In Federico Fellini’s revered 1963 film 8½, a director grappling with creative block experiences visions of an “ideal woman”. She’s played by Claudia Cardinale, who lights up the screen as the frustrated protagonist’s muse; all tumbling raven locks, curve-skimming dresses and undeniable sex appeal.
Sound familiar? It might be because another Italian actor, Monica Bellucci, remains a living embodiment of the Fellini-esque femme fatale to this day.
From her arthouse cinema days to her modern role as a regular on the Dior Couture FROW (via a memorable stint as a Bond girl in 2015’s Spectre), Bellucci has remained loyal to a wardrobe that wouldn’t look out of place on the set of La Dolce Vita:
fishtail gowns with audacious necklines, diamonds, lace, and lots and lots of black. It’s not hard to see why – it all serves to enhance Bellucci’s sultry beauty and bombshell proportions.
On the rare occasions the Dolce & Gabbana model does veer from her signature colour, she opts for champagne, leopard-print, plum or top-to-toe red – with similarly traffic-stopping results.
Now, following her West End debut in Maria Callas: Letters & Memoirs, Bellucci is back on the press circuit for her new film, Mafia Mamma, which sees her play the consiglieri to Toni Collette’s reluctant don.
In honour of her red-carpet return, revisit 33 times Monica looked as though she’d stepped out of a Fellini film, below.
Now, following her West End debut in Maria Callas: Letters & Memoirs, Bellucci is back on the press circuit for her new film, Mafia Mamma, which sees her play the consiglieri to Toni Collette’s reluctant don.
In honour of her red-carpet return, revisit 33 times Monica looked as though she’d stepped out of a Fellini film, below.