Cristiana Capotondi

Cristiana Capotondi — Biography

Cristiana Capotondi was born on 13 September 1980 in Rome, where her mother's father was of Jewish descent, and she studied communication sciences at Sapienza University of Rome. She first drew attention in a "Maxibon Motta" ice-cream commercial and began acting at thirteen in the RAI series Amico mio, later making her film debut in Vacanze di Natale '95 (1995). She joined the Rai Uno series Orgoglio, which ran from 1993 to 2006, for its final two seasons, and stood out for her performance opposite Nicolas Vaporidis in Notte prima degli esami (2006). In 2009 she played the crowned Empress Elisabeth of Austria-Hungary, known as Sisi, in the ZDF/Rai Uno/ORF co-production of the same name. Besides acting on stage and screen and directing films, Capotondi has served as vice president of Lega Pro, Italy's professional football league, and has received the Romy and Superciak d'oro awards as well as being made a Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.