1. Life
Stefania Casini's life has been marked by a diverse educational background and a rapid ascent into the world of performing arts, leading to a prolific career spanning several decades.
1.1. Birth and Childhood
Stefania Casini was born on 4 September 1948, in the Sondrio Province of the Lombardy region in Italy.
1.2. Education
Prior to embarking on her acting career, Casini pursued studies in architecture. She later honed her craft by attending a theatre school in Milan, which laid the foundation for her professional acting debut.
1.3. Early Career Development
Casini made her stage debut in 1969 at the Teatro San Babila in Milan. The following year, in 1970, she transitioned to film, making her debut in Pietro Germi's A Pocketful of Chestnuts (Le Castagne sono BuoneA Pocketful of ChestnutsItalian), marking the initial stage of her long and varied career in cinema.
2. Major Activities and Achievements
Stefania Casini's career encompasses significant contributions as both an actress and a filmmaker, demonstrating her versatility and enduring presence in the industry.
2.1. Acting Career
Casini's acting career is notable for her roles in both Italian and international productions. In 1976, she appeared in Bernardo Bertolucci's epic film 1900 (Novecento1900Italian), where she starred alongside prominent actors such as Robert De Niro and Gérard Depardieu. Her performance as Sara in Dario Argento's iconic 1977 horror film Suspiria (SuspiriaSuspiriaItalian) is particularly well-known, where she played a student who befriends the protagonist at a ballet school.
Other significant acting roles include Rubinia in Blood for Dracula (1974), Marta Hayworth in Emergency Squad (1974), Luciana in The Climber (1975), and P.G. in Andy Warhol's Bad (1977). She also portrayed a Feminist Actress in Bye Bye Monkey (1978) and Flavia Speckler in The Belly of an Architect (1987). In recent years, Casini has also served as the visual inspiration for the comic book adaptation of Frank Wedekind's play Lulu, adapted by John Linton Roberson. Her acting career extends to television, including her role as Annamaria in the 1988 TV series Donna.
2.2. Directing and Screenwriting Career
Beyond her work as an actress, Stefania Casini has established herself as a notable film director and screenwriter. She transitioned into directing in 1983 with her debut film Lontano da dove. Since then, she has directed a total of twelve productions, which include both feature films and television projects. Additionally, Casini has contributed as a screenwriter for nine different works. She is currently recognized for her work as a director of documentaries.
3. Filmography
Stefania Casini's extensive filmography includes roles as an actress and projects as a director and screenwriter.
| Year | Title | Original Title | Role / Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | A Pocketful of Chestnuts | Le Castagne sono BuoneA Pocketful of ChestnutsItalian | Carla Lotito | ||
| 1974 | The Cousin | La cuginaThe CousinItalian | Lisa Scuderi | ||
| 1974 | Emergency Squad | Squadra volanteEmergency SquadItalian | Marta Hayworth | ||
| 1974 | Blood for Dracula | {{lang|it|Dracula cerca sangue di vergine... e morì di sete | Blood for Dracula}} | Rubinia (Also known as Andy Warhol's Dracula) | |
| 1975 | The Climber | L'ambiziosoThe ClimberItalian | Luciana | ||
| 1975 | The Big Delirium | Il grande delirioThe Big DeliriumItalian | Sonia | ||
| 1976 | Luna di miele in tre | Graziella Luraghi | |||
| 1976 | Proseneti | Role unspecified | |||
| 1976 | 1900 | Novecento1900Italian | Neve | ||
| 1977 | Andy Warhol's Bad | BadBadEnglish | P.G. | ||
| 1977 | Suspiria | SuspiriaSuspiriaItalian | Sara | ||
| 1977 | Maschio latino cercasi | Anna | |||
| 1978 | The Bloodstained Shadow | Solamente neroThe Bloodstained ShadowItalian | Sandra Sellani | ||
| 1978 | How to Lose a Wife and Find a Lover | Come perdere una moglie e trovare un'amanteHow to Lose a Wife and Find a LoverItalian | Marisa | ||
| 1978 | Bye Bye Monkey | Ciao maschioBye Bye MonkeyItalian | Feminist Actress | ||
| 1979 | Dedicato al mare Egeo | Gloria | |||
| 1983 | Lontano da dove | Actress, Director, Screenwriter (Directorial debut) | |||
| 1985 | Il mondo dell'orrore di Dario Argento | Herself (Documentary) | |||
| 1987 | The Belly of an Architect | The Belly of an ArchitectThe Belly of an ArchitectEnglish | Flavia Speckler | ||
| 1988 | Donna | Annamaria (TV series) | |||
| 1992 | Damned the Day I Met You | Maledetto il giorno che t'ho incontratoDamned the Day I Met YouItalian | Clari | ||
| 2016 | Cinque Mondi | Role unspecified | |||
| 2019 | Dafne | DafneDafneItalian | Maria | ||
| 2022 | The Goldsmith | L'OrafoThe GoldsmithItalian | Giovanna |
4. Evaluation and Awards
Stefania Casini's performances have garnered critical recognition throughout her career. For her work in the 1983 film Lontano da dove, she received two nominations for the prestigious David di Donatello Award, one of Italy's most significant film honors.
5. Impact
Stefania Casini has left a notable impact on the Italian film industry through her multifaceted career. Her ability to transition seamlessly between acting, directing, and screenwriting has made her a versatile figure in the arts. Her collaborations with internationally renowned directors and her memorable performances in critically acclaimed films have cemented her status as an influential artist. As a director of documentaries, she continues to contribute to the cinematic landscape, showcasing her enduring passion for storytelling and filmmaking.