Italian actress Valeria Golino is, according to Wikipedia, “best known to English-language audiences for her roles in Rain Man, Big Top Pee-wee, and the two Hot Shots! films.” But she’s best known to me for her many frock flicks roles! Seeing her pop up in Casanova Last Love made me want to refresh my memory, so let’s refresh together:
Claudia Marchetti alias Carla Morelli – une beauté vengeresse in Dernier été à Tanger (1987)
“In 1956, with the independence of Morocco, the Fedala conference in Tangier is set in a city of turmoil,” per IMDB. Her role translates to “a vengeful beauty.”
Nora Treves in The Gold Rimmed Glasses (1987)
A Jewish student and gay doctor suffer persecution at the hands of fascists in 1938 Italy.
Gemma Rosselli in Torrents of Spring (1989)
An adaptation of a Russian novel: “Set in 1840, the film follows a young Russian aristocrat, Dimitri Sanin, who is torn between the love of a beautiful German pastry-shop girl, Gemma Rosselli, and a Russian seductress, Princess Maria Nikolaevna,” per Wikipedia. How have I not heard of this before?
Jeanne de Luynes in The King’s Whore (1990)
Go read Sarah’s review and cackle at this story about 17th-century Victor Amadeus II of Savoy and his mistress, played by Galino.
Giulietta Guicciardi in Immortal Beloved (1994)
She’s one of three major loves of composer Beethoven in this beautifully costumed Regency/Empire/whatever film.
Lupe Marín in Frida (2002)
She plays Mexican model and novelist in this Frida Kahlo biopic.
Calpurnia in Caesar (2002)
She plays the wife of Caesar in this TV miniseries.
La Cornelys in Casanova, Last Love (2019)
She’s a singer and former lover of Casanova in a small part.
La Comtesse in Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
I so didn’t recognize her as the rich woman who hires a female painter to create a portrait of her daughter in this arty film about two women connecting.
What’s your favorite of Valeria Golino’s many frock flick roles?
Mine will for always be ‘Immortal Beloved’ (1994). Love the story, the actors, setting and beautiful costumes. 👌🏻😊
Valeria Golino is bellissima and very talented as well. She really should be more well known. I’m also going to go with Immortal Beloved as my favorite role here. I saw that version of Caesar when I was studying abroad; it was dubbed in German and thus hilarious to me. I need to re-watch it. I don’t remember her from Frida; I also need to re-watch. Basically, whenever I see her in anything I pay more attention. I didn’t know she was in Portrait of a Lady on Fire, perhaps she’ll be the reason I finally get around to watching it. Interesting WCW choice!