Catrinel Menghia

Catrinel Menghia, professionally known as Catrinel Marlon, is a Romanian model, actress, and filmmaker who has achieved widespread recognition across fashion, television, and international cinema. After building a successful career as an international fashion model, she successfully transitioned into acting and directing, establishing herself as a versatile figure in European entertainment.

Early Life and Modeling Career

Born in Iași, Romania, Menghia excelled in track and field as a junior athlete before being discovered by a modeling agent at age sixteen during a trip to Bucharest. After relocating to Milan, Italy, to pursue modeling full-time, she rapidly rose to prominence, landing major international campaigns for luxury fashion powerhouses such as Giorgio Armani and French lingerie label Lise Charmel. Her editorial presence grew through features in prominent international publications, including the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2006 and 2009. Menghia achieved widespread global visibility in 2012 as the lead star of Fiat's memorable Abarth commercial aired during the Super Bowl broadcast.

Acting and Directorial Ventures

Following her international modeling success, Menghia expanded into acting, using the professional stage name Catrinel Marlon. She made her feature film debut in Luigi Lo Cascio's drama La città ideale (2012) and subsequently landed television roles, including a guest appearance on the American crime procedural CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and recurring appearances in Italian series such as Un passo dal cielo and L'ispettore Coliandro. She appeared in Matteo Garrone's fantasy film Tale of Tales (2015) and delivered a standout performance as the female lead Gilda in Corneliu Porumboiu's 2019 noir thriller La Gomera (The Whistlers), which competed for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. In addition to acting, she expanded into filmmaking, writing and directing the short film Ossa (2022) and directing the feature drama Girasole (2023).

Personal Life and Philanthropy

Menghia is fluent in Romanian, Italian, English, and French, and maintains her primary residence in Italy. She has been in a long-term relationship with Italian film producer Massimiliano Di Lodovico since 2012, and the couple has two children together. Alongside her creative career in modeling and film, Menghia actively participates in humanitarian causes, serving as an ambassador for the Andrea Bocelli Foundation.