Isabella Ferrari

Isabella Fogliazza—better known as Isabella Ferrari, because, let’s face it, that name just pops—was born in Ponte Dell’Olio and pretty much waltzed into Italian cinema in the early ‘80s. Her first big splash was “Sapore di Mare” (1982), and honestly, after that? She was everywhere: “Sapore di Mare 2,” “Appuntamento a Liverpool,” “Chewingum,” and the hilarious “Il Ragazzo del Poni Express.” Those ‘80s comedies were her playground. By ‘89 she was starring with Francesco Nuti in “Willi Signori e Vengo da lontano,” and then dove into darker waters with “Cronaca di un amore violato,” inspired by Anna Maria Pellegrino’s book. She didn’t shy away from tough roles—working with Sergio Castellitto in “Hotel di Paura” and then hopping over to a French production with “K” in 1997. Big moment? “Romanzo di un Giovane Povero” with Alberto Sordi, directed by Ettore Scola—she snagged the Coppa Volpi for best supporting actress at Venice. Not too shabby. The late ‘90s and early 2000s, she was everywhere again, from “Dolce far Niente” to “Vajont,” “La lingua del Santo,” and even the hit TV series “Distretto di Polizia” as Commissioner Giovanna Scalise. Ferrari kept flexing her dramatic muscles: “Amatemi,” “Arrivederci Amore ciao,” “Saturno Contro,” “Un giorno Perfetto”—the latter even earned her the Pasinetti Award. She joined Woody Allen for a cameo in “To Rome with Love,” then worked with Paolo Sorrentino in “The Great Beauty.” More recently, she’s shown up in Netflix’s “Baby,” “Sotto il Sole di Riccione,” and “Rapiniamo il Duce.” No sign of slowing down—she’s still lighting up screens, big and small.