Education
At 19 she began studying as an actress at the Teatro Blu in Rome (the same theatre school that Kim Rossi Stuart, Gianmarco Tognazzi, Claudia Gerini, Stefania Rocca, and Claudio Santamaria, among others, have attended).
At 19 she began studying as an actress at the Teatro Blu in Rome (the same theatre school that Kim Rossi Stuart, Gianmarco Tognazzi, Claudia Gerini, Stefania Rocca, and Claudio Santamaria, among others, have attended).
She has starred in about 20 movies as well as a number of theatrical shows, television shows, and radio shows. Cortellesi debuted in the show business at the age of 13, as a singer for Cacao meravigliao, the jingle of the popular Radiotelevisione Italiana television show Indietro tutta! by Renzo Arbore. She began her career in television with the show Macao, presented by Alba Parietti, but eventually reached nationwide popularity as a comic actress in the television show Mai dire Gol by the Gialappa"s Band (2000), which, in particular, showcased her skills at parodying famous people, a genre where she collected some of her most appreciated performances (the latest one being her parody of Milan"s mayor Letizia Moratti in the 2010-2011 edition of the popular television show Zelig).
After Mai dire Gol, Cortellesi has collaborated in several other television Show of the Mai dire.. franchise by Gialappa"s Band.
Her career in cinema includes several appreciates performances in comedies and comic movies, including a leading role in, a very popular production starring the comic trio Aldo, Giovanni e Giacomo. One of her most appreciated theatrical performances was Gli ultimi saranno gli ultimi ("Last will be last") by Massimiliano Bruno, which has been staged 189 times from 2005 to 2007 in over 50 theatres, and for which Cortellesi has collected a number of awards.
As a singer, Cortellesi has been described by Mina as "one of the best Italian voices" and has cooperated with several notable Italian musicians, including Elio e le Storie Tese, Renato Zero, Claudio Baglioni, Frankie hi-nrg mc, and Neri per Caso. Cortellesi married director Riccardo Milani on October 1, 2011.
The couple have a daughter, Laura, born January 24, 2013.