Marcello Mastroianni

Birthday: 28 September 1924, Fontana Liri, Lazio, Italy

Birth Name: Marcello Vincenzo Domenico Mastrojanni

Height: 176 cm

Marcello Mastroianni was born in Fontana Liri, Italy in 1924, but soon his family moved to Turin and then Rome. During WW2 he was sent to a German prison camp, but he managed to escape and hide in Venice. He debuted in films as an extra in Marionette (1939), then started working for the Italian department of "Eagle Lion Films" in Rome and joined a drama club, where he was discovered by director Luchino Visconti. In 1957 Visconti gave him the starring part in his Fyodor Dostoevsky adaptation Le notti bianche (1957) and in 1958 he was fine as a little thief in Mario Monicelli's comedy I soliti ignoti (1958). But his real breakthrough came in 1960, when Federico Fellini cast him as an attractive, weary-eyed journalist of the Rome jet-set in La dolce vita (1960); that film was the genesis of his "Latin lover" persona, which Mastroianni himself often denied by accepting parts of passive and sensitive men. He would again work with Fellini in several major films, like the exquisite 8½ (1963) (as a movie director who finds himself at a point of crisis) and the touching Ginger e Fred (1986) (as an old entertainer who appears in a TV show). He also appeared as a tired novelist with marital problems in Michelangelo Antonioni's La notte (1961), as an impotent young man in Mauro Bolognini's Il bell'Antonio (1960) , as an exiled prince in John Boorman's Leo the Last (1970), as a traitor in Paolo and Vittorio Taviani's Allonsanfàn (1974) and as a sensitive homosexual in love with a housewife in Ettore Scola's Una giornata particolare (1977). He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor three times, for Divorzio all'italiana (1961), Una giornata particolare (1977), and Oci ciornie (1987). During the last decade of his life he worked with directors, like Theodoros Angelopoulos, Bertrand Blier and Raoul Ruiz, who gave him three excellent parts in Trois vies et une seule mort (1996). He died of pancreatic cancer in 1996. Hide

On his role in La notte (1961): I was a little bit disappointed because I felt that the character, t Show more On his role in La notte (1961): I was a little bit disappointed because I felt that the character, this writer suffering a crisis, was a little bit conventional. Perhaps I would have preferred him to be more angry, more cynical, but then I probably wouldn't have been able to play him anyway. I suppose I felt that I had an example of a writer before me: my friend, Ennio Flaiano. And somehow or other, I don't know why, I felt that this writer should be like him, which obviously wasn't what Antonioni intended. So there was a sort of incomprehension between me and the director. As I went along I lost of that joy, that enthusiasm I had felt which had made me want to do the film. This was the state of mind I was while I was making the film. I would liked to be closer to Antonioni but it wasn't possible. I don't know if it was my fault or whether it was because he (and it is something he has always said) prefers not to have much interaction with the actors. Hide

(on his views of women) Woman is the sun, an extraordinary creature, one that makes the imagination Show more (on his views of women) Woman is the sun, an extraordinary creature, one that makes the imagination gallop. Woman is also the element of conflict. With whom do you argue? With a woman, of course. Not with a friend, because he accepted all your defects the moment he found you. Besides, woman is mother-have we forgotten? Hide

To play Tarzan - at my age, with a big belly; even Cheetah with white hair. We've had enough strong Show more To play Tarzan - at my age, with a big belly; even Cheetah with white hair. We've had enough strong and beautiful Tarzans! - at 60 Hide

Each year we look for a big name that is attractive to the public and pleasant for the girls. Each year we look for a big name that is attractive to the public and pleasant for the girls.

(Talking about actors) Theater actors like to change character roles. They don't like to always do t Show more (Talking about actors) Theater actors like to change character roles. They don't like to always do the same thing. Hide

[Observation, 1962] I have nothing against Hollywood. But today's best films are being made in Italy Show more [Observation, 1962] I have nothing against Hollywood. But today's best films are being made in Italy. So why should I leave Rome? Hide

They come for you in the morning in a limousine; they take you to the studio; they stick a pretty gi Show more They come for you in the morning in a limousine; they take you to the studio; they stick a pretty girl in your arms... They call that a profession? Come on! Hide

I made theater very important in the beginning of my career. I made theater very important in the beginning of my career.

(When asked what keeps him going in his theatrical endeavors) In front of a camera, I feel solid, sa Show more (When asked what keeps him going in his theatrical endeavors) In front of a camera, I feel solid, satisfied. Away from it I am empty, confused. Hide

I am not a sex addict. I am not a sex addict.

I only exist when I am working on a film. I only exist when I am working on a film.

I don't understand why these Americans have to suffer so much to identify with their characters. Me, Show more I don't understand why these Americans have to suffer so much to identify with their characters. Me, I just get up there and act. It's great fun. There's no suffering in it. Hide

[referring to Robert De Niro in Raging Bull (1980)] By nature the actor is a kind of wonder who can Show more [referring to Robert De Niro in Raging Bull (1980)] By nature the actor is a kind of wonder who can allow himself to change personalities. If you don't know how to do this, it's better to change professions. I think it's ridiculous to imagine that to play a taxi driver or a boxer you have to spend months and months 'studying' the life of cabdrivers and the weight of fighters. Hide

Marcello Mastroianni's FILMOGRAPHY

as Actor (45)

Le Notti Bianche [Sub: Eng]

Marcello Mastroianni: I Remember (Marcello Mastroianni: mi ricordo, si, io mi ricordo)

Intervista [Sub: Eng]

The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart

Salut l'artiste

Fellinopolis

L`uomo dei cinque palloni [Audio: Italian]

City of Women (La città delle donne)

Maccheroni

The Last Horror Film (Fanatic)

Bell Antonio (Il bellAntonio)

Splendor

L'événement le plus important depuis que l'homme a marché sur la Lune

Big Deal on Madonna Street (I soliti ignoti)

8½ (1963)

La notte (The Night)

8½ (1963)

La decima vittima

Divorce Italian Style

Ginger e Fred

Hungry for Love (Adua e le compagne)

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Lo straniero

Roma (1972)

The Poppy Is Also a Flower

Stay as You Are (Così come sei)

Marcello Mastroianni'S roles

Marcello Rubini