| Actor, director, producer, screenwriter Date of Birth: Country: Italy |
Giancarlo Giannini is an actor, director, producer, and screenwriter. He was born on August 1, , in La Spezia, Italy. Initially, he was interested in electronics and studied it for 10 years in Naples. However, his interests shifted towards acting. At the age of 18, he enrolled in the National Academy of Dramatic Arts in Rome and made his stage debut in as Puck in Shakespeare's play "A Midsummer Night's Dream".
Giannini quickly gained a rich theatrical experience, which was enough for him to try his hand at movies. Since the s, Giancarlo Giannini's name has been known worldwide. Before appearing in American films and television, this expressive actor was a pillar of arthouse cinema in his native Italy. His melancholic manners made him perfect for portraying characters who were humiliated and deprived, whose lives were a daily struggle for survival. He worked most frequently with director Lina Wertmüller, who cast him in almost all of her films, the most notable being "Seven Beauties" (). His role as a concentration camp prisoner humiliated in order to stay alive earned Giannini an Oscar nomination.
Unlike many of his European contemporaries, Giannini remained active in the s and the early s. His excellent command of English and ability to speak with various accents opened doors for him in the world of American cinema. He received solid support in the form of several outstanding films, including "A Walk in the Clouds" (), "Hannibal" (), "Casino Royale" (), and its sequel "Quantum of Solace" ().
From his marriage to Livia Giampalmo from to , Giannini has two sons - Adriano and Lorenzo.