claudio Carlos Basso in 1990 after meeting him during a photoshoot, but the marriage was short-lived and ended in divorce just a year later. Monica then entered in a passionate but turbulent relationship with Italian actor, Nicola Farron, whom she met in 1990 on the set of Vita coi figli. Their relationship ended in 1995, partly due to the growing public attention Monica was receiving. 

That same year, Monica met French actor, Vincent Cassel, while filming The Apartment. Their relationship blossomed both on- and off-screen. They had a 14-years long marriage and share two daughters, Deva and Léonie. Monica and Vincent were considered European cinema’s golden couple until their amicable separation and eventual divorce in 2013.

After her divorce with Vincent, Monica had a brief relationship with French artist, Nicolas Lefebvre, which ended in 2019. In 2023, Monica gave love another chance, and she confirmed her relationship with filmmaker, Tim Burton. The two had been secretly dating since October 2022. After the public announcement of their relationship, the couple made their public debut at the Rome Film Festival later the same year.

Monica Bellucci faced a tax investigation, and her name was mentioned in the Pandora Papers

In 2018, Monica Bellucci came under the radar of French tax authorities for allegedly failing to declare multiple Swiss bank accounts that were connected to an offshore company registered in the British Virgin Islands. The investigation focused on the tax years 2011 to 2013, and the authorities suspected a potential tax evasion by her. However, Monica’s legal team countered the allegations by saying that she was living in the United Kingdom during that time, not in Paris, hence there would be different tax implications. 

In a 2021 statement, Monica confirmed that she was ‘up to date with my tax obligations both in France and abroad.’ Despite her public declaration, the results of the French investigation have not been publicly disclosed. That same year, Monica was also named in the Pandora Papers, a major leak of documents that revealed offshore financial dealings of multiple high-profile individuals. This has also raised many fingers towards the actress, but no legal action for the same has been taken, and how much truth the papers hold is yet to be verified.

Monica Bellucci’s net worth

In 2018, Forbes estimated that Monica Bellucci's net worth was somewhere around USD 45 million. This whopping figure placed her among the most financially successful people in Italian cinema. She was ranked as the third-richest Italian actor at the time. Her major source of income involves her films, fashion projects, and brand endorsements.

Whether shocking the world with her photoshoots or delivering powerful performances on screen, Monica has been mesmerising fans for over three decades now, and even with the passing of time, her status as one of the most beautiful women in the world remains untouched.

Also Read: Who Is Cristiano Ronaldo's Fiancee, Georgina Rodriguez? 31, Model, USD 10M Net Worth And Mom Of 5

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Get App

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Choose your device Android or IOS (Apple)