Serena Rossi (born 31 August 1985) is an Italian actress and singer. She is best known for portraying Carmen Catalano in Rai 3 soap opera Un posto al sole (2003–2010). She subsequently starred in a variety of stage and film productions and lent her voice to animate television and film. In 2019 she gained widespread recognition for portraying singer Mia Martini in the biographical drama Io sono Mia, for which she was awarded with a Nastro d'Argento.
Biography Born and raised in Naples, Serena Rossi comes from an artistic family originally from Montefalcone nel Sannio, in the Province of Campobasso, Molise.
After a variety of small musical roles on stage, Rossi rose to prominence in 2003 starring as Carmen Catalano in Rai 3 soap opera Un posto al sole, from season eight to season fourteen. She later reprised the role in the second season of its spin-off Un posto al sole d'estate.
In 2005, Rossi returned on stage in her first lead engagement starring in Mal'aria, a musical inspired by Romeo and Juliet but set in Naples. The musical was performed at Teatro Palaparthenope in Naples.
The following year, Serena Rossi signed with EMI and released her debut extended play, Amore che, a folk-pop record conteining five song written by Franco Fasano. The songs were promoted by Rossi during the tenth season of Un posto al sole. She also guest-starred in the internationally popular hit detective series Inspector Montalbano, based on the novels by Andrea Camilleri, in the episode "La vampa d'agosto", which aired on November 2, 2008.
In 2011, Rossi starred in Rai 1 comedy-drama series Che Dio ci aiuti, playing the single mother Giulia Sabatini. For the role, she won the Massimo Troisi Award for "Best Comedy Actress". Rossi left the series after the first season. The following year, Rossi appearaed in a recurring capacity in the third season of Canale 5 police procedural series R.I.S. Roma – Delitti imperfetti.
In 2013, Serena Rossi was chosen as the Italian voice of Anna for the Disney animated fantasy film Frozen. She released the official Italian soundtrack album, featuring all the original songs in Italian with co-lead vocals by Serena Autieri, the Italian voice of Elsa. Rossi reprised the role in all the subsequent installments. In the same year, she returned on stage playing the female lead Rosetta in a new production of the popular musical Rugantino, directed by Enrico Brignano and performed at Teatro Sistina in Rome. On December 16, 2013, the artist released her debut studio album Nella casa di pepe, produced by Paolo Varriale.
In 2014, Serena Rossi made her major feature film debut starring in the heist comedy film Song'e Napule, directed by Manetti Bros. The film premiered at Rome Film Festival in 2013 and was released on April 17, 2014 in Italian theaters receiving positive reviews by critics and winning a variety of awards including two David di Donatello, three Nastro d'Argento and a Globo d'Oro. For her portrayal, Rossi won an Italian Movie Award for Best Actress. In the same year, Rossi competed during the fourth season of the reality competition series Tale e quale show, based on the format of Your Face Sounds Familiar. During the show, the artist impersonated numerous popular singers, including Pharrell Williams, Beyoncé, Tosca, Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson and Elisa. On December 2, 2014, Rossi was featured in Matteo Becucci's fourth studio album Tutti quanti Mery in the cover song "Vorrei incontrarti fra cent'anni", originally performed by Ron and Tosca.
In 2017, Serena Rossi received widespread recognition starring as Fatima in Manetti Bros. musical comedy film Love and Bullets. The film premiered during the 74th Venice International Film Festival and won all the major Italian film awards including David di Donatello for Best Film, Best Costumes, Best Score and Best Original Song (for "Bang Bang", performed by Rossi, Franco Ricciardi and Giampaolo Morelli). Rossi also won the Nastro d'Argento for Best Original Song for "Bang Bang", and received the "Colpo di fulmine Award" during the Ciak d'Oro ceremony. In the same year, Serena Rossi was featured as a part-time host in the talk-variety show Detto fatto and as a judge in the second season of the children's talent competition series Piccoli giganti. Rossi also hosted a concert special for Radio Italia and the Rai 1 music variety special Celebration, alsongside Neri Marcorè. The following year, Serena Rossi was featured as a commentator during the finals of the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 and dubbed Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins in the Italian version of the 2018 film Mary Poppins Returns.
In 2019, Serena Rossi starred as singer-songwriter Mia Martini in the biographical drama film Io sono Mia, directed by Riccardo Donna. The film follows Martini's artistic career, her entourage, her sister Loredana Bertè, and the tumultuous relationships with her parents. For her portrayal, Rossi received critical acclaim and was awarded with a Special Nastro d'Argento Award. To promote the film, Serena Rossi performed Martini's huge hit single "Almeno tu nell'universo" with Claudio Baglioni during the Sanremo Music Festival 2019. In the same year, Rossi starred in the comedy film Brave ragazze and reprised the role of Anna in Disney's Frozen 2.
In 2020, Rossi starred in the romantic comedy 7 ore per farti innamorare, for which she was nominated for a Nastro d'Argento and a Ciak d'Oro for Best Actress, and appeared in Stefano Mordini's thriller You Came Back, presented as the closing film during the 77th Venice International Film Festival. The following year, Rossi starred as the titular role in Rai 1 comedy-drama series Mina Settembre, which ran for three seasons, ending in February 2025. In the same year, Serena Rossi hosted the variety show Canzone segreta and appeared in the Naples-themed episode of Alberto Angela's show Stanotte a…, that aired on December 25.
In 2024, Serena Rossi starred in the drama film The Children's Train, directed by Cristina Comencini and based on the novel of the same name by Viola Ardone. The film premiered during the 19th Rome Film Festival and was later released on Netflix.
In 2025, Rossi co-wrote, co-directed, co-produced and starred in the original stage musical SereNata a Napoli. Set in Rossi's native town Naples and inspired by the Canzone napoletana, the show embarked a National tour on the main Italian stages. The official soundtrack album, featuring all the songs performed by Rossi during the show, was released on January 30, 2026 through Warner Music Italy. In the same year, Serena Rossi also voiced Gal Gadot as the Evil Queens in the live-action remake Snow White.
Filmography Film YearTitleRole(s) Notes 2007 Liberarsi: Figli di una rivoluzione minore Teresa 2012 La stagione dell'amore Monica Short film2014 Song'e Napule Marianna Ti sposo ma non troppo Luca's Cameo appearance2016 Troppo napoletano Debora Iovine Al posto tuo Anna2017 Love and Bullets Fatima Caccia al tesoro Rosetta2019 Io sono Mia Mia Martini Brave ragazze Maria D'Urso2020 7 ore per farti innamorare Valeria You Came Back Anita La tristezza ha il sonno leggero Flor 2021 Diabolik Elisabeth Gay 2022 Beata te Marta 2024 The Children's Train Antonietta Speranza 2026 Feel My Voice Giuliana Palumbo
Television YearTitleRole(s) Notes 2003 Salvo D'Acquisto Francesca D'Acquisto Television movie 2003–2010 Un posto al sole Carmen Catalano Series regular (season 8–14) 2004 Virginia, la monaca di Monza Angelica Television movie 2006 La moglie cinese Rosaria Television movie 2007 Un posto al sole d'estate Carmen Catalano Main role (season 2) 2008 Inspector Montalbano Adriana Monreale Episode: "La vampa d'agosto" 2009 Puccini Cherie 2010 Restless Heart: The Confessions of Saint Augustine Khalidà Television movie Ho sposato uno sbirro Barbara Castello Main role (season 2)2011 Laura Palumbo Television movie Dove la trovi una come me? Monica Television movie 2011–2012 Che Dio ci aiuti Giulia Sabatini Main role (season 1)2012 R.I.S. Roma – Delitti imperfetti Anita Cescon Recurring role (season 3) Caruso, la voce dell'amore Elvira Television movie2013 Il clan dei camorristi Patrizia Teduccio Main role Adriano Olivetti: La forza di un sogno Teresa Television movie Rossella Natuzza Main role (season 2) 2014 Tale e quale show Herself / Contestant Reality competition (season 4)2015 Rex Josephine Episode: "Gelosia" Squadra mobile Agent Valeria Goretti Main role (season 1) 2016, 2018 Inspector Coliandro Ilaria Sparzaglia 2 episodes2017 Radio Italia Live! Herself / Host Concert special Il coraggio di vincere Monica Television movie Piccoli giganti Herself / Judge Children's talent competition Detto fatto Herself / Host Variety show (hosted from September 11–29) Celebration Herself / Co-host Concert special2018 Da qui a un anno Herself / Host Reality show Eurovision Song Contest 2018 Herself / Commentator Finals only 2019 Andrea Bocelli – Ali di libertà Herself / Guest Concert special2021 Canzone segreta Herself / Host Variety show Stanotte a… Herself / Guest Episode: "Stanotte a Napoli" 2021–2025 Mina Settembre Mina Settembre Lead role 2022 La sposa Maria Saggese Three-parts miniseries2024 Call My Agent - Italia Herself Episode: "Episode 4" Wonderboys: The Secret Treasure of Naples Angelica / The Old Hag Main role
Voice dubbing YearTitleRole(s)Played by Notes 2013 Frozen Anna Kristen Bell2014 Race Gurram Spanadana "Sweety" Shruti Haasan Winx Club: The Mystery of the Abyss Bloom Original role Singing parts only Once Upon a Time Anna Elizabeth Lail TV series Into the Woods Cinderella Anna Kendrick2015 Rana Vikrama Paru Adah Sharma Frozen Fever Anna Kristen Bell Short film Brothers Mary Kareena Kapoor Khan 2017 Olaf's Frozen Adventure Anna Kristen Bell Short film2018 Mary Poppins Returns Mary Poppins Emily Blunt Singing parts only Ralph Breaks the InternetAnnaKristen Bell 2019 Frozen 2 2020 Once Upon a Snowman Short film 2021 Queenpins Connie Kaminski2023 Once Upon a Studio Anna Short film Migration Pam Mallard Elizabeth Banks 2025 Snow White Evil Queen Gal Gadot Singing parts only
Stage YearTitleRole(s)Venue Notes 2002–2003 C'era una volta… Scugnizzi Ensemble Teatro Augusteo, Naples 2005 Mal'aria Giulietta Palapartenope, Naples 2013 Rugantino Rosetta Teatro Sistina, Rome 2025–2026 SereNata a Napoli Serena Italian tour and co-director
Discography Studio albums Nella casa di pepe (2013)
Soundtrack albums Serenata a Napoli (2026)
Extended plays Amore che (2006)
Cast recordings Frozen - Il regno di ghiaccio (2013) Ammore e malavita (2017) Io sono Mia (2019) Frozen II - Il segreto di Arendelle (2019) Il treno dei bambini (2024)
Awards and nominations AwardYearCategory Nominated workResultCampania Film Gala 2016 Best Actress Troppo napoletano Ciak d'oro 2018 "Colpo di fulmine" Award Love and Bullets 2020Best Actress Io sono Mia 2021 La tristezza ha il sonno leggero 2023 Category "TV Series" – Best Italian Actress Mina Settembre David di Donatello 2018 Best Original Song "Bang Bang" (from Love and Bullets) Giffoni Film Festival 2015Giffoni Experience AwardHerself 2020 Italian Movie Award 2015 Best Actress Song'e Napule Massimo Troisi Award 2013 Best Comedy Actress Che Dio ci aiuti Nastro d'Argento2018 Best Original Song "Bang Bang" (from Love and Bullets) Best Actress (Comedy) Love and Bullets 2019 Nastro d'Argento Special Award Io sono Mia Pellicola d'Oro 2022Best ActressMina Settembre 2023 2025 The Children's Train Sorrento Film Festival 2017 Best Actress Love and Bullets Tertio Millennio Film Fest 2017 Best Actress Love and Bullets Venice Film Festival 2018 Kineo Diamanti Award Love and Bullets
References
External links