The Five Roles That Made Monica Bellucci an Unforgettable Icon

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Monica Bellucci is a remarkably adaptable actress who has enjoyed a successful career for decades. She’s moved easily between big-budget action films like The Matrix Reloaded (2003) and more artistic, international projects. Still consistently working since the 1990s, she recently appeared in the highly anticipated sequel Beetlejuice 2, where she made a memorable impression.

Monica Bellucci recently shared insights into her career with A. Frame, highlighting some of her most memorable roles. She pointed to Bram Stoker’s Dracula as a pivotal moment, despite having a smaller part as one of the vampire brides.

I was so fascinated to hear the actress talk about how she chooses roles! She said it’s not about how big the part is, but whether she feels like the character offers a really compelling acting moment she wants to explore. Honestly, what she said really resonated with me – she emphasized that for her, the best part of any project is getting to meet amazing people and collaborate with such creative directors and talented artists on set. It’s all about the experience for her, and I totally get that!

Monica Bellucci found Giuseppe Tornatore’s film Malèna to be a particularly meaningful project. She called the 2000 movie a fantastic story and was excited to collaborate with Tornatore, having been deeply impressed by his earlier film, Cinema Paradiso.

They had worked together before on a commercial, and the director told her he’d reach out about a future film. Bellucci explained the movie was a huge cultural moment, calling it significant because it brought an Italian story to a global audience.

I remember when I first saw The Matrix – it totally blew my mind! I actually thought to myself, ‘I want to be part of something like that, I want to make a movie like that.’ So, getting the call about The Matrix Reloaded and the chance to play Persephone was incredible. The Wachowskis reached out, and it felt like everything had come full circle.

Monica Bellucci sees her career as a series of happy accidents and unexpected turns, an outlook that ultimately led her to appear in Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. Similar to her role in the provocative film Irréversible, this project ignited a worldwide discussion that went far beyond what anyone anticipated.

Bellucci acknowledged she often appears in films that spark debate, and this has continued with her recent projects. She specifically pointed to her 2015 role as Lucia Sciarra in the James Bond film Spectre as a significant achievement for the film industry.

When she was first considered for the role at age 50, she playfully wondered if they saw her as the older, experienced character. She later felt her casting was groundbreaking, demonstrating that a woman over fifty could still be a strong, leading figure in a big action movie series.

Monica Bellucci is more than just known for her role in James Bond films. She’s continued to be a prominent figure in European cinema, recently appearing in the action movie Diabolik: Who Are You? as Altea di Vallenberg. In 2024, she worked with director Tim Burton again in Beetlejuice 2, playing the ex-wife of Beetlejuice—a character that required a lot of special effects makeup and prosthetics to create her ghostly appearance.

Monica Bellucci will next appear in Ketticè, a Sicilian drama set in Palermo in 2012. The film, produced by Luca Guadagnino and directed by Giovanni Tortorici, tells the story of two teenagers, with Bellucci playing the head of an aristocratic family.

Throughout the year, she’s also scheduled to star in several films made with international partners, continuing her habit of collaborating with innovative directors from around the world. In February, she attended the BAFTAs in London, where she is still highly regarded as a major figure in both film and fashion.

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2026-03-04 20:45