Raoul Bova (; born 14 August 1971) is an Italian actor. Bova's European film breakthrough was in the 1993 film , and he's played romantic male leads in the following years. His American film credits include Under the Tuscan Sun (2003), Alien vs. Predator (2004) and The Tourist (2010).
Life and career Bova was born in Rome to a father from Roccella Ionica in Calabria and a mother from Acerra in Campania. At the age of 16, Bova became a local champion in the 100-metre backstroke. At the age of 21 he joined the Italian Army and performed his military duty in the Bersaglieri (sharpshooters) corps. He enrolled in the ISEF, the Italian Institute of Physical Education, but dropped out to pursue a career in acting. He studied at the school of Beatrice Bracco in Rome and also studied acting with Michael Margotta.
After making his Italian television debut, Bova starred as a hunky watersports instructor in the 1993 romantic comedy film Pretty Princess. The following years, Bova played many leading roles in Italian romantic films. In 2002, he made his American film debut, appearing in the crime comedy Avenging Angelo. The following year, Bova played Diane Lane's love interest in the comedy-drama film Under the Tuscan Sun. In 2004, he co-starred opposite Sanaa Lathan in the science fiction film Alien vs. Predator. His other notable American film credits include The Tourist (2010), and All Roads Lead to Rome opposite Sarah Jessica Parker.
On television, Bova had a recurring role in the ABC comedy-drama What About Brian from 2006 to 2007, and in 2018 starred as Pope Sixtus IV in the British-Italian period drama Medici. In 2019, he starred opposite Kate del Castillo in the Telemundo/Netflix crime drama series La Reina del Sur.
Personal life In March 2000, he married Chiara Giordano. In 2013, Bova and Giordano separated.Raoul Bova in Armani for Vanity Fair Italia, Italy Magazine, 11 October 2013. That same year, he started dating actress Rocío Muñoz Morales, after the two had met on the film set of Immaturi – Il viaggio (2012). They had their first child in December 2015, the same month their film All Roads Lead to Rome was released.
On 15 October 2010, Bova was nominated Goodwill Ambassador of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Bova is Roman Catholic.
In the Media
Bova is known as one of Italy's handsomest men. He was dubbed "Sexiest Actor Alive" by Glamour Magazine. He was ranked #13 in the "World's Sexiest Men" list in 2008.
Filmography
Film YearTitleRoleDirectorNotes1992Crazy UnderwearRoccoRoberto D'AgostinoWhen We Were RepressedUnknownPino QuartulloUncredited1993Cominciò tutto per casoRomoloUmberto MarinoPretty PrincessMarcoCarlo Vanzina1995Palermo - Milan One WayNino Di VenanzioClaudio FragassoFlaiano Prizes for Best ActorNominated — David di Donatello for Best Supporting Actor1996The NymphPietroLina WertmüllerThe BorderEmidio OlrichFranco GiraldiLa lupaNanni LascaGabriele Lavia1997HerculesHercules (voice)Ron Clements, John MuskerItalian dubThe MayorRafiluccioUgo Fabrizio Giordani1998Coppia omicidaDarioClaudio FragassoRewindPaul MansartSergio Gobbi1999Terra bruciataFrancesco Loreano/ Tom GrassoFabio Segatori2001The Knights of the QuestGiacomoPupi Avati2002Avenging AngeloMarcello/ Gianni CarboniMartyn Burke2003Facing WindowsLorenzoFerzan ÖzpetekUnder the Tuscan SunMarcelloAudrey Wells2004Alien vs. PredatorSebastian De RosaPaul W. S. Anderson2005Stasera lo faccioProfessorAlessio Gelsini Torresi2006Ice on FireFabrizioUmberto Marino2007I, the OtherGiuseppeMohsen MellitiItalian Golden Globe Award for Best ActorMilano - Palermo: Il ritornoNino di VenanzioClaudio Fragasso2008Scusa ma ti chiamo amoreAlex BelliFederico MocciaBoltBolt (voice)Chris Williams, Byron HowardItalian dubAspettando il soleEneaAgo Panini2009SbirriMatteo GattiRoberto BurchielliNastro d'Argento Special Silver RibbonBaarìaJournalistGiuseppe TornatoreCameo appearance2010La bella societàRomoloGian Paolo CugnoSorry If I Want to Marry YouAlex BelliFederico MocciaLa nostra vitaPieroDaniele LuchettiNominated — David di Donatello for Best Supporting ActorTi presento un amicoMarco FerrettiCarlo VanzinaThe TouristFilippo GaggiaFlorian Henckel von Donnersmark2011The ImmatureGiorgio RomaniniPaolo GenoveseEscort in LoveGiulioMassimiliano BrunoItalian Golden Globe Award for Best ActorNominated — Nastro d'Argento for Best Actor2012The Immature: The TripGiorgio RomaniniPaolo GenoveseViva l'ItaliaRiccardo SpagnoloMassimiliano Bruno2013Out of the BlueAndreaEdoardo LeoNominated — Nastro d'Argento for Best ActorGuess Who's Coming for Christmas?FrancescoFausto Brizzi2014Unique BrothersPietroAlessio Maria FedericiDo You See Me?FrancescoRiccardo Milani2015Ever Been to the Moon?RenzoPaolo GenoveseThe ChoiceGiorgioMichele PlacidoTorno indietro e cambio vitaMarco DamianiCarlo Vanzina2016All Roads Lead to RomeLucaElla Lemhagen2019The Addams FamilyUncle Fester (voice)Greg Tiernan, Conrad VernonItalian dub2022The Christmas ShowPierreAlberto FerrariChip 'n Dale: Rescue RangersChip (voice)Akiva SchafferItalian dub2024Still FabulousDonatoMichela Andreozzi
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1992Una storia italianaGiuliano AmitranoMiniseries; 2 episodes1995–1998La piovraGianni BredaMain role (season 7-9)1998Il quarto reAlazharTelevision filmUltimoRoberto "Ultimo" Di StefanoMiniseries; 2 episodes1999Ultimo – La sfidaMiniseries; 2 episodes2000Distretto di PoliziaFerdinandoEpisode: "L'agguato"2001Il testimoneMarco BasileMiniseries; 2 episodes2002Francesca e NunziataFederico MontorsiTelevision filmSt. FrancisFrancescoMiniseries; 2 episodesScherzi a parteHimselfEpisode: "Episode 1"2003Ultimo – L'infiltratoRoberto "Ultimo"Miniseries; 2 episodes2005Karol: A Man Who Became PopeTomasz ZaleskiMiniseries; 2 episodes2006Attacco allo StatoDiego MarraMiniseries; 2 episodes2006–2007What About BrianAngeloRecurring role; 7 episodes2007Nassiryia – Per non dimenticareStefano CarboniMiniseries; 2 episodesThe CompanyRoberto EscalonaEpisode: "Episode 3"2008I CesaroniHimselfEpisode: "La posta del cuore"15 SecondsActorShort film; also producer2009Intelligence: Servizi & segretiMarco TancrediMain role; 6 episodes2011Treasure GuardsAngeloTelevision film2011–2013Come un delfinoAlessandro DominiciMain role; 6 episodes2013Ultimo – L'occhio del falcoRoberto "Ultimo"Miniseries; 2 episodesFamily GuyMafia leader (voice) Episode: "Boopa-dee Bappa-dee"2014Angeli – Una storia d'amoraClaudioTelevision film2016Fuoco Amico TF45 – Eroe per amoreEnea De SantisMain role; 8 episodes, also producer2018MediciPope Sixtus IVMain role (season 2); 6 episodesUltimo – Caccia ai NarcosRoberto "Ultimo"Miniseries; 2 episodes2019La Reina del SurFrancesco BelmondoMain role; 58 episodes2021–2023Buongiorno mammaGuido BorghiLead role; 24 episodes2022–presentDon MatteoFather MassimoMain role (seasons 13–present)2023BelveHimselfInterview (season 9)2024–2025Emily in ParisGiancarloRecurring role, 5 episodes
References
External links
Raoul Bova as a Style Icon FAO Goodwill Ambassador website