Pursuing a career in arts and entertainment makes sense when born into a family of creative, visionary minds. Oddly enough, that wasn’t the case for our actress, Valeria Golino!
While her parents worked in what we could call a “bohemian lifestyle” flowing with philosophy and artwork, Valeria looked for a different path.
Considering I’m writing this little article about her acting career, she didn’t follow that dream!
So, what happened, and what was her dream? Read on to find out!
Early Life and Childhood
Valeria Golino’s childhood was anything but ordinary! A blend of art, medicine, and a little bit of cinema shaped her life.
She was born in a world of ingenuity in Naples, Italy, on October 22, 1965.
With a Germanist scholar for a father and a Greek painter for a mother, Valeria was no stranger to intellectual and artistic pursuits.
However, her parents divorced while she was young, so she split her life between Athens and Sorrento.
During their mother-daughter bonding times, Valeria’s mother often took her to the cinema to watch something together.
The little kid liked the films most of the time but never saw herself on the big silver screen. Instead, she had her sights set on being a cardiologist!
At age 11, Valeria was diagnosed with scoliosis, a condition that required the insertion of a steel rod into her back.
The treatment meant that she had to spend six months in Chicago under the care of a surgeon.
Not only did she have to endure the physical pain, but she was forced to pick up English to communicate correctly.
Before discussing her career, you should know it started way earlier than most of us start working! This meant she couldn’t put all her energy into her studies, forcing her to drop out of high school.
Her dreams of becoming a cardiologist were sidelined with that decision, and a new chapter began!
The Start of Valeria’s Career
By the time she turned 14, Valeria’s path veered toward fashion. She became a model, working in cities like Athens, Milan, London, and LA!
Appearing in commercials for everything from perfume to swimsuits, Valeria was making a name for herself on the catwalks.
Going Into Acting
Valeria didn’t actively seek to go into acting.
Her uncle, Enzo, got a call from acclaimed director Lina Wertmüller, who was searching for a young girl to cast in her film A Joke of Destiny (1983).
So, Valeria’s uncle took her to meet the director, who seemed to like her after her audition—she performed Shakespeare!
Her parents didn’t believe she would get far with acting, possibly still dreaming of their little girl as a cardiologist. The director, Lina, wasn’t easy on set either.
Yet, this didn’t affect Valeria’s opinion, as she loved the experience, and her passion for acting was born!
Her first breakthrough came with the 1985 films My Dearest Son and Little Flames; both won her the Golden Globe Italy Award for Best Breakthrough Actress.
However, it was in Storia d’amore (A Tale of Love) in 1986 that Valeria shined brightly. She played a vivacious cleaning lady caught in a love triangle, a performance that won her the Best Actress award at the Venice Film Festival.
Making It in Hollywood
Valeria’s talent didn’t go unnoticed, and soon, she made her way to Hollywood in the late 80s. Her first American film was Big Top Pee-wee (1988), but her role as Susanna in Rain Man (1988) brought her international recognition.
Hollywood’s casting directors, however, frequently pigeonholed her in comedic roles. This led to memorable performances in Hot Shots (1991) and its sequel, Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993).
Though her comedic talents were appreciated, Valeria was eager to show her dramatic chops, which had been her forte in Italy.
She came close to securing lead roles in Pretty Woman and Faltliner, only to lose out to Julia Roberts in the final stages of casting.
With Pretty Woman as one of my all-time favorite movies, I’m unsure how to feel about this information!
Valeria also turned down the lead in Hidden Agenda due to scheduling conflicts, a decision that still lingers in her memory.
Going Back to Italy
While Hollywood is a significant part of Valeria’s career, her heart and true artistic roots always shone best in Italy.
After Hollywood, she returned to Italy in the early 2000s, taking on more personal and artistically fulfilling projects.
She made her directorial debut in 2013 with Honey (Miele), a film that received positive reviews and was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival.
In addition to directing, Valeria continued acting in a string of well-received European films, including Like the Wind (2013), The Invisible Boy: Second Generation (2018), and Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019).
Her 2018 film Euforia, which she directed, was another Cannes entry that met with critical acclaim.
Her most recent work includes a supporting role in the television series The Morning Show and The Lying Life of Adults (2023).
Net Worth and Relationships
Regarding money, Valeria built a little fortune from her work in Hollywood and the European Cinema. Her net worth is estimated at around $10 million.
Regarding her personal life, Valeria’s relationships have often been in the spotlight as she dated a couple of high-profile figures.
Her engagement to Italian director Peter Del Monte started her high-profile romances.
She was later engaged to Benicio del Toro, a known actor, but the engagement didn’t last either.
Following this, she had a long-term relationship with actor Fabrizio Bentivoglio before moving on to actor-director Andrea Di Stefano. Sadly for Valeria, the relationship came to an end.
Later, the Italian beauty thought she had found true love with Riccardo Scamarcio, but you know the ending by now!
According to the Italian newspaper Il Messaggero, since 2018, she’s been dating a lawyer, Fabio Palombi, who is 24 years younger than her. Golino doesn’t have children.
Final Thoughts
During my research of Valeria Golino, I learned an important thing: Following the typical path to success isn’t always the way to go.
The Italian actress was already making waves in Italy before coming to Hollywood.
While I do understand that making it in Hollywood is no small feat, it’s clear that you can succeed wherever you are if you’re talented enough—just like Valeria!
