Ornella Muti

Ornella Muti is an actress of Italian, Spanish, and French cinema. One can only envy the appearance of this movie star; her youthfulness remains unaffected by time, as it holds no power over the age of this Italian beauty.

In addition to her film career, Ornella also worked as a fashion model for adult magazines and as a television presenter. Today, she has her own jewelry brand.

Biography of Ornella Muti

Francesca Romana Rivelli and her twin sister Claudia were born in the capital of Italy on March 9, 1955. Fans of the actress know her by the pseudonym Ornella Muti. The girl’s biography was shaped by success, thanks to hard work and some fortunate coincidences. Their father was born in Naples and worked as a journalist, while their mother, originally from Estonia, was a sculptor. The actress’s maternal grandparents left Russia (St. Petersburg) in 1917, unable to accept the established Soviet power in the country due to their aristocratic background.

The Rivelli family lived modestly, often struggling financially. When their father tragically died under unclear circumstances, their mother was forced to raise Francesca and Claudia alone. Family problems became an obstacle on the young woman’s path to an acting career.

The Girl Found Work

The family struggled to make ends meet, barely having enough money for food, let alone fashionable clothes and other things.

At the age of 13, Francesca came up with an idea to earn money: she enrolled in an art school and agreed to pose nude.

She later started appearing in erotic magazines, claiming to be 18 years old. One day, a revealing photo from one of those magazines caught the attention of her school teacher, and the news of her photoshoots reached the school principal and her mother.

The principal wanted to expel her from school, and her mother punished her severely. This story was not publicized due to the family’s severe financial crisis, but Francesca insisted that she wasn’t stealing, but rather trying to earn a living.

• Ornella’s figure measurements during her youth were truly impressive: bust – 90 cm (35.4 inches), waist – 62 cm (24.4 inches), hips – 89 cm (35 inches).

First Role

When the girl turned 14, her sister was going to audition for the film “The Most Beautiful Wife.” Claudia, not wanting to go alone, invited Francesca to accompany her. Director Domenico Domiani spotted a potential star in the random visitor with long hair and started taking test photos despite her resistance.

Domiani came up with the pseudonym – Ornella Muti. The photos turned out well, and she was given the role of a 17-year-old girl.

The film didn’t bring fame to the actress but opened up opportunities for another way to earn a living. Additionally, during the filming, the girl met Alessio Orano (her on-screen husband), who was 10 years older than her.

In her youth, Ornella Muti, starting from the age of 12, began to attract the attention of male fans. Alessio was also unable to resist, but the beauty did not reciprocate, preferring another man. At the age of 18, Ornella gave birth to her daughter Naïke with her beloved, but he ran back to his wife as soon as he found out about the girl’s pregnancy. It is believed that it was producer José de Castro. A year later, Orano and Muti got married.

After the release of the first film with the unknown aspiring actress, she began to receive numerous offers, mostly from comedy directors. Whether Ornella Muti was nude or not, she was always attractive to men and aroused envy in other, less successful actresses.

There were many different rumors about the girl in the press, with multiple fictional love stories attributed to her with the men around her.

Top Five Films

In 1976, the film “The Last Woman” was released, offering Ornella Muti the lead role without auditions. This was the idea of director Marco Ferreri. After winning numerous awards in the role of Valerie, the actress achieved the same level of popularity as Gina Lollobrigida. Films such as “Death of a Corrupt Man” (a collaboration with Alain Delon), Chukhrai’s “First Love,” and the adaptation of the fantastic comic “Flash Gordon” (co-starring Timothy Dalton) brought worldwide fame to the actress.

1. In 1980, audiences saw the film “The Taming of the Shrew,” which made it onto the list of the top 250 global hits according to IMDb. Adriano Celentano and Ornella Muti were already well-known to the public at that time. He represented the epitome of a tough macho, while she portrayed a childlike woman. In fact, they were playing themselves.
   
   The film had overwhelming success not only in the actors’ home country but also in many other countries around the world. During the filming of the movie, actress Ornella Muti fell in love with the handsome Adriano, and he reciprocated her feelings. They both left their respective spouses and began living together, but Muti and Orano divorced officially, while Celentano’s wife remained Claudia Mori.
2. The successful duo of actors and lovers split up after their second joint film, “Madly in Love,” when Adriano returned to his wife and Ornella let him go, not wanting to continue as just the mistress of the married Italian.
3. Ornella Muti starred with Gérard Depardieu in the TV series “The Count of Monte Cristo.” The series was released in Depardieu’s native language and became a collaboration between French, German, and Italian cinema.
4. The film “Bonnie and Clyde Italian Style” was recognized as the best comedy of the 1980s due to its perfectly selected cast. The director was Steno.
5. Sylvester Stallone became Muti’s partner in the comedy “Oscar,” where he played a gangster. The film adaptation took place in the United States.

Filmography

Ornella Muti approached films of any genre with seriousness and responsibility, combining true Italian sexuality and childlike naivety in her performances. The actress has appeared in over 100 works spanning more than 100 films. Primarily, she took on leading roles. Behind the scenes of many films, there are interesting stories and curious facts unknown to the viewers.

“The Taming of the Scoundrel” (1980)

Interesting Facts

1. The film became the highest-grossing in the history of Italian cinema, collecting 19 billion lire during its theatrical run. In the Soviet Union, it gained immense popularity in 1983 and continues to be beloved by residents of the former Soviet republics to this day.
2. The title of the film is borrowed from Shakespeare’s play “The Taming of the Shrew,” with only the gender roles reversed. The name of the main character, Elia, is phonetically similar to the name of the biblical prophet Elijah. In the Bible, Elijah was known for his strong personality, and his antagonist was the beautiful Jezebel, the wife of the Jewish king. In the film, there is a scene where Elia sends ravens to feed on a neighboring plot, which corresponds to the biblical legend of the prophet Elijah being fed by ravens.
3. The film takes place in the province of Pavia, Lombardy. The town of Voghera is not so small; today its population exceeds 38,000 people.
4. The gas station where Lisa undresses is located in Arluno and is still in operation.
5. The scene where Elia crushes grapes with his feet in the film is not accidental. The region is renowned for its vineyards for over 1,000 years. In the 1980s, the harvest was traditionally carried out by the entire community. The screenplay authors didn’t distort the depiction of the discussion about the mechanization of winemaking. Today, 20 wine brands from the province of Pavia are marked with the DOC quality label.
6. The restaurant where the scene of Elia and Lisa’s lunch was filmed can be visited today. It is called Villa Pio and is located on the Ticino River. It specializes in fish and rice dishes. The restaurant’s interior is adorned with numerous posters from the movie “Taming of the Shrew.” It is a popular venue for wedding celebrations among the locals.
7. In the film, there is a scene where Lisa tries to seduce Elia in a car. This scene takes place at Lake Annone (Lago di Annone) in the province of Lecco. The lake is divided in half by the Isella Peninsula, and its shores have become a favored spot for romantic getaways.
8. The hitchhiking scene was filmed in the village of Oggiono, near Lake Annone. Every year, a livestock exhibition takes place in this area.
9. In Soviet film distribution, many scenes considered provocative at the time were cut from the movie. Audiences did not see the hunting organized for the hunters, the scene of the cow escaping from the hotel, the restaurant fight between the main heroine and her friend, and the scene where Elia rejects Lisa, who had climbed naked into his bed.
10. After the removal of the last scene, it becomes somewhat unclear why the girl called her ex-boyfriend and urgently asked him to pick her up from the scoundrel Elia. It appeared as follows: Lisa claims that she still has some time to conquer the elusive bachelor and immediately calls her boyfriend while wrapped in a blanket.
11. The film concludes with the song “Innamorata, Incavolata A Vita” by Adriano Celentano, which became a national hit in Italy for 16 weeks.

“Romanzo Popolare” (1974)

Interesting Facts

1. This film marked the beginning of Ornella Muti’s career as a serious actress. Director Mario Monicelli chose Muti for the complex and ambiguous main female role in a love triangle, recognizing her beauty, talent, and naturalness in front of the camera.
2. The film is restricted for viewers under the age of 16. The main male role is portrayed by Ugo Tognazzi. Initially, it was intended to be given to Nino Manfredi. The second main male role is played by Michele Placido. Russian TV viewers might recognize him as Commissario Cattani from the TV series “La Piovra.”
3. In 1975, the film received the “David di Donatello” award for Best Screenplay. It represents a late example of Italian comedy and can be considered a romantic comedy. The light-heartedness of the nation prevented the film from becoming purely dramatic. The screenplay fully reflects the social mood of the 1970s.
4. The film’s ending is left undefined by the screenwriters, allowing viewers to interpret it for themselves. However, the plot leads to a positive conclusion of the story.
5. The duo of Tognazzi and Muti could also be seen in two other films: “The Bishop’s Bedroom” (1977) and “New Monsters” (1977).

“The Last Woman” (1976)

Interesting Facts

1. The drama of the married life of a young couple, Gabriel and Gerard (played by Gérard Depardieu), takes an unexpected turn when the young wife leaves her husband, leaving him with a child who is not even a year old. Gerard starts a romance with the son’s nanny, Valerie (played by Ornella Muti), but the emotional state of the main character prevents them from building a relationship.
2. The screenwriters (Renato Ascione, Nicolò Sponzilli), director (Marco Ferreri), and the stellar cast of actors skillfully portrayed the inability of a man to live up to masculine ideals. The film turned out to be scandalous, hypernaturalistic, with numerous intimate scenes. It is one of the director’s darkest and most closed-off films.
3. Only in this film can you observe Depardieu naked for an extended period of time.

Quotes

Ornella Muti, an actress of Italian origin, was one of the first to start undressing in Italian cinema without losing her mystique and refinement.

With Russian roots, this Italian actress has already celebrated her 60th birthday, yet she continues to delight her fans with her blooming appearance, wisdom, and style.

Here are some of her statements:

• The myth that women only love wealthy men was invented by lazy weaklings. In reality, women love not rich men, but strong men who have achieved something and continue to take action.
• I tried to identify and eliminate in myself everything that I disliked in people. Everything I liked, I tried to acquire.
• The truth is that you shouldn’t jump at every chance.
• It doesn’t matter if you’re the first or the second. What matters is that you honestly do your work and enjoy it.
• Movement is the best way to stay in good shape.
• If you can, you should help.
• You can undergo plastic surgery and be satisfied, or you can be satisfied without undergoing plastic surgery.
• Aging is painful. Denying it is hypocritical.
• Right now, the most important thing for me is what is happening at this moment. I’m used to living for today.
• The inner life of every person gives light. This light is what we call beauty.

By embracing both external and internal beauty, Ornella Muti is currently heavily involved in charity work, helping sick children. She is one of the most influential and wealthy Italian actresses.

In Moscow

Charitable foundations often invite the actress to Moscow. The first time she visited Russia was in the 1970s, choosing Leningrad for her visit. Currently, Ornella brings gifts to Russian children’s hospitals and donates the proceeds from the sale of her legendary dresses from movies.

In 2015, the actress was fined €600 by an Italian court for concert cancellation. Ornella claimed to be ill, but at the same time, she appeared with Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg at a charity event.

Personal life: Husbands and Children

Ornella’s first husband, Muty, lived with her for 6 years, and her marriage to Adriano Celentano never materialized. In 1988, the actress’s life partner became the producer and businessman Federico Facchinetti, with whom she was married for 10 years. Her husband had multiple affairs, not always choosing attractive women as his mistresses. Due to financial scandals, he repeatedly faced legal problems and accumulated significant debts. The family lived off Ornella’s money, and her husband issued fake checks in her name for substantial amounts, leading to a large misappropriation of shareholder funds.

Despite having two children from her marriage to Facchinetti, Ornella left her husband after paying off all his debts to obtain a divorce. After some time, the hapless fraudster finds himself behind bars again.

In 1998, fans of the actress learned that Ornela Muti had become the wife of Italian plastic surgeon Stefano Piccolo. However, in 2008, they separated due to an ultimatum from her spouse. He asked Ornela to choose between him and her children, as he did not want to share his beloved with anyone else. Ornela chose her children.

In 2008, Ornela Muti married a magnate and jeweler named Fabrice Carerve, who was 10 years younger than her. He provided support to his wife in organizing the jewelry business and helped launch their own brand. The beautiful Italian actress’s boutiques are open in Italy, France, and Russia.

According to Ornela Muti, children are always a mixture of challenges and happiness. If something doesn’t work out for the children, it brings pain. Her eldest daughter, Naïke Rivelli, followed in her mother’s footsteps, starting to pose for men’s magazines at an early age and giving birth to her first son, Akash, at a young age. The mother was angry with her daughter for a long time and ceased communication for a whole year. However, blood ties cannot be easily severed, and soon the most beautiful grandmother on the planet got acquainted with her grandson, forgiving her eldest daughter.

• Ornela’s daughter, Carolina Faccinetti, who is an exact copy of her mother, got married and also gave birth to a son named Alessandro.
• Her younger son, Andrea Faccinetti, is currently dating a girl and also dreams of an acting career.

Current Photo of the Actress

Ornella Muti currently lives in Monte Carlo and owns vineyards in Tuscany. Her income from the jewelry business and winemaking allows her to engage in charity work without making it particularly public. With a height of 168 cm, the actress weighs 55 kg. She follows Buddhist philosophy, prioritizes getting more sleep, and avoids consuming meat, fish, and dairy products. She also adheres to a blood type diet. Ornella has quit smoking, abstains from alcohol, and follows a specially designed exercise routine.

Her last work as an actress was released in 2012, and she hasn’t appeared in films since then. Currently, the striking brunette has transformed into a blonde and frequently attends fashion shows and film festivals.

Interesting Facts about Ornella Muti

1. The 60-year-old actress actively uses social media, and fans can follow her life on Instagram and Facebook.
2. Ornella is on her way to obtaining Russian citizenship.
3. In the film “The Taming of the Shrew,” the Italian actress appeared in a sky-blue dress, which was later sold for $15,000 at an auction.
4. The pristine white dress from the film “Crazy in Love” was sold for $18,000.
5. Muti claims that she has never used the services of plastic surgeons.
6. Her pregnancy and desire not to interrupt it led her to choose the prospect of becoming a mother over starring in a Hollywood blockbuster.
7. Ornella Muti speaks five languages: Italian, Spanish, German, French, and English. She is also learning the Russian language.

FAQ about Ornella Muti