Valentina Cervi (born 13 April 1976) is an Italian film and television actress.
Life and career Cervi was born in Rome on 13 April 1976. She is the daughter of director Tonino Cervi and granddaughter of actor Gino Cervi. Her mother is the Italian producer of Austrian-Hungarian origin Marina Gefter. Cervi started her acting career at age ten in Carlo Cotti's 1986 film Portami la luna. She also played an English-language role in Jane Campion's 1996 The Portrait of a Lady.
One of her most acclaimed roles was the lead in the 1997 film Artemisia, directed by Agnès Merlet. It was loosely based on the painter Artemisia Gentileschi's life, but controversially portrayed the relationship between Agostino Tassi (played by Miki Manojlović) and Artemisia as a passionate affair rather than as rape.
In 2011, she appeared as Arianna in BBC TV's Italian detective mini-series Zen. She also appeared as "Valentina" in Canale 5's series Distretto di Polizia in 2011.
Cervi appeared as Bertha Mason in Cary Fukunaga's 2011 film adaptation of Jane Eyre. She was cast as the ancient vampire Salome in the HBO television drama True Blood.
She is married to director Stefano Mordini and has two children, Margherita (born 2013) and a son (born 2016).
She received the America Award of the Italy–USA Foundation in 2018.
Filmography Films YearTitleRole(s) Notes1988Mignon Has Come to StayLittle girlCameo appearance 1994OasiClaudiaThe Night and the MomentDancerCameo appearance 1996The Portrait of a LadyPansy OsmondEscoriandoliSabrina1997ArtemisiaArtemisia Gentileschi1998Children of HannibalRita1999Rien sur RobertAurélie CoquilleBranchieLiviaMidsummer Night's DanceInes2001HotelHotel maidCameo appearance 2002Soul MateTeresa2003Past PerfectCarolaSansaValentinaThe Tulse Luper Suitcases, Part 1: The Moab StoryCissie Colpitts2004The Tulse Luper Suitcases, Part 2: Vaux to the SeaTempestaDina GusmanoThe Tulse Luper Suitcases, Part 3: From Sark to the FinishCissie Colpitts2005Provincia meccanicaSilvia Battaglia2007Fine pena maiDaniela Perrone2008Miracle at St. AnnaRenata2009SleeplessOlga2011Jane EyreBertha MasonR.I.F.Valérie Monnereau2012In a RushAda Savigné2013Mi rifaccio vivoAmanda2016Senza lasciare tracciaElenaHo amici in paradisoGiulia2017Dove non ho mai abitatoLauraAgadahInesLasciami per sempreAida2018EuphoriaTatiana2019VivereAzzurra2020The PlayersLisa2021Codice KarimGaiaThe Last ParadisoLuciaThe Catholic SchoolEleonora Rummo2022The Invisible ThreadMonica FerrariMarcel!The Cousin2023The Order of TimeGreta2025Io non ti lascio soloAdele
Television YearTitleRole(s) Notes1993I ragazzi del murettoLauraEpisode: "L'amore quello vero"2001James DeanPier AngeliTelevision movie2007War and PeaceMaria BolkonskayaMain role2008Donne assassineMargheritaEpisode: "Margherita"2011ZenArianna von FakenhaynEpisodes: "Vendetta"; "Cabal"2011–2012Distretto di PoliziaValentina BiniMain role (season 11); 26 episodes2012True BloodSalome AgrippaMain role (season 5); 11 episodes2012–2015Una grande famigliaMartina RuggeriSeries regular2013BorgiaCaterina Sforza-Riaro2 episodes2015–2017Solo per amoreGloria KellerMain role2016MediciAlessandra AlbizziRecurring role; 3 episodes2019I ragazzi dello Zecchino d'OroSilvanaTelevision movie2024The Law According to Lidia PoëtAnna CraveroRecurring role; 5 episodes2025Leopardi: Il poeta dell'infinitoAdelaide Antici LeopardiTwo-parts television movieKabulFrancescaMain role; 6 episodes
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