Who Is Monica Bellucci? A Deep-Dive into the 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' Star

For three decades, actress Monica Bellucci has appeared in movies ranging from low-budget arthouse titles to major blockbuster flicks, and now she’s appearing in one of the most hotly-anticipated films of the year: the long-awaited Beetlejuice sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

Alongside fellow franchise newbies Jenna Ortega, Willem Dafoe and Justin Theroux, the stunning European star joins the cast of the fantasy-horror comedy, which also features returning actors Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz, Catherine O’Hara as Delia Deetz and, of course, Michael Keaton as our eponymous "bio-exorcist.”

Related: Fans Praise Jenna Ortega as She Recreates ‘Iconic’ Winona Ryder Look From ‘Beetlejuice’

Ahead of the wide theatrical release of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice on Friday, Sept. 6, let’s get better acquainted with Monica Bellucci, her filmography and exactly how she’s connected to director Tim Burton.

How did Monica Bellucci become famous?

Hailing from Città di Castello in the Umbria region, Monica Bellucci began her career as a fashion model in her native Italy in the 1980s before embarking on her professional acting career in the early ’90s. Since her small-screen debut in Dino Risi’s television miniseries Vita coi figli, Bellucchi has appeared in Italian, American and French film productions, including her breakthrough role in the 1996 Gilles Mimouni-directed arthouse film The Apartment, for which she received a César Award nomination for Most Promising Actress.

What movies has Monica Bellucci been in?

In 2000, Bellucci came to international prominence playing Malèna Scordia in the Italian erotic drama Malèna and Chantal Hearst in the American thriller Under Suspicion. She has starred in several French titles including 2001’s Brotherhood of the Wolf as well as Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra and Irréversible (both released in 2002). She’s also known for appearing in several big-budget action franchises including The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, and the James Bond flick Spectre. Bellucci received acclaim for her portrayal of Mary Magdalene in the Mel Gibson-directed drama The Passion of the Christ in 2004, earning a Nastro d'Argento nod for Best Supporting Actress.

Who did Monica Bellucci model for?

Bellucci kicked off her successful modeling career in the late 1980s via a contract with Elite Model Management agency. She appeared in advertisements and campaigns for several luxury fashion houses, including Dior, Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent, Versace and most notably Dolce & Gabbana, who recruited the Italian bombshell as their muse. Over the years, Monica has also been sought after as the brand ambassador for several notable companies including cosmetic manufacturers like L’Oreal and Nivea, luxury jeweler Cartier and cashmere goods company Éric Bompard, among others.

Does Monica Bellucci still model?

At 59 years old, Bellucci is still considered one of the most beautiful women in the world and remains involved in professional modeling. She continues to work as a brand ambassador for luxury brands such as Cartier and Dior and furthered her long-standing collaboration with Dolce & Gabbana by walking the runway for the fashion house in 2018 and 2019.

Who is Monica Bellucci dating?

Looks like that Beetlejuice Beetlejuice casting wasn’t entirely random—Bellucci is currently dating that film’s director, the iconic Tim Burton. The pair reportedly first met at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, with their paths crossing nearly two decades later at France’s Lumière Film Festival in October 2022, when Bellucci presented Burton with a lifetime achievement award. The actress confirmed their long-rumored romance in the June 2023 cover story of ELLE France and made her first public appearance alongside her filmmaker boyfriend at the Rome Film Festival in October of that year.

Related: Tim Burton Makes Red Carpet Debut With Girlfriend Monica Bellucci in Rome

How many husbands has Monica Bellucci had?

Monica has been married two times. Her first husband was Italian photographer Claudio Carlos Basso, who she met when he recruited her for a photographer session in 1987; she married in Monte-Carlo in January 1990 and divorced a year later.

Her second marriage was much longer: after meeting French actor Vincent Cassel in 1995 on the set of their film The Apartments, the couple married in Monaco in August 1999 and remained married until they mutually agreed to separate in 2013.

Who are Monica Bellucci’s ex-husbands?

Bellucci’s ex-husbands include fashion photographer Claudio Carlos Basso—whose work has been featured in Vogue, Elle, Vanity Fair, Harper’s Bazaar and Grazia, among others—and French movie star Vincent Cassel (Black Swan, Ocean’s Thirteen). During their nearly two-decade romance, Bellucci and Cassel appeared together in nine films, including Dobermann, Unruly and Sheitan.

Over the years, Monica has also had notable romances with Italian actor Nicola Farron, French sculptor Nicolas Lefebvre and, currently, American film director Tim Burton.

Why did Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel break up?

In August 2013, Bellucci and her French actor husband Vincent Cassel announced that they were separating after 14 years of marriage "by mutual agreement.”

Per Italy Magazine, Bellucci confirmed the news in an interview with the Italian weekly pub Chi, saying: “Yes, Vincent and I are separating. Our respective lives have made us grow apart. But our love for each other will exist forever. Even if our lives are parting, we will always be there for each other.” It was rumored that the pair had been living apart for some time before the public announcement, with Bellucci residing in Rome and Cassel spending his time in France and Brazil.

Who are Monica Bellucci’s kids?

The Italian actress shares two daughters—Deva (born on Sept. 12, 2004) and Léonie (born May 21, 2010)—with ex-husband Vincent Cassel.

Nearly 20-year-old Deva has followed in mom’s runway-walking footsteps: she made her modeling debut when she was just 14 in a fragrance campaign for Dolce & Gabbana, and has walked in high-fashion shows from Jacquemus, Alta Moda and Coperni. Like her famous mother, she is also a brand ambassador for Cartier. And given that both of her parents are screen actors, it’s not a shock that Deva has caught the acting bug: she starred in the 2023 period drama The Beautiful Summer as well as the Netflix series The Leopard.

Less is known about younger sister Léonie, who seldom is in the public eye, though she did appear at only five months old on the cover of Italian Vanity Fair alongside Bellucci.

What is Monica Bellucci’s ethnicity?

Monica Bellucci is Italian; her parents are Pasquale Bellucci and Brunella Briganti.

Why does Monica Bellucci speak French?

Along with her mother tongue, Italian, Monica Bellucci speaks French fluently, no doubt a byproduct of being romantically involved with French actor Vincent Cassel for more than a decade, as well as residing in France and working regularly in the French film industry. The actress can also speak English fluently, and is proficient in both the Portuguese and Spanish languages.

Next, Catherine O'Hara Reveals How She Landed Original 'Beetlejuice' Role Without an Audition