Laura Morante (born 21 August 1956) is an Italian film actress.
Life and career Morante was born in Santa Fiora, province of Grosseto (Tuscany), the daughter of lawyer and playwright Marcello Morante, who was the son of Irma (née Poggibonsi) (a schoolteacher of Jewish descent) and Francesco Lo Monaco, from Sicily, and brother of the novelist Elsa Morante. Laura's mother is Maria Bona Palazzeschi.
Originally a dancer, Morante started her acting career on stage at 18 years old, in the theatrical company of Carmelo Bene. She made her film debut in Oggetti smarriti (Lost Belongings), directed by Giuseppe Bertolucci, whose brother would direct the second film in which Morante would appear, Tragedy of a Ridiculous Man. She eventually had her breakout thanks to Nanni Moretti, who gave her the title role in Sweet Body of Bianca.
After her marriage to French actor Georges Claisse, Morante moved to Paris, where, thanks to her participation in numerous productions, she acquired a certain level of notoriety in European art cinema. Returning to Italy, in 2001 she eventually won the David di Donatello for best actress her performance in Moretti's The Son's Room. Later she was nominated for the David di Donatello in the same category in 2003, for Gabriele Muccino's Remember Me, My Love, and won the Silver Ribbon for best actress for Love Is Eternal While It Lasts (2003) by Carlo Verdone.
Morante attracted considerable attention with her performance as the neglected Madame Jourdain, with whom the young Molière, played by Romain Duris, falls in love, in the 2007 release Molière. She also provided the voice of Helen Parr/Elastigirl in the Italian-dubbed version of the Pixar animated film, The Incredibles. Very active in France, in 2012 Morante made her directorial debut with the French-Italian co-production Cherry on the Cake, for which she was nominated for the David di Donatello for Best New Director.
Filmography
Films YearTitleRole(s) Notes1980Lost ItemsSara1981Tragedy of a Ridiculous ManLauraSweet DreamsSilvia1982Blow to the HeartGiulia1983Il momento dell'avventura (The Moment of the Adventure)Anna1984Sweet Body of BiancaBiancaThe Two Lives of Mattia PascalAdriana PaleariL'air du crime (The Air of Crime)Alice1986À flor do marLaura Rossellini1987Man on FireJuliaThe Ghost ValleyDaraPink Palace, Paradise BeachAnjaDistant LightsRenata1988The Boys of Panisperna StreetLaura Capon FermiUn amore di donna (A Love of Donna)Gabriella Bernasconi1989Corps perdus (Lost Bodies)Laura Canetti1990On TourVittoriaOn jeu d'enfant (It's Child's Play)MargueriteTraces of an Amorous LifeAgneseLa femme fardée (The Painted Woman)Clarisse Lethuillier1991La camera da letto (Bedroom)HerselfDocumentary film1992La voix (The Voice)LauraJuste avant l'orange (Just Before the Orange)Charlotte1995Me and the KingBeatrice1996August VacationCecilia Sarcoli1997Marianna UcrìaMariaSanto Stefano (Saint Stephen)Anna D'Assisi1998The Naked EyeBegoñaCoppia omicida (Homicidal Couple)Carla1999The AnniversaryAnita2000Free the FishMaraFirst Light of DawnAnna2001The Son's RoomPaolaHotelGretaVajontTina Merlin2002The Dancer UpstairsYolandaA Journey Called LoveSibilla Aleramo2003Remember Me, My LoveGiulia Ristuccia2004Love Is Eternal While It LastsTiziana LombardiNotte senza fine (Endless Night)KenzaThe IncrediblesHelen Parr / ElastigirlItalian dub, voice role2005Empire of the WolvesMathilde Urano2006Avenue MontaigneValentineL'estate del mio primo bacio (The Summer Of My First Kiss)Giovanna SinibaldiCoeurs (Hearts)NicoleLiscio (Smooth)Monica2007The HideoutHerMolièreElmire Jourdain2008The Anarchist's WifeLucienne2009The Big DreamMaddalena2010The Youngest SonFiammaLove & SlapsMarina Sinibaldi2011Apartment in AthensZoe Helianos2012Cherry on the CakeAmandaAlso director2013Romeo & JulietLady MontecchiA Farewell to FoolsMargherita2014Non mi pettina bene come il vento (It Doesn't Comb My Hair As Well As the Wind)AriannaOgni maledetto Natale (Every Damn Christmas)Maria / Ludovica2015God WillingCarla De Luca2016SoloFlaviaAlso directorL'età d'oro (The Golden Age)Arabella2018Bob & Marys: Criminali a domicilio (Criminals at Home)MarisaThe Armadillo ProphecyZero's motherThe Stolen CaravaggioAmalia Roberti2020The TiesOlder Vanda2022Across the River and into the TreesCountess ContariniMasqueradeJuliaThe HummingbirdLetizia Carrera2024Another Summer Holiday Cecilia SarcoliFeeling Better Veteran
Television YearShowRole(s) Notes1981Le ali della colombaMilly Theale3 episodesGeorge SandTitineMiniseries1984Notti e nebbieNoemiTelevision film1985Il corsaroArletteMiniseriesGoyaDuchess of AlbaRecurring role; 4 episodes1986Väter und Söhne – Eine deutsche TragödieJudith BernheimMain role1987Il generaleAnita Garibaldi2 episodes1994L'ombra della seraEvaTelevision film1995La famiglia RicordiGiuseppina StrepponiMiniseriesUn orage immobileFlora de MargelasseTelevision filmL'Affaire DreyfusLucie DreyfusTelevision film2000Dov'è mio figlioLuisa EllisTelevision film2003Mother Teresa of CalcuttaMother CenacleTelevision film2004NeroAgrippina the YoungerTelevision film2010BorisWoman on terraceEpisode: "L'epifania"2014Marco PoloMarco's auntEpisode: "The Wayfarer"2015Con il sole negli occhiCarlaTelevision film2021–2023A casa tutti beneAlba RistucciaSeries regular2023AlphonseLaura TomaziMain role2024Folle d'amoreAlda MeriniTelevision film
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result 1984 David di Donatello Awards Best Actress Sweet Body of Bianca 1996 David di Donatello Awards Best Actress August Vacation 2001 David di Donatello Awards Best Actress The Son's Room 2001 European Film Awards Best Actress The Son's Room 2002 European Film Awards Best Actress A Journey Called Love
Theatre YearTitleAuthor and director Notes2026InsiemeFabio MarraPresented at the Campania Teatro Festival, Teatro Mercadante in Naples, with Laura Morante, Eugenia Costantini, Fabio Marra and Sonia Palau
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