name	Radama I
succession	King of Madagascar
reign	1810–1828
coronation	1810
predecessor	Andrianampoinimerina
successor	Ranavalona I
spouse	Ramavo
father	Andrianampoinimerina
mother	Rambolamasoandro
birth date	1793
birth place	Ambohimanga
death date	1828 (age 32)
death place	Rova of Antananarivo
date of burial	1828
place of burial	Tomb of Radama I, Rova of Antananarivo

Radama I "the Great" (1793–1828), the first king of greater Madagascar from 1810 to 1828, united two-thirds of the island under his rule. He had twelve Great Wives, one of them his adopted sister Ranavalona I who would emerge victorious in the struggle for succession after his premature death.

Reign

In 1810, at the age of 17, Radama succeeded his father Andrianampoinimerina as king of Imerina, a growing kingdom in the central plateau of the island around Antananarivo. Several of the principalities conquered by his father revolted upon news of Andrianampoinimerina's death, immediately obliging the young ruler to embark on military campaigns to put down the rebellions and secure his position. He successfully expanded his realm to the Indian Ocean in 1817 after seizing the eastern port town of Antsiranana with an army of 30,000 soldiers.

A shrewd diplomat, he successfully played off competing British and French interests while opening Madagascar to exchanges with foreign powers. The British were interested in securing the passage to India and preventing the French from taking Madagascar. Although the French had been weakened by losing Réunion and Mauritius to the British in 1810, the British at the time did not have enough available resources to possess Madagascar themselves. They settled on an alliance with Radama that supported his rule and ensured a privileged position for the British in regards to trade. British Governor Robert Townsend Farquhar, based in Mauritius, committed to training and supporting Radama's army. The Anglo-Merina treaty of friendship was sealed by a blood oath between Radama and the British envoy Captain Le Sage in 1817. As part of the treaty Radama agreed to put an end to the profitable slave trade; nevertheless slave-dealing continued clandestinely at a reduced level.

As a result of the treaty social and political changes occurred: Radama organized a cabinet, and invited the Protestant London Missionary Society (LMS) to establish schools and churches. The LMS also brought a printing press and Welshmen David Jones and David Griffiths adapted the Latin alphabet for the Malagasy language, replacing the Arabico-Malagasy script previously in use. It was under Radama's rule that LMS missionaries(with notable contributions from Scottsman James Cameron) set up craft industries in wood, metal, leather, and cotton, transcribed the Malagasy language using the Latin script, introduced the first printing press, translated and printed Bibles in the Malagasy language and oversaw Radama's plan to establish dozens of schools offering compulsory literacy courses and basic education for the nobles of Imerina. During this time and with the help of the British support, Radama’s military became the dominant force allowing him to unify by force the island. Expanding the boundaries of the kingdom, he first took over the area of the Betsileo tribe in the southern part of the island. His army took key eastern territories and several in the west. In 1825 he conquered the French settlement of Fort Dauphin at the southern end of the island, establishing the sovereignty of the island and securing his position as its rightful ruler. In each newly conquered territory, administrative posts were built within fortified garrisons (''rova'') on the model of the original Rova of Antananarivo. These were staffed with Merina colonists called ''voanjo'' ("peanuts"). Marriages of alliance were often contracted between Radama and key female nobles in the territories he brought under his rule. By the time of his death in 1828, the only parts of the island not under his control were the southern lands of the Mahafaly, Antandroy and Bara.

Death

Radama died prematurely on July 27, 1828, at his residence (the ''Tranovola''). Historical sources provide conflicting accounts regarding his cause of death. Radama was prone to drinking heavily, and shortly before his death he displayed symptoms of advanced alcoholism as his health rapidly declined. Explanations include the emotional strain caused by years of warfare and pressure to live up to his celebrated father, King Andrianampoinimerina. He may have simply fallen victim to the disease. However, the king had recently struggled with an acute affliction of the throat, and it was rumored that his corpse had been discovered with its throat slashed by a dagger. This in turn gave rise to speculation whether he had inadvertently or deliberately killed himself in a drunken fit of ''delerium tremens'', or whether his own wife and future queen Ranavalona I may have arranged or even committed the murder of the king herself. While the exact circumstances of his death remain unclear, his death was officially declared to be the consequence of heavy intoxication. Radama was buried in a stone tomb on the grounds of the Rova of Antananarivo. Per Malagasy architectural norms, his tomb was topped with a ''trano masina'' ("sacred house") symbolic of royalty. Like his father Andrianampoinimerina and other Merina sovereigns that would follow him, he was laid to rest in a silver coffin, and it is said the funerary goods buried with him were the most extensive and richest of any tomb in Madagascar. These included a deep red silk lamba mena, imported paintings of European royalty, thousands of coins, eighty articles of clothing, swords, jewels, gold vases, containers of silver and so forth. Alongside each interior wall of the ''trano masina'' were a mirror, bed, several chairs and a table upon which were placed two porcelain water vessels and one bottle each of water and rum that were replenished annually during the ''fandroana'' (festival of the royal bath). Most of these items were lost when a 1995 fire destroyed the Rova of Antananarivo where the tomb was located.

References

External links

Precolonial Madagascar history

Category:1790s births Category:1828 deaths Category:Merina people Category:Malagasy monarchs

de:Radama I. es:Radama I fr:Radama Ier it:Radama I no:Radama I pl:Radama I ru:Радама I sh:Radama I. fi:Radama I sv:Radama I

name	Radama II
succession	King of Madagascar
reign	August 16, 1861 – May 12, 1863
coronation	September 23, 1862
predecessor	Ranavalona I
successor	Rasoherina
spouse	Rasoherina (as Rabodo)Ranavalona II (as Ramoma)Marie Rasoamieja
father	Andriamihaja
mother	Ranavalona I
birth date	September 23, 1829
birth place	Imasoandro, Rova of Antananarivo
death date	May 12, 1863 (age 33) - ''contested''
death place	Rova of Antananarivo- ''contested''
date of burial	1863/1897 - ''contested''
place of burial	Ilafy/Tomb of the Kings, Rovan'Antananarivo - ''contested'' (re-interred)

Radama II (September 23, 1829 – May 12, 1863 [assumed dead]) was the son and heir of Queen Ranavalona I and ruled from 1861 to 1863 over the Kingdom of Madagascar, which controlled virtually the entire island. Radama's rule, although brief, was a pivotal period in the history of the Kingdom of Madagascar. Under the unyielding and often harsh 33-year rule of his mother, Queen Ranavalona I, Madagascar had successfully preserved its cultural and political independence from French and British designs. Rejecting the queen's policy of isolationism and Christian persecution, Radama II permitted religious freedom and re-opened Madagascar to European influence. Under the terms of the Lambert Charter, which Radama secretly contracted in 1855 with French entrepreneur Joseph-François Lambert while Ranavalona yet ruled, the French were awarded exclusive rights to the exploitation of large tracts of valuable land and other lucrative resources and projects. This agreement, which was later revoked by Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony, was key to establishing France's claim over Madagascar as a protectorate and, in 1896, as a colony.

The dramatic contrast between Ranavalona's isolationism and her son's pro-European stance represented an abrupt reversal of policy that threatened the traditional sociopolitical order. Radama's absolutism in pursuing dramatic reforms in disregard of the advice of his ministers ultimately turned them against him. In a coup lead by his Prime Minister, Rainivoninahitriniony, Radama II was strangled on May 12, 1863. His wife Rabodo, who took the throne name Rasoherina, was allowed by the ministers to succeed her husband on the condition that she and future sovereigns would no longer rule unilaterally, but rather in concert with the Hova (the class of free citizens) as represented by the position of Prime Minister. The public was informed that Radama had committed suicide and that his body had been unceremoniously interred in a tomb in Ilafy. However, there soon emerged rumors - believed by prominent foreigners Jean Laborde and William Ellis - that Radama lived and was making plans to reclaim the throne. A strong case has since been made on the basis of significant evidence that Radama may indeed have revived after the strangling and lived to old age in anonymity near Lake Kinkony in the northwestern part of the island.

Upbringing and early years

Radama II was born Prince Rakoto (Rakotosehenondradama) on September 23, 1829 in the Imasoandro building on the compound of the Rova of Antananarivo. He was officially recognized as the son of King Radama I and his widow Queen Ranavalona I, although the king had died more than nine months before the prince's birth. He was likely fathered by a lover of his mother, Andriamihaja, a progressive young officer of the Merina army who the queen may have been tricked into putting to death by conservative ministers at court.

After his mother succeeded Radama I on the throne, she instituted an increasingly regressive regime that attempted to restore traditional values and contain or eliminate westernization. The prince, however, who had been highly influenced by the French adviser to the queen, Joseph-François Lambert, was favorably impressed by European culture, knowledge and its state of economic, political and technological development, and was troubled by some of the socially repressive policies pursued by Ranavalona I. According to a British account, the French played on this sympathy in 1855 by pressuring Prince Rakoto into signing a request for French aid that would have enabled France to establish control over Madagascar had the true nature of the letter and its signing not been uncovered by Rakoto and his British contacts An alternate explanation was offered by Lambert, who maintained that the prince had knowingly supported the attempt to put an end to his mother's harsh policies, and was a willing collaborator in a failed 1857 plot to remove her from the throne.

Prior to Queen Ranavalona's death, the conservative and progressive factions within the Merina court waged a tactical power struggle to secure a successor favorable to their own political agenda. The conservative faction favored Ramboasalama, the son of the Queen's sister, while the Queen's Prime Minister, Rainivoninahitriniony and head of the army, Rainilaiarivony, brothers and progressives, supported Radama II. The latter successfully obtained key strategic allies within the court that enabled Radama to seize the throne without violence following his mother's death. Ramboasalama was obliged to swear a public oath of allegiance to Radama, and was later sent into exile in the highland village of Ambohimirimo where he died in April 1962.

Reign

Prince Rakoto acceded to the throne on August 16, 1861 upon the natural death of his mother, Queen Ranavalona I, assuming the throne name Radama II. His coronation ceremony was held the following year on September 23, 1862. Once upon the throne, he immediately initiated a rapid and dramatic reversal of many of his mother's traditionalist policies. He reopened the country to foreign powers and concluded treaties of friendship with Britain and France. The Lambert Charter opened up business possibilities for French investors. Freedom of religion was declared, persecution of Christians ceased, missionaries returned to the island and their schools were reopened. Radama abolished the traditional trial by ordeal of ''tangena'', in which the guilt or innocence of an accused person was determined based on the outcome of consuming the poison of the ''tangena'' nut, and inhabitants of Antananarivo were permitted to raise swine within the city walls, a practice previously forbidden by a ''fady'' (taboo) forbidding them from being kept near the royal talismans (''sampy''). The sampy were dispersed to the sacred villages where they had originated under 16th-century Merina king Ralambo and other early monarchs. Significantly, Radama freed numerous political prisoners captured under Ranavalona I during provincial wars of subjugation and offered repatriation of confiscated property. This pardon was reciprocated by many of the beneficiary ethnic groups around the island, and good will between the coasts and central administration at Antananarivo improved significantly. These changes, and the king himself, were unequivocally praised by Madagascar's European partners:

}}

The reaction within Imerina was less one-sided. The abrupt and dramatic policy changes pursued by the progressive king both alienated and disfranchised the established conservative factions among the andriana (nobles) and Hova (freemen) at court. Especially controversial were the special privileges accorded to Joseph-François Lambert and his partners under the Lambert Charter, including the exclusive implementation of public works projects (felling trees, making roads, building canals etc.), control over minting coinage, lucrative mining rights and more as part of the purview of Lambert's proposed ''Compagnie de Madagascar'' (French Madagascar Company). The citizens' concern stemmed primarily from clauses in the agreement that would have permitted Lambert's company to become permanent owners of Malagasy lands. Until this point, land in Madagascar, which was viewed by the populace as the sacred ground of the ancestors, could only ever be temporarily possessed by foreigners until their death, at which point the land would revert to the crown. The threat of permanently losing any part of sacred Malagasy soil to foreigners was deeply troubling. |group=N}}

Assassination plot

The legalization of dueling was ultimately the issue that brought to a head the tension between King Radama II's entourage (mostly friends and some established political figures, known collectively as the ''menamaso'' or "red-eyes") and representatives of the opposition led by Radama's prime minister Rainivoninahitriniony. On May 7, 1863, Radama II announced his intention to allow disputes to be settled by a duel, much to the disapproval of many of his advisers at court who feared the practice would lead to anarchy. The prime minister prevented the law from being publicly declared at the ''Zoma'' (Friday) market the following day. Friday afternoon, the prime minister's younger brother, Rainilaiarivony, who was head of the army, called several thousand troops into the city to besiege a number of the ''menamaso'' and members of the royal family at the Rova palace compound, and by Saturday morning the decision had been made and carried out to execute eleven of the ''menamaso'' and other key political figures who had counseled Radama to legalize dueling. On Sunday, May 10, Rainivoninahitriniony demanded that Radama hand over the ''menamaso'' he was sheltering in the palace, which he refused to do until the Prime Minister agreed to spare their lives; they were handed over but by Monday morning had all been speared to death.

The drama ended on Tuesday morning, May 12, 1863, when a group of officers and soldiers forced their way into the Rova and seized the king. His wife, Queen Rabodo, pleaded for his life to be spared and attempted to stop them but was forcibly removed. The soldiers threw a lamba over Radama's head and strangled him with a silk sash until he was believed to be dead, thereby avoiding the shedding of royal blood as was the custom for royal executions in Imerina.

The nobles informed Rabodo that she would have their support as queen on the condition that she would accept to abide by certain articles that would form a new contract between rulers and ruled in Madagascar:

Rabodo agreed to these conditions. The next morning, it was publicly announced in the marketplace that Radama had taken his own life due to grief over the deaths of his compatriots the ''menamaso'' and that Rabodo would succeed him as Queen Rasoherina. To cement the new power-sharing agreement between the ruler, the nobles and the heads of the people, a political marriage was contracted between the queen and Prime Minister Rainivoninahitriniony, who had been instrumental in her first husband's death. Radama's name was struck from the list of kings and it was declared illegal to mourn his death.

Rumors of survival

Following Radama II's apparent death, rumors spread that he had only been rendered unconscious by the attempt on his life and had revived as his body was being transported to Ilafy for interment in his designated tomb. French historian Delval presents evidence that supports a scenario wherein the group tasked with carrying Radama's body to Ilafy became frightened as the king began to revive, prompting them to abandon the body and then falsely maintain that they had completed their task to place him in the tomb. Within months after his reported death, rumors began circulating that Radama was alive, residing on the west coast of the island and was amassing supporters for a political comeback. The rumors persisted to the point of causing political turmoil in Antananarivo. These claims may have had some substance judging by the actions of others. Prominent Christian missionaries outside the capital made extensive efforts to visit and support Radama but seemingly never succeeded. Traditionalist factions within the government were concerned enough by the rumors to have put to death sixteen of his supporters, as well as fining hundreds of others. According to evidence in Delval's study, Radama may indeed have survived and, failing to regain the throne, lived to old age as an ordinary citizen in the north of the island.

With the apparent murder of Radama II, the power of the Merina monarchs was broken. Subsequent monarchs were controlled by influential Hova, particularly Rainilaiarivony, who became Prime Minister after his brother and successively married all three remaining queens of the monarchy: Rasoherina, Ranavalona II and Ranavalona III.

Notes

References

Category:1829 births Category:1863 deaths Category:Merina people Category:Murdered monarchs Category:Malagasy monarchs Category:Assassinated Malagasy people Category:People murdered in Madagascar

de:Radama II. fr:Radama II pl:Radama II ru:Радама II sh:Radama II. fi:Radama II sv:Radama II th:สมเด็จพระเจ้าราดามาที่ 2 แห่งมาดากัสการ์

name	Lorella Cuccarini
birth date	August 10, 1965
birth place	Rome, Italy
website	}}

Lorella Cuccarini (born August 10, 1965) is an Italian dancer, singer, television host and actress.

Discography

Albums

''Lorel'' (1987)

''Voci'' (1993)

''Voglia di fare'' (1995)

''Le più belle canzoni'' (1986)

Singles

"Sugar Sugar" (1985)

"Kangarù" (1986)

"Tutto matto" (1987)

"L'amore è" (with Alessandra Martines)

"Io ballerò" (1987)

"La notte vola" (1988)

"Magic" (1990; English version of "La notte vola")

"Ascolta il cuore" (1991)

"Liberi liberi" (1991)

"Un altro amore no" (1995)

"Uno di noi" (2002)

"Un'onda d'amore" (2008)

External links

Category:1965 births Category:Living people Category:People from Rome Category:Italian dancers Category:Italian female singers Category:Italian actors Category:Italian television presenters Category:Italian television personalities

de:Lorella Cuccarini it:Lorella Cuccarini

name	Tom Bosley
birth name	Thomas Edward Bosley
birth date	October 01, 1927
birth place	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
death date	October 19, 2010
death place	Rancho Mirage, California, U.S.
death cause	Heart failure
nationality	American
television	Happy Days,Murder, She Wrote,Father Dowling Mysteries
alma mater	DePaul University
home town	Chicago, Illinois
residence	Palm Springs, California
years active	1959–2010
occupation	Actor
spouse	Jane Eliot (1962–1978)Patricia Carr (1980–2010)
children	1
awards	Pulitzer Prize, Tony Award
signature	TomBosley.png }}

Thomas Edward "Tom" Bosley (October 1, 1927 – October 19, 2010) was an American actor. Bosley is best known for portraying Howard Cunningham on the long-running ABC sitcom ''Happy Days''. He also was featured in recurring roles on ''Murder, She Wrote'', and ''Father Dowling Mysteries''. He originated the title role of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical ''Fiorello!'', earning the 1960 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical.

Early life

Bosley was born in Chicago, the son of Dora (née Heyman) and Benjamin Bosley. Although well known for playing a Catholic priest—and numerous Protestants—Bosley was actually Jewish. During World War II, Bosley served in the United States Navy. While attending DePaul University, in Chicago, in 1947, he made his stage debut in ''Our Town'' with the Canterbury Players at the Fine Arts Theatre. Bosley performed at the Woodstock Opera House in Woodstock, Illinois, in 1949 and 1950 alongside Paul Newman.

Career

Early roles and stage roles

Bosley played the Knave of Hearts in a Hallmark Hall of Fame telecast of Eva Le Gallienne's production of ''Alice in Wonderland'' in 1955. But his breakthrough stage role was New York mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia in the long-running Broadway musical ''Fiorello!'' (1959), for which he won a Tony Award. In 1994, he originated the role of Maurice in the Broadway version of Disney's ''Beauty and the Beast''. Bosley also toured as Cap'n Andy in Harold Prince's 1994 revival of ''Show Boat''.

His first motion picture role was in 1963, as the would-be suitor of Natalie Wood in ''Love with the Proper Stranger.'' Other films include ''The World of Henry Orient'', ''Divorce American Style'', ''Yours, Mine and Ours'', ''Gus'' and the made-for-television ''The Triangle Factory Fire Scandal''. Bosley shared a heartfelt story about his experience with the Holocaust in the documentary film ''Paper Clips''.

Among his early television appearances was in 1960 on the CBS summer replacement series, ''Diagnosis: Unknown'', with Patrick O'Neal. In 1962, he portrayed Assistant District Attorney Ryan in the episode "The Man Who Wanted to Die" on James Whitmore's ABC legal drama ''The Law and Mr. Jones''. In 1969, he appeared in a comical episode of ''The Virginian''.

''Happy Days'' and other notable film and television roles

Bosley's best known role was the character Howard Cunningham, Richie and Joanie Cunningham's father, in the long-running sitcom ''Happy Days''. Bosley was also known for portraying Sheriff Amos Tupper on ''Murder, She Wrote''. He also portrayed the eponymous Father Frank Dowling on the TV mystery series, ''Father Dowling Mysteries''. Among myriad television appearances, one notable early performance was in the "Eyes" segment of the 1969 pilot episode of Rod Serling's ''Night Gallery'', directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Joan Crawford.

Bosley also starred in the 2008 Hallmark Channel television movie ''Charlie & Me''. In 2010, he appeared in ''The Backup Plan'' starring Jennifer Lopez, which was his final film.

In 1984, Bosley guest-hosted the "Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular" with local newscaster Pat Harper.

Voice over roles

Also a voice actor, Bosley hosted ''The General Mills Radio Adventure Theater'', a 1977 radio drama series for children. He voiced many cartoon characters, including Harry Boyle in the animated series ''Wait Till Your Father Gets Home''. He provided the voice of the title character in the 1980s cartoon ''The World of David the Gnome'' and the shop owner Mr. Winkle in the children's Christmas special ''The Tangerine Bear''. He also narrated the movie documentary series ''That's Hollywood''. Additionally, he played the narrator B.A.H. Humbug in the Rankin/Bass animated Christmas special ''The Stingiest Man In Town''. Bosley was also the voice of Mister Geppetto, Pinocchio's 'dad' in Filmation's ''Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night'', released in 1987.

Commercials

During the 1970s and 1980s, Bosley did several commercials for the Glad Sandwich and Garbage Bags.

Tom Bosley did radio commercials for the new Saturn Car Company a "different kind of car company," in 1990.

Later in life he was the television spokesman for SMC (Specialty Merchandise Corporation), a national wholesaler and dropshipper.

Bosley was also the “ face “ of LifeBack USA helping bring the benefits of Life Settlements to seniors, having himself sold an unwanted life insurance policy during his later life.

Death

Bosley died of heart failure on October 19, 2010, at a hospital in Rancho Mirage, California near his home in Palm Springs, California. He was 83 years old. His agent, Sheryl Abrams, said Bosley had been battling lung cancer. His remains are interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills.

References

External links

Archive of American Television interview

Category:1927 births Category:2010 deaths Category:Actors from Chicago, Illinois Category:American Jews in the military Category:American military personnel of World War II Category:American stage actors Category:American television actors Category:American voice actors Category:Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) Category:Cardiovascular disease deaths in California Category:Deaths from heart failure Category:DePaul University alumni Category:Jewish actors Category:Tony Award winners Category:United States Navy sailors Category:Woodstock, Illinois

cy:Tom Bosley de:Tom Bosley es:Tom Bosley fr:Tom Bosley gd:Tom Bosley it:Tom Bosley la:Thomas Bosley nl:Tom Bosley ja:トム・ボズリ no:Tom Bosley pl:Tom Bosley pt:Tom Bosley ru:Босли, Том sh:Tom Bosley fi:Tom Bosley sv:Tom Bosley

name	Monica Bellucci
birth name	Monica Anna Maria Bellucci
birth date	September 30, 1964
birth place	Città di Castello, Umbria, Italy
death date
occupation	Actress and fashion model
nationality	Italian
years active	1990 – present
spouse	Vincent Cassel (1999–present)
children	2 }}

Monica Anna Maria Bellucci (; born 30 September 1964) is an Italian actress and fashion model.

Early life

Bellucci was born in Città di Castello, Umbria, Italy as the only child of Luigi Bellucci.

Career

Modeling

Monica Bellucci began modeling at age 13 by posing for a local photo enthusiast. In 1988,Bellucci moved to one of Europe's fashion centers, Milan, where she signed with Elite Model Management. By 1989, she was becoming prominent as a fashion model in Paris and across the Atlantic, in New York City. She posed for Dolce & Gabbana and French ''Elle'', among others. In that year, Bellucci made the transition to acting and began taking acting classes. The February 2001 Esquire's feature on Desire featured Bellucci on the cover and in an article on the five senses. In 2003, she was featured in ''Maxim''. ''Men's Health'' also named her one of the "100 Hottest Women of All-Time", ranking her at No. 21. AskMen named her the number one most desirable woman in 2002. Bellucci's modelling career is managed by Elite+ in New York City. She is considered an Italian sex symbol. From 2006 to 2010 she was the face of a range of Dior products. Bellucci is signed to D'management group in Milan and also to Storm Model Management in London.

In 2004, while pregnant with her daughter Deva, Bellucci posed nude for the Italian ''Vanity Fair'' Magazine in protest against Italian laws that prevent the use of donor sperm. She posed pregnant and semi-nude again for the magazine's April 2010 issue.

Acting

Bellucci's film career began in the early 1990s. She played some minor roles in ''La Riffa'' (1991) and ''Bram Stoker's Dracula'' (1992). In 1996 she was nominated for a César Award for best supporting actress for her portrayal of Lisa in ''L'Appartement'' and strengthened her position as an actress. She became known and popular with worldwide audiences, following her roles in ''Malèna'' (2000), ''Brotherhood of the Wolf'', and ''Irréversible'' (2002). She has since played in many films from Europe and Hollywood like ''Tears of the Sun'' (2003), ''The Matrix Reloaded'' (2003), ''The Passion of the Christ'' (2004), ''The Brothers Grimm'' (2005), ''Le Deuxième souffle'' (2007), ''Don't Look Back'' (2009), and ''The Sorcerer's Apprentice'' (2010).

She was supposed to be seen portraying Indian politician Sonia Gandhi in the biopic ''Sonia'', originally planned for release in 2007, but it has been shelved.

Bellucci dubbed her own voice for the French and Italian releases of the film ''Shoot 'Em Up'' (2007). She also voiced Kaileena in the video game ''Prince of Persia: Warrior Within'', and the French voice of Cappy for the French version of the 2005 animated film ''Robots''.

She is for Empire, for her role of "Persephone" in Matrix, one of "The Sexiest 25 Characters In Cinema".

Personal life

Bellucci is married to French actor Vincent Cassel, with whom she has appeared in several films. They have two daughters, Deva (born 2004) and Léonie (born 2010).

In the documentary movie ''The Big Question'', about the film ''The Passion of the Christ'', she stated: "I am an agnostic, even though I respect and am interested in all religions. If there's something I believe in, it's a mysterious energy; the one that fills the oceans during tides, the one that unites nature and beings."

Awards and nominations

Wins

2003 - Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists: ''Silver Ribbon'' for Best Supporting Actress (''Ricordati di me'')

2005 - Golden Globes, Italy: ''European Golden Globe''

Nominations

1997 - César Awards for Best Promising Actress (''L'appartement'')

2001 - European Film Awards: ''Audience Award'' for Best Actress (''Malèna'')

2002 - Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films: ''Saturn Award'' for Best Supporting Actress (''Brotherhood of the Wolf'')

2003 - Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films: ''Cinescape Genre Face of the Future Award'' for Best Female (''The Matrix Reloaded'') and (''The Matrix Revolutions'')

2003 - David di Donatello Awards for Best Supporting Actress (''Ricordati di me'')

2003 - Teen Choice Awards for Choice Movie Female Breakout Star (''The Matrix Reloaded'') & (''Tears of the Sun'')

2004 - MTV Movie Awards for Best Kiss (''The Matrix Reloaded'')

2005 - Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists: ''Silver Ribbon'' for Best Supporting Actress (''The Passion of the Christ'')

2007 - Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists: ''Silver Ribbon'' for Best Supporting Actress (''N (Io e Napoleone)'')

Filmography

Title	Year	Role	Notes
''Vita coi figli''	1990	Elda
''Briganti – Amore e libertà''	1990	Costanza
''La riffa''	1991	Francesca
! scope="row"	1992
''Ostinato Destino''	1992	Marina/Angela
''I Mitici''	1994	Deborah
''Pala di Neve''	1995	Melina
''Il cielo é sempre piú blu''	1995
! scope="row"	1995	Pharaoh's wife
''L'Appartement''	1996	Lisa
Sorellina e il principe del sogno	1996	Princess
''Stressati''	1997
! scope="row"	1997	Nat the Gypsy
''Mauvais genre''	1997	Camille
''Come mi vuoi''	1997	Nellina
''Le plaisir''	1998	Girl
''Compromise''	1998	Monique
''Ultimo capodanno dell'umanità''	1998	Giulia Giovannini
''A los que aman''	1998	Valeria
''Comme un poisson hors de l'eau''	1999	Myrtille
''Mediterranées''	1999	Marguerite
! scope="row"	2000	Chantal Hearst
''Franck Spadone''	2000	Laura
''Malèna''	2000	Malèna Scordia
''Brotherhood of the Wolf''	2001	Sylvia
! scope="row"	2002
''Irréversible''	2002	Alex
''Remember Me, My Love''	2003	Alessia	''[[Tears of the Sun">Nastro d'Argento
''[[Tears of the Sun''	2003	Lena Fiore Kendricks
''''	2003
''Enter the Matrix''	2003	Persephone
''''	2003	Persephone
''''	2004	Mary Magdalene
''Secret Agents''	2004	Barbara/Lisa
''She Hate Me''	2004	Simona Bonasera
''''	2005	The Mirror Queen
''How Much Do You Love Me?''	2005	Daniela
''Sheitan''	2006	La belle vampiresse
''Io e Napoleone''	2006	Baronessa Emilia Speziali
''The Stone Council''	2006	Laura Siprien
''Heartango''	2007	L'inafferrabile
''Manuale d'amore 2	2007	Lucia
''Shoot 'Em Up''	2007	Donna Quintano
''Le deuxième souffle''	2007	Manouche
! scope="row"	2008	Luisa Ferida
''L'uomo che ama''	2008	Alba
! scope="row"	2009	Jeanne
''''	2009	Gigi Lee
''Baarìa – La porta del vento''	2009	Bricklayer's girlfriend
''Omaggio a Roma''	2009	Tosca
''''	2010	Laura Levin
''''	2010	Veronica
''Rose, c'est Paris''	2010	L'esprit de gala
''Manuale d'amore 3''	2011	Viola
! scope="row"	2011	Angèle

References

External links

Category:1964 births Category:Living people Category:Italian film actors Category:Italian female models Category:Italian expatriates in France Category:Italian agnostics Category:Video game actors Category:University of Perugia alumni Category:People from Città di Castello Category:Nastro d'Argento winners

af:Monica Bellucci ar:مونيكا بيلوتشي an:Monica Bellucci az:Monika Belluççi bn:মনিকা বেলুচ্চি be:Моніка Белучы be-x-old:Моніка Бэлюччы bg:Моника Белучи br:Monica Bellucci ca:Monica Bellucci cs:Monica Bellucci da:Monica Bellucci de:Monica Bellucci et:Monica Bellucci el:Μόνικα Μπελούτσι es:Monica Bellucci eo:Monica Bellucci eu:Monica Bellucci fa:مونیکا بلوچی fr:Monica Bellucci ga:Monica Bellucci gl:Monica Bellucci ko:모니카 벨루치 hy:Մոնիկա Բելուչի hi:मोनिका बेलुची hr:Monica Bellucci io:Monica Bellucci id:Monica Bellucci it:Monica Bellucci he:מוניקה בלוצ'י kn:ಮೋನಿಕಾ ಬೆಲೂಚಿ ka:მონიკა ბელუჩი kk:Моника Беллуччи sw:Monica Bellucci la:Monica Bellucci lv:Monika Belluči hu:Monica Bellucci nl:Monica Bellucci ja:モニカ・ベルッチ no:Monica Bellucci pl:Monica Bellucci pt:Monica Bellucci ro:Monica Bellucci ru:Беллуччи, Моника sq:Monica Bellucci simple:Monica Bellucci sk:Monica Bellucciová sr:Моника Белучи sh:Monica Bellucci fi:Monica Bellucci sv:Monica Bellucci ta:மோனிக்கா பெலூச்சி te:మోనికా బెల్లూచి th:โมนิกา เบลลุชชี tr:Monica Bellucci uk:Моніка Беллуччі vi:Monica Bellucci zh:蒙妮卡·貝露琪