Sergio Castellitto

Sergio Castellitto is an Italian actor, director, and screenwriter whose career spans more than four decades and includes appearances in over 70 feature films. He is widely recognized for his leading performances in acclaimed Italian dramas such as My Mother's Smile, Don't Move, and Twice Born. Alongside his extensive work in Italian cinema, Castellitto has reached international audiences through feature films such as Mostly Martha and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.

Castellitto was born in Rome on 18 August 1953 to parents originating from Abruzzo and Molise in Southern Italy. After graduating from the Silvio D'Amico National Academy of Dramatic Art in 1978, he began performing in public theater. His early stage repertoire included Shakespeare's Measure for Measure at the Teatro di Roma, Brecht's La Madre, Giordano Bruno's Candelaio, and The Merchant of Venice. At the Teatro di Genova, he played Tuzenbach in Chekhov's Three Sisters and Jean in Strindberg's Miss Julie under the direction of Otomar Krejča. He also appeared in Neil Simon's Barefoot in the Park and festival productions in Spoleto.

His feature film debut arrived in 1983 with Luciano Tovoli's The General of the Dead Army, acting alongside Marcello Mastroianni and Michel Piccoli. During the late 1980s, Castellitto appeared in several Italian television miniseries, including Un siciliano in Sicilia, Piazza Navona, and Come stanno bene insieme. His profile grew significantly following starring roles in Francesca Archibugi's The Great Pumpkin and Giuseppe Tornatore's The Star Maker.

Castellitto expanded his screen credentials with roles in films such as La famiglia, L'ultimo bacio, Caterina in the Big City, Il regista di matrimoni, and La stella che non c'è. He frequently collaborates with his wife, the writer and screenwriter Margaret Mazzantini, who authored several projects he directed and starred in, most notably Don't Move. On television, he starred in the miniseries Victoire, ou la douleur des femmes, played the title role in Padre Pio: Miracle Man, and starred as Giovanni in the series In Treatment.

As a filmmaker, Castellitto made his directorial debut with Libero Burro. He subsequently directed films such as La bellezza del somaro, Nessuno si salva da solo, and Il materiale emotivo. His directorial effort Twice Born premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2012, while his film Lucky was screened at the Cannes Film Festival.

Castellitto's international roles include playing the male lead in Jacques Rivette's French film Va savoir, portraying King Miraz in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, and appearing in Mafia Inc. Most recently, he portrayed Cardinal Tedesco in the drama Conclave.

Over his career, Castellitto has received numerous accolades, including multiple David di Donatello Awards, Silver Ribbons, Italian Golden Globes, a European Film Award for Mostly Martha, and recognition at the Venice and Rome film festivals. As part of the cast of Conclave, he received a Screen Actors Guild Award. Castellitto speaks Italian, French, and English, and has four children with his wife Margaret Mazzantini, including actor and director Pietro Castellitto.