Maria Grazia Cucinotta (born 27 July 1968) is an Italian actress who has featured in films and television series since 1990. She has also worked as a film producer, screenwriter and model. Internationally she is best known for her roles in Il Postino and as the Bond girl, credited as "Cigar Girl", in the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough.

Early life and career

Cucinotta was born in Messina in Sicily, Italy. Her breakthrough role as an actress came in 1994's critically acclaimed Il Postino, directed by Michael Radford. Cucinotta played the lead female role of Beatrice Russo, the love interest of the main character Mario Ruoppolo, played by Massimo Troisi, who passed away shortly after the film's completion. Although it was her first major role, Troisi had no doubt about her abilities, as Cucinotta later recalled: "He was a director and an actor who had the patience to teach me everything because I arrived at that audition recommended by a woman, Nathalie Caldonazzo, who was Massimo's girlfriend. That film changed my life. I'm happy that people still talk about him and that film with which he brought Italianness around the world."In 1999 she guest starred in The Sopranos episode "Isabella" as the titular character. In 2005 Cucinotta appeared on The Simpsons episode "The Italian Bob", voicing Sideshow Bob's wife, Francesca. Cucinotta won the America Award of the Italy-USA Foundation in 2010. In 2012, Cucinotta received a star on the Italian Walk of Fame in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Maria Grazia Cucinotta is Roman Catholic and devoted to Saint Anthony of Padua.

Filmography

Films

Television

Television appearances

• La Ragnatela (1991, TV Mini-Series) • Andy e Norman (1991) • Scherzi a parte (1992) • Alta società (1992, TV Mini-Series) • Padre papà (1996, TV Movie) – Luisa • La Signora della città (1996, TV Movie) – Rosa Minniti • L' Avvocato Porta (1997, TV Series) – Lucia (1999) • Solomon (1997, TV Mini-Series) – Abishag • Il Quarto re (1997, TV Movie) – Izhira • Wildside - Lawyer episode (1998) – Lawyer • In punta di cuore (1999, TV Movie) – Lucia • The Sopranos (1999, Episode: "Isabella") – Isabella • Mary Magdalene (2000 film) (2000) – Mary Magdalene • Il Bello delle donne (2002, TV Series) – Rosy Fumo • Inferno Below (2003, TV Movie) – Santina • The Simpsons (2005, Episode: "The Italian Bob") – Francesca (voice) • Pompei (2007, TV Mini-Series) – Lavinia • VIP (2008, TV Movie) – Nancy Scalera di Mondragone