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Nancy Brilli
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Nancy Brilli (Italian pronunciation: [ˈnɛnsi ˈbrilli]; born 10 April 1964 as Nicoletta Brilli) is an Italian film, television and stage actress.
Key Information
Career
[edit]Born in Rome, of partial Ukrainian origin,[1] Nancy Brilli was introduced in cinema by Pasquale Squitieri, making her debut in a role of note in Claretta (1984).[2] In 1990 she won a David di Donatello for Best Supporting Actress and a Silver Ribbon in the same category for the role of Sophie in Little Misunderstandings.[3]
Personal life
[edit]Nancy Brilli was married for two years to actor Massimo Ghini and later, again for two years, to director Luca Manfredi, son of actor and director Nino Manfredi.[2] Previously she had a relationship with the songwriter Ivano Fossati.[4]
In 1994 she discovered she suffered from endometriosis[5] and underwent the removal of an ovarian cancer.[6]
She is a niece of the racing driver Gastone Brilli-Peri.[7]
Filmography
[edit]| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claretta | 1984 | Young Miram Petacci | |
| Demons 2: L'incubo ritorna | 1986 | Hannah | |
| Body Count | Tracy | ||
| Under the Chinese Restaurant | 1987 | Ursula | |
| Compagni di scuola | 1988 | Federica Polidori | |
| Piccoli equivoci | 1989 | Sophie | |
| Italia-Germania 4-3 | 1990 | Giulia | |
| Bruno aspetta in macchina | 1996 | Margherita | |
| Grazie di tutto | 1997 | Francesca Pacifico | |
| Lady and the Tramp | Gilda (voice) | Italian dubbing | |
| Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie | 1999 | Tormentilla (voice) | Italian dubbing |
| Chicken Run | 2000 | Ginger (voice) | Italian dubbing |
| Febbre da cavallo - La mandrakata | 2002 | Aurelia | |
| Natale in crociera | 2007 | Francesca Zanchi | |
| Un'estate al mare | 2008 | Luciana Morabito | |
| Many Kisses Later | 2009 | Caterina | |
| La vita è una cosa meravigliosa | 2010 | Elena | |
| Men vs. Women | Paola | ||
| Women vs. Men | 2011 | Paola | |
| Sapore di te | 2014 | Elena Proietti |
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naso di cane | 1986 | Rosa | Italian TV Miniseries; 3 episodes |
| Due fratelli | 1988 | Monique Garlin | Italian TV Miniseries; 3 episodes |
| Il colore della vittoria | 1990 | Dorina | Television film |
| Italian Restaurant | 1994 | Connie Mancuso | Italian TV Series; 8 episodes |
| Papà prende moglie | Francesca Banfi | Italian TV Series; 8 episodes | |
| Ci vediamo in tribunale | 1996 | Giulia | Television film |
| Meglio tardi che mai | 1999 | Chiara Bandini | Television film |
| Commesse | 1999–2002 | Roberta Ardenzi | Italian TV Series; 12 episodes |
| Il bello delle donne | 2001–2003 | Vicky Melzi | Italian TV Series; 36 episodes |
| I ragazzi della via Pal | 2003 | Anna | Television film |
| I colori della vita | 2005 | Adua | Television film |
| Donne sbagliate | 2007 | Silvia Soriani | Television film |
| Caterina e le sue figlie | Renata Pensiero | Italian TV Series; 6 episodes | |
| Matrimoni e altre follie | 2016 | Luisella Rossini | Italian TV Series; 24 episodes |
| Drag Race Italia | 2022 | Herself | Italian Reality Show; Guest judge[8] |
References
[edit]- ^ Nancy Brilli: «Le uniche operazioni che ho subito» Archived 1 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine vanityfair.it (in Italian).
- ^ a b Lancia, Enrico; Poppi, Roberto, eds. (2003). Le attrici: dal 1930 ai giorni nostri. Dizionario del cinema italiano (in Italian). Rome: Gremese. ISBN 88-8440-214-X.
- ^ Lancia, Enrico (1998). I premi del cinema (in Italian). Preface by Claudio G. Fava. Rome: Gremese. ISBN 88-7742-221-1.
- ^ "Nancy Brilli: Ritorno di fiamma con Ivano Fossati?". Adnkronos (in Italian). 17 December 1994. Archived from the original on 14 November 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
- ^ "Nancy Brilli confessa: "Ho creduto di morire"". Ladies and Gentlemen (in Italian). 20 March 2009. Archived from the original on 22 March 2009. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
- ^ "Operata di tumore ora Nancy Brilli vuole un bambimo". la Repubblica (in Italian). 9 November 1994. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
- ^ Sette, 4 August 2017 (in Italian).
- ^ "Drag Race Italia, in the second episode of October 27 guests Nancy Brilli and Ludovico Tersigni". news.italy-24.com. Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Nancy Brilli at Wikimedia Commons
- Nancy Brilli at IMDb
Nancy Brilli
View on GrokipediaEarly life
Family background
Nancy Brilli, born Nicoletta Brilli on April 10, 1964, in Rome, Italy, grew up in the city's vibrant cultural environment during her early years.[10] Her parents were Enzo Brilli, an executive, and Mirella Brilli, a polyglot housewife with Ukrainian heritage that contributed to the family's partial Eastern European roots.[11][12] Mirella's Ukrainian origins influenced Brilli's distinctive name, derived from an Australian nun named Nancy who taught her mother English, reflecting her mother's linguistic interests.[13] Tragically, Mirella passed away when Brilli was just 10 years old, shaping her childhood in Rome amid familial challenges.[10] Brilli is the niece of the renowned Italian racing driver Gastone Brilli-Peri, who achieved prominence in the 1920s, notably by winning the 1925 Italian Grand Prix and competing in events like the Targa Florio, before his death in a 1930 crash in Tripoli.[14] This connection linked her family to a legacy of adventure and motorsport, though Brilli has no documented siblings, highlighting a close-knit immediate household centered in Rome.[15]Education and training
Nancy Brilli pursued her secondary education at the Istituto Statale d'Arte Roma 1 in Rome, an institution focused on artistic development that has since evolved into a liceo artistico.[16] There, she immersed herself in creative disciplines during her adolescence in the late 1970s and early 1980s, laying the groundwork for her future in the arts.[17] Her curriculum emphasized practical skills in visual arts, particularly graphics and photography, where she honed techniques in graphic design, advertising layout, and photographic composition.[17] These areas fostered her understanding of visual storytelling and aesthetic principles, essential elements that would later inform her approach to performance and character portrayal.[7] Brilli completed her studies by earning the Diploma di Maturità Artistica with a specialization in Grafica Pubblicitaria e Fotografia, qualifying her as a Maestro d'Arte.[17] This formal artistic training, achieved around 1982, marked the transition from her educational phase to early professional pursuits in the performing arts, driven by her burgeoning interest in acting. During her studies, she befriended Vittoria Squitieri, daughter of director Pasquale Squitieri, who later introduced her to her father, facilitating Brilli's entry into acting with her debut role in 1984.[10][18]Career
Film roles
Nancy Brilli debuted in cinema in 1984, portraying the young Miriam Petacci in Pasquale Squitieri's historical drama Claretta, a film centered on the life of Claretta Petacci, Benito Mussolini's mistress, where Brilli's role highlighted familial ties amid political turmoil.[19] Her breakthrough arrived with the 1988 comedy Compagni di scuola, directed by Carlo Verdone, in which she played Federica, a sophisticated former classmate whose reunion invitation uncovers lingering tensions and faded friendships among a group of high school alumni. This ensemble role showcased her comedic timing and helped establish her presence in Italian cinema. The following year, Brilli took on the part of Sophie in Ricky Tognazzi's Piccoli equivoci (also known as Little Misunderstandings, 1989), a romantic comedy exploring tangled relationships and mistaken identities among a circle of friends.[20] During the 1990s, Brilli delivered notable performances in films blending humor and drama. In Italia-Germania 4-3 (1990), directed by Andrea Barzini, she portrayed Giulia, a woman intertwined with a group of male friends whose lives revolve around their obsession with a legendary soccer match, emphasizing themes of camaraderie and nostalgia.[21] She then led as Sara Lancetti, a successful divorce attorney facing personal and mysterious threats, in Gianpaolo Tescari's thriller Tutti gli uomini di Sara (1992), marking one of her prominent dramatic turns.[22] In later years, Brilli continued to diversify her roles in lighter fare and heartfelt stories. She appeared as Elena Proietti, a matriarch dealing with family secrets during a seaside holiday, in Carlo Vanzina's romantic comedy Sapore di te (2014).[23] Her more recent cinematic work includes the role of Filippo's mother in Pierluigi Di Lallo's drama Amici per la pelle (2022), which draws from a true story of unlikely friendship and challenges surrounding Down syndrome.[24] Brilli's film characters frequently embody resilient women navigating relational complexities, from the lighthearted misunderstandings of her 1980s-1990s comedies to the more introspective dramatic supporting parts in her later projects, reflecting her range across genres.Television and stage work
Nancy Brilli's early television career included lead roles in miniseries such as Un cane sciolto (1990–1992), where she played Claudia Baldazzi opposite Sergio Castellitto's judge character in a crime drama.[25] She also starred in Una fredda mattina di maggio (1994), directed by Vittorio Sindoni.[7] She gained prominence in Italian television through her lead role as Roberta Ardenzi in the comedy-drama series Commesse, which aired on Rai 1 from 1999 to 2002.[26] The six-episode miniseries is set in the elegant Roman fashion boutique "Jack Norton" and follows the intertwined personal and professional lives of its six employees—Marta, Roberta, Fiorenza, Paola, Lucia, and Romeo—as they navigate workplace tensions, romances, and individual crises triggered by the arrival of the strict new manager, Francesca Carraro.[26] Each episode centers on one character's story while advancing the ensemble narrative, blending humor with dramatic explorations of ambition, friendship, and self-discovery in a high-stakes retail environment.[26] Brilli's portrayal of Roberta, a sophisticated and resilient saleswoman grappling with romantic entanglements and career insecurities, highlights her character's evolution from a poised professional masking personal vulnerabilities to someone embracing emotional authenticity amid the boutique's upheavals.[26] Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Brilli maintained an active presence on the Italian stage, often in adaptations and original productions that showcased her versatility in comedic and dramatic roles.[27] In 1990, she appeared in Il presente prossimo venturo, a play exploring contemporary relationships under the direction of Giuseppe Patroni Griffi.[27] This was followed by her performance in Ninà (1993–1994), a theatrical adaptation of the classic drawing-room comedy, where she embodied the titular character's wit and complexity.[27] Brilli then starred in Manola (1995–1997), a farce by the Scarnicci and Tarabusi duo, playing a lead role in the chaotic tale of familial and romantic mishaps.[27] Extending into the 2000s, she took on a multifaceted protagonist role in the 2000 Italian adaptation of David Hare's The Blue Room (from Arthur Schnitzler's La Ronde), directed by Marco Sciaccaluga, portraying a series of interconnected female characters including a prostitute, au pair, married woman, model, and actress in a exploration of desire and infidelity.[28] In recent years, Brilli has expanded her television footprint into reality and variety formats. She served as a guest judge on the second season of Drag Race Italia in 2022, appearing in the episode "Colorful Drag, Lucky Drag" alongside host Tommaso Zorzi and fellow judge Ludovico Tersigni, offering insights during the floral runway challenge and critiques of the contestants' performances.[29] In 2024, she participated as a contestant on the eleventh season of the adventure reality show Pechino Express: La Rotta del Dragone, teamed with actor Pierluigi Iorio as "I Brillanti," competing in a grueling race across Vietnam that tested their endurance through local transport, challenges, and eliminations.[30][31] Brilli has also contributed to animated media through voice acting in Italian dubs of international films. In the 1997 redub of Disney's Lady and the Tramp (1955), she provided the voices for the Siamese cats Si and Am, as well as Peg (dubbed as Gilda), infusing the characters with a distinctive flair during musical and dialogue sequences.[32] For Aardman Animations' Chicken Run (2000), released in Italy as Galline in Fuga, Brilli voiced the character of Babs (Gaia in the Italian version), the absent-minded hen obsessed with knitting, adding warmth and humor to the escape-themed adventure.Awards and recent activities
Nancy Brilli earned significant recognition early in her career, winning the David di Donatello Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1990 for her performance in Piccoli equivoci.[33] She also received the Nastro d'Argento in the same category that year for the film.[34] These accolades highlighted her breakthrough during the 1990s, a period of notable success in Italian cinema. Brilli garnered additional nominations from prominent Italian film award bodies, including a David di Donatello nomination for Best Actress in 1991 for Italia-Germania 4-3.[6] She was also nominated for the Nastro d'Argento Best Actress award in 1994 for Tutti gli uomini di Sara.[6] In 2024, Brilli participated in the 11th season of the adventure-reality show Pechino Express, teaming up with actor Pierluigi Iorio as "I Brillanti" and attending the promotional photocall in Milan on March 5. Later that year, she appeared on the red carpet for the premiere of Kjaerlighet at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on September 6. She also attended events during Milan Fashion Week, maintaining her presence in the fashion and entertainment spheres.[35] Turning 60 in April 2024, Brilli reflected on her enduring vitality, stating that her energy and relationship with beauty had remained consistent, underscoring her continued professional momentum.[1] In 2025, she joined the 20th season of Ballando con le Stelle, partnering with dancer Carlo Aloia; the duo performed dances including a rumba in the premiere episode on September 27, a tango on October 4, and a quickstep on October 11, among others in early episodes. Aloia suffered a calf injury during rehearsals on November 6, leading to his replacement by dancer Filippo Zara for subsequent rounds, including the November 15 episode. As of November 2025, Brilli continued in the competition. Despite early mixed jury feedback, Brilli expressed enjoyment in the competition, criticizing overly critical judges as "bullies" who could dampen the experience.[36]Personal life
Relationships
Nancy Brilli was first married to Italian actor Massimo Ghini from 1987 to 1990, a union that began during their collaboration on the set of the miniseries Due fratelli.[10][37][38] Following her divorce, Brilli entered a relationship with singer-songwriter Ivano Fossati that lasted from 1991 to 1994.[39][40] In 1997, she married director Luca Manfredi, son of renowned actor and director Nino Manfredi, and the couple remained together until 2002.[27][41] Their marriage produced one child, a son named Francesco, born in 2000.[42][43] Brilli has not remarried since her second divorce and maintains a close relationship with her son, who is now an adult.[39][44]Health challenges
In 1994, at the age of 30, Nancy Brilli was diagnosed with endometriosis, a chronic condition characterized by the growth of tissue similar to the uterine lining outside the uterus, leading to severe pelvic pain, fatigue, and fertility complications that profoundly affected her quality of life.[45] The disease's symptoms, often misdiagnosed or dismissed, caused her years of intense suffering, which she later described as an "invalidating" ordeal that disrupted her daily activities and emotional well-being.[46] Complications from endometriosis were associated with ovarian cancer, prompting a sudden surgical intervention in the mid-1990s where the tumor and one ovary were removed as part of a total of eight procedures over the years to manage the conditions.[47] Despite being advised that the endometriosis and early surgeries might prevent conception, Brilli gave birth to her son in 2000, which she has described as a miracle. The final surgery around 2015 involved the removal of her uterus and remaining ovary, following a protracted recovery process with multiple hospital stays, ongoing pain management, and hormonal adjustments, though Brilli has emphasized her determination to reclaim vitality despite the scars—both literal and figurative—from the surgeries.[48][49] These health struggles briefly influenced her personal relationships, particularly during periods of intense treatment when family planning became a source of emotional strain.[45] Brilli has openly discussed her experiences in public forums to raise awareness, notably in a 2021 Verissimo interview where she highlighted the diagnostic delays common with endometriosis and her eight surgeries as a call for better research and support.[46] In 2023, she served as a testimonial for the "Cambiamo Rotta" ovarian cancer awareness campaign, sharing how the disease's insidious nature underscores the need for early detection and patient advocacy.[50] Ahead of her 60th birthday in April 2024, Brilli reflected on resilience and beauty in a La Repubblica interview, affirming her commitment to natural harmony and health as markers of inner strength rather than superficial alterations, crediting her journey through illness for fostering greater self-acceptance.[51]Filmography
Films
Nancy Brilli's film career spans from her debut in 1984 to her most recent feature in 2025. The following is a chronological list of her feature film credits, including roles and directors where documented. TV movies and miniseries are excluded from this table and listed under Television.| Year | Title | Role | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Claretta | Young Miriam Petacci | Pasquale Squitieri [19] [2] |
| 1986 | Demons 2 | Hannah | Lamberto Bava [52] [53] |
| 1986 | Body Count | Tracy | Ruggero Deodato [54] |
| 1987 | Sotto il ristorante cinese | Ursula | Bruno Bozzetto [55] |
| 1988 | Compagni di scuola | Maria | Carlo Verdone [56] [57] [58] |
| 1989 | Piccoli equivoci | Sophie | Ricky Tognazzi [20] [9] |
| 1990 | Italia-Germania 4-3 | Giulia | Andrea Barzini [9] [21] |
| 1992 | Tutti gli uomini di Sara | Sara Lancetti | Gianfranco Cabiddu [22] [59] |
| 1998 | Grazie... di tutto | Francesca | Luca Manfredi [60] [54] |
| 2000 | La vita è una cosa meravigliosa | Elena | Carlo Vanzina [54] [61] |
| 2002 | Febbre da cavallo - La mandrakata | Valeria | Carlo Vanzina [59] [58] |
| 2007 | Natale in crociera | Francesca Zanchi | Carlo Vanzina [54] [58] |
| 2008 | Un'estate al mare | Luciana | Carlo Vanzina [54] [61] |
| 2009 | Ex | Linda | Fausto Brizzi [54] [2] |
| 2010 | A Natale mi sposo | Sara | Carlo Vanzina [54] [58] |
| 2011 | Women Vs Men | Paola | Fausto Brizzi [54] [2] |
| 2014 | Sapore di te | Elena Proietti | Carlo Vanzina [54] [61] [23] |
| 2017 | Tiro libero | Laura | Tommaso Bertacche [62] |
| 2017 | Super vacanze di Natale | (uncredited) | Paolo Costella [62] |
| 2019 | Se mi vuoi bene | Giulia | Fausto Brizzi [62] |
| 2022 | Amici per la pelle | Madre di Filippo | Pierluigi Di Lallo [54] [61] |
| 2023 | Un weekend particolare | Elena | Guido Chiesa [63] |
| 2024 | Jago: Into the White | Self | Luigi Pingitore [64] |
| 2025 | A capodanno tutti da me | Patrizia | Volfango De Biasi [64] |