Early Life and Background

Ornella Muti, born Francesca Romana Rivelli, is an acclaimed Italian actress known for her extensive work in European cinema and selective roles in international films. She was born in Rome to a Neapolitan journalist father and Ilse Renate Krause, a Baltic German sculptor originally from Estonia. Muti's maternal grandparents emigrated from Leningrad to Estonia. She has an older sister, Claudia, born in 1950.

Acting Career

Muti began her career as a model before transitioning into acting. She made her film debut in 1970 at the age of 15 in the Italian drama La moglie più bella (The Most Beautiful Wife), directed by Damiano Damiani. The film, based on a real-life story of a young Sicilian girl’s defiance against forced marriage, showcased Muti's talent and marked the beginning of her successful acting career.

While primarily active in Italian cinema, Muti made her English-language debut as Princess Aura in the cult science fiction film Flash Gordon (1980), which brought her international attention. She went on to appear in a variety of American and European films, including Love and Money (1982), Casanova (1987), Wait Until Spring, Bandini (1989), A Season of Giants (1990), Oscar (1991), Once Upon a Crime (1992), Somewhere in the City (1998), and Woody Allen’s To Rome with Love (2012).

Public Recognition and Global Popularity

Beyond the silver screen, Ornella Muti also gained popularity for her appearance in a French television commercial for Giovanni Panzani pasta, further expanding her recognition in Europe. Her appearance and charm earned her widespread admiration; in 1994, she was named "The Most Beautiful Woman in the World" by an international poll conducted among readers of the Italian magazine Class.