Monica Bellucci

Monica Bellucci was born on September 30th, 1968, in the village of Citta di Castello, in Umbria, Italy.
Initially pursuing a career as a lawyer, Monica decided to start modeling in order to help pay for her tuition while at the University of Perugia.

But of course, the glamorous life of a model -- which includes travel and a sweet income -- tempted Monica away from her law studies.

But it was her role in the 1996 film, L'Appartement, that earned Monica her acting accolades.

Her role as Lisa earned her a Cesar nomination (French equivalent of the Oscar) in the Most Promising Young Actress category, and ensured that audiences and film critics would take notice of this up-and-coming starlet.

The movie also co-starred her husband, Vincent Cassel, whom she later married in 1999.

Although the model-turned-actress has reached incredible heights in both streams of her career, she still dreams of working with the legendary Robert De Niro.

Monica and her husband will soon be parents, as they are expecting their first child in the fall of 2004.