Age: 58
Birthplace: Naples, Italy
Valeria Golino (born 22 October 1965) is an Italian actress and director. She is best known to English-language audiences for her role in the film Rain Man (1988), and the Hot Shots! films. In addition to David di Donatello, Silver Ribbon, Golden Ciak and Italian Golden Globe awards, she is also one of the three actresses who won the Best Actress award at the Venice Film Festival multiple times.
Golino was born in Naples, Italy, to an Italian father who was a Germanist and scholar, and a Greek mother, Lalla, who was a painter; one of her grandmothers was Egyptian-French. She grew up in an "artistic household" and, after her parents split, was raised between Athens and Sorrento (Naples). Golino is the niece of L'Espresso journalist Enzo Golino; her brother is a musician. As a child her mother would frequently take her to the cinema and it is thanks to her that she quickly became interested in films. But in spite of this, she never thought about pursuing a film career until she made her first movie: in fact she wanted to be a cardiologist. She was diagnosed with scoliosis at 11 and had to have a steel rod implanted in her back for five years; she remained in Chicago for six months where she learned to speak English. At 14 she started to work as a model in Athens, Milan (for Vogue magazine), London and Los Angeles: she shot commercials for beers, perfumes and makeups and modeled bathing suits and jeans. An absent-minded student, she dropped out of high school after her first film.
Golino never formally studied acting. Her career started by chance when her uncle Enzo received a phone call from director Lina Wertmüller, who was searching for a young girl for her movie, and encouraged Golino to go to Wertmuller's house and meet her. The two met and Valeria was eventually cast in her film debut A Joke of Destiny (1983), alongside Ugo Tognazzi after an audition where she performed Shakespeare. Despite her parents' reservations and Wertmuller's demanding on-set behavior, she liked the experience so much that she decided to pursue an acting career. She quit modeling, a profession that she never found fulfilling or interesting, and started to study diction and elocution. Among her early auditions were Una spina nel cuore (an audition that she called "distasteful") and The Name of the Rose but she was passed over for both films. She was offered roles in Giochi d'estate (1984) and other similarly themed romantic films about teenagers, but she turned them down to focus on smaller and more challenging projects.
She followed up her debut with a string of independent films, including roles in My Dearest Son and Little Flames (both 1985), her first leading role, both of which won her a Golden Globe award for Best Breakthrough Actress. Later that year she was involved in a car accident which displaced the metal bar in her back and had to have surgery in order to fix it: she was bedridden for five months. Her true star-making role came the following year, when she played the life-loving cleaning lady who romances two different men in A Tale of Love by Francesco Maselli. Her vibrant performance received rave reviews and garnered her two prizes at the 1986 Venice Film Festival: the official Best Actress award (now called Volpi Cup) and the Golden Ciak award. The same film also won her the oldest and most prestigious critics prize of the Italian cinema: the Silver Ribbon award for Best Actress.
Her following projects were once again independent, auteur-driven films: The Gold Rimmed Glasses and Three Sisters. She was supposed to reunite with Maselli for his following film L'uomo della casa di fronte, co-starring Marcello Mastroianni, but the project never got off the ground. The same director then moved on to another film, Codice privato, and Golino turned down the role that was eventually played by Ornella Muti.
She moved to Los Angeles and began to work in Hollywood, with the movie Big Top Pee-Wee (1988). She was cast in Rain Man (also 1988), as the girlfriend of Tom Cruise's chararacter, and the comedy films Hot Shots! (1991) and Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993). Her character's nationality in Rain Man was changed from American to Italian to accommodate her accent. Even though she was known as a dramatic actress in Italy, most of the offers she received in Hollywood were for comedies.
She auditioned for female roles in Pretty Woman and Flatliners but both times she lost the part to Julia Roberts during the final audition. She was first runner-up for both roles and, in the case of Pretty Woman, she revealed many years later: "I was in the running until the final audition: it came to down to Julia Roberts and me. The director asked us to walk in the same corridor, wearing the same clothes and makeup. As soon as I saw her, I knew that she would have been chosen. And since she knew that, she told me: 'Go and get them, big mama!' I wouldn't have dared to say that to my rival. I would have been good in that film but she was perfect". She also turned down the leading role in the Ken Loach film Hidden Agenda, which she called "an offer that I still regret having declined."
In 1993 she was heavily involved in producing and starring in an independent feature film by James Merendino named Cat in the Box (it was never made) and because of that, she was forced to turn down a role in a movie directed by Carlo Verdone.
The following year she was offered the female leading role in True Lies but she had to turn it down for scheduling conflicts with I Sfagi tou kokora (1996), an independent film shot in Cyprus that she desperately wanted to be part of (she joined the film in 1992 while it was still in pre-production). Later that year she was supposed to star with Gian Maria Volontè in the film Treni sull'acqua: the project would have marked her third collaboration with director Peter Del Monte but it was cancelled after Volonté's death.
In early 1996 she was supposed to play a journalist in the film Bravo Randy, directed by Alessandro D'Alatri and also starring Jovanotti, Greta Scacchi and Olivia d'Abo. Jovanotti was cast in the titular role, a tramp who falls into a coma after an accident, and Scacchi would have played a doctor. However the project fell apart just a few months before shooting was slated to begin: fearing a lack of influence, the Italian production company blocked the funds as the film would have been shot in California.
In January 2001 she was supposed to star with Claudio Amendola in a TV mini-series called Cuore di ghiaccio, directed by Luciano Casciani, produced by Mediaset and set in Cefalù, but the project never took off the ground.
She had a supporting role in the successful French thriller 36, Quai des Orfèvres (2004) and a leading role in Cash (2008), although the producers of the film had wanted Kristin Scott Thomas instead. Her role as Irene in Sacred Heart (2004) had been written specifically for her by director Ferzan Ozpetek, but she was forced to abandon the project for personal reasons. She was replaced by Barbora Bobuľová.
In 2005, she was offered the leading role in Fine pena mai (2008) but she turned it down, considering herself to be too old for the part. The role was eventually played by Valentina Cervi.
In 2006 Theodoros Angelopoulos cast her in The Dust of Time (2008) after being impressed by Golino's work in Respiro. However the many delays in the shooting forced her to drop out of the project in late 2007 for scheduling conflicts. She was replaced by Irène Jacob.
In 2009 she was the subject of the monograph Valeria Golino: Respiro d'attrice by Massimo Causo.
The following year she was offered the chance to direct a short film by the company Pasta Garofalo, Armandino e il Madre, for which she also wrote the script.
Golino's first feature film as director, Honey (2013), was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and won a commendation from the Ecumenical Jury.
Despite her self-deprecating reluctance, she also sang in several films, most notably her English-language films Hot Shots! and Big Top Pee-Wee. She also recorded two LPs in 1987, the song 'Maybe Once More' for L'inverno and 'Piangi Roma' for Giulia Doesn't Date at Night (featuring Baustelle), the latter of which won her a Silver Ribbon award for Best Song.
She is a member of AMPAS thanks to the invitation of Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau.
In 2016 she was a member of the main competition jury of the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.
She also appeared in several music videos:
Event | Year | Film | Award | Category | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annecy Italian Film Festival, France | 2012 | Kryptonite! | Best Actress Award | Won | |
Athens Panorama of European Cinema, Greece | 2009 | Giulia Doesn't Date at Night | Special Award for Acting | Won | |
Barcelona Italian Film Festival, Spain | 2013 | - | Honorary CSCI Award | Won | |
Bari International Film Festival, Italy | 2014 | Come il vento | Italian Competition Award | Best Actress | Won |
Brussels European Film Festival, Belgium | 2013 | Honey | Euromillions Audience Award | Won | |
Studio L'Équipe Award | Won | ||||
Busto Arsizio Film Festival, Italy | 2003 | Respiro | Best Actress Award | Won | |
Cannes Film Festival, France | 2013 | Honey | Special Mention of the Ecumenical Jury | Won | |
Golden Camera Award | Nominated | ||||
Un Certain Regard Award | Nominated | ||||
Capri Hollywood, Italy | 2013 | Come il vento | Capri European Actress Award | Won | |
Castle of Precicchie Prize, Italy | 2014 | - | Castle of Precicchie Prize | Won | |
Cervia Spettacoli e Dintorni Festival, Italy | 1986 | - | Best Newcomer Award | Won | |
Cinema Italian Style, USA | 2006 | - | Innovator Award | Won | |
David di Donatello Awards, Italy | 2015 | The Invisible Boy | David di Donatello | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated |
2014 | Human Capital | David di Donatello | Best Supporting Actress | Won | |
Honey | David di Donatello | Best New Director | Nominated | ||
Best Screenplay | Nominated | ||||
2012 | Kryptonite! | David di Donatello | Best Actress | Nominated | |
2009 | Giulia Doesn't Date at Night | David di Donatello | Best Actress | Nominated | |
2008 | Quiet Chaos | David di Donatello | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | |
2006 | Mario's War | David di Donatello | Best Actress | Won | |
2003 | Respiro | David di Donatello | Best Actress | Nominated | |
1998 | Le acrobate | David di Donatello | Best Actress | Nominated | |
1988 | The Gold Rimmed Glasses | David di Donatello | Best Actress | Nominated | |
1987 | A Tale of Love | David di Donatello | Best Actress | Nominated | |
Eolie Film Festival, Italy | 1987 | - | Plate of the City of Lipari | Won | |
European Film Awards | 2013 | Honey | European Film Award | Discovery of the Year | Nominated |
2003 | Respiro | Audience Award | Best Actress | Nominated | |
Federazione Italiana Cinema d'Essai, Italy | 2011 | Kryptonite! | FICE Award | Best Actress | Won |
2006 | Our Country | FICE Award | Best Actress | Won | |
2005 | Mario's War | FICE Award | Best Actress | Won | |
Festival delle Cerase, Italy | 2007 | Mario's War | Winter Award | Won | |
Flaiano International Awards, Italy | 2013 | Honey | Golden Pegasus | Best Director | Won |
2006 | Mario's War | Golden Pegasus | Best Actress | Won | |
Gallio Film Festival, Italy | 2013 | Honey | Best Screenplay Award | Won | |
Gavoi Film Festival, Italy | 2005 | - | Honorary Silver Tumbarinu | Won | |
Giffoni Film Festival, Italy | 2011 | - | Giffoni Award | Won | |
2002 | Respiro | Bronze Gryphon | Best Actress | Won | |
Golden Ciak Awards, Italy | 2015 | The Invisible Boy | Golden Ciak | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated |
2014 | Honey | Golden Ciak | Best First Feature | Won | |
Best Screenplay | Nominated | ||||
2012 | Kryptonite! | Golden Ciak | Best Actress | Won | |
2011 | L'amore buio | Golden Ciak | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | |
2008 | Quiet Chaos | Golden Ciak | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | |
1987 | A Tale of Love | Golden Ciak | Best Actress | Won | |
Golden Globe Awards, Italy | 2013 | Honey | Golden Globe | Best Debut Feature Film | Won |
2012 | Kryptonite! | Golden Globe | Best Actress | Nominated | |
2006 | Mario's War | Golden Globe | Best Actress | Won | |
2004 | Take Me Away | Golden Globe | Best Actress | Nominated | |
2002 | L'inverno | Golden Globe | Best Actress | Nominated | |
1986 | Little Flames | Golden Globe | Best Breakthrough Actress | Won | |
My Dearest Son | |||||
Golden Goblet Awards, Italy | 1997 | Le acrobate | Golden Goblet | Best Actress | Won |
Golden Graal Awards, Italy | 2009 | Quiet Chaos | Golden Graal | Best Dramatic Actress | Nominated |
2008 | The Girl by the Lake | Golden Graal | Best Dramatic Actress | Won | |
2007 | Mario's War | Golden Graal | Best Dramatic Actress | Nominated | |
2006 | Texas | Golden Graal | Best Dramatic Actress | Nominated | |
2005 | 36 Quai des Orfèvres | Golden Graal | Best International Performer | Won | |
Golden Sacher Awards, Italy | 1997 | Le acrobate | Golden Sacher | Best Actress | Won |
Haifa International Film Festival, Israel | 2013 | Honey | Special Mention of the Jury | Won | |
Ischia Global Film and Music Festival, Italy | 2013 | Honey | Breakout Italian Director of the Year Award | Won | |
Kinéo Awards, Italy | 2013 | Honey | Kinéo Award | Won | |
2012 | Kryptonite! | Kinéo Award | Best Actress | Nominated | |
2009 | Giulia Doesn't Date at Night | Kinéo Award | Best Actress | Nominated | |
2008 | The Girl by the Lake | Kinéo Award | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | |
Quiet Chaos | Kinéo Award | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | ||
2003 | Respiro | Kinéo Award | Best Actress | Won | |
Lecce European Film Festival, Italy | 2007 | - | Honorary Award | Won | |
Ljubljana International Film Festival, Slovenia | 2013 | Honey | Kingfisher Award | Won | |
Los Angeles Italia, USA | 2014 | - | Excellence Award | Won | |
Lux Prize | 2013 | Honey | Lux Prize | 2nd place | |
Magna Graecia Film Festival, Italy | 2013 | Honey | Best First Feature Award | Won | |
Mantova Film Festival, Italy | 2013 | Honey | Golden Laurel | Won | |
Maremetraggio International Festival, Italy | 2012 | Kryptonite! | Ippocampo Competition Award | Best Actress | Won |
Marzamemi Border Film Festival, Italy | 2007 | - | WindJet Award | Won | |
Mons International Love Film Festival, Belgium | 2003 | Respiro | Best Actress Award | Won | |
New Italian Cinema Events Festival, Italy | 2012 | Kryptonite! | Susan Batson Award | Best Acting Performance | Won |
Nice Italian Film Festival, France | 1985 | My Dearest Son | Best Newcomer Award | Won | |
Primavera del Cinema Italiano Festival, Italy | 2009 | Giulia Doesn't Date at Night | Federico II Award | Best Actress | Won |
Rome Film Festival, Italy | 2013 | Come il vento | L.A.R.A. Award | Won | |
Sergio Amidei Prize | 2013 | Honey | Sergio Amidei Prize | Won | |
Silver Ribbon Awards, Italy | 2014 | Come il vento | Silver Ribbon | Best Actress | Nominated |
2013 | Honey | Silver Ribbon | Best Debut Feature Film | Won | |
2012 | Kryptonite! | Silver Ribbon | Best Actress | Nominated | |
2011 | Armandino e il Madre | Silver Ribbon | Best Debut Short Film | Won | |
Best Short Film | Nominated | ||||
2010 | The Cézanne Affair | Silver Ribbon | Best Actress | Nominated | |
2009 | Giulia Doesn't Date at Night | Silver Ribbon | Best Original Song | Won | |
Best Actress | Nominated | ||||
2007 | Mario's War | Silver Ribbon | Best Actress | Nominated | |
2006 | Texas | Silver Ribbon | Best Actress | Nominated | |
2004 | Take Me Away | Silver Ribbon | Best Actress | Nominated | |
2002 | Respiro | Silver Ribbon | Best Actress | Won | |
1999 | Shooting the Moon | Silver Ribbon | Best Actress | Nominated | |
1989 | Rain Man | Silver Ribbon | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | |
1988 | Three Sisters | Silver Ribbon | Best Actress | Nominated | |
1987 | A Tale of Love | Silver Ribbon | Best Actress | Won | |
1986 | Little Flames | Silver Ribbon | Best Actress | Nominated | |
Sulmona Film Festival, Italy | 2002 | Respiro | Best Actress Award | Won | |
Taormina Film Festival, Italy | 2006 | Mario's War | Best Actress Award | Won | |
- | Taormina Arte Award for Cinematic Excellence | Won | |||
Terra di Siena Film Festival, Italy | 2009 | - | Honorary Award | Won | |
Tétouan International Mediterranean Festival, Morocco | 2014 | Honey | Best First Work Award | Won | |
Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Greece | 2006 | - | Honorary Golden Alexander | Won | |
1996 | I sfagi tou kokora | Greek Competition Award | Best Actress | Won | |
Trani Film Festival, Italy | 2002 | - | Stupor Mundi Award | Won | |
Valenciennes Festival 2 Cinéma, France | 2014 | Come il vento | Best Actress Award | Won | |
Vasto Film Festival, Italy | 2012 | - | Honorary Award | Won | |
Venice Film Festival, Italy | 2015 | For Your Love | Volpi Cup | Best Actress | Won |
Pasinetti Award | Best Actress | Won | |||
1986 | A Tale of Love | Best Actress Award | Won | ||
Golden Ciak | Best Actress | Won | |||
Viareggio EuropaCinema Festival, Italy | 2003 | Take Me Away | EuropaCinema Award | Best Actress | Won |
Vittorio De Sica Awards, Italy | 2013 | Honey | Vittorio De Sica Award | Won | |
1986 | - | Vittorio De Sica Award | Won |