About Chiara Francini
Florence, December 20, 1979 – Chiara Francini is an Italian actress, writer, and television presenter.
Born in Florence and raised in Campi Bisenzio, she is an only child and graduated from the University of Florence with a degree in Literature, earning top honors (110 cum laude) with a thesis in Italian studies on The Rhetoric of Hermeneutics. Her artistic training began at the Teatro della Limonaia in Sesto Fiorentino, under the direction of Barbara Nativi. Under Nativi's guidance, she performed in Noccioline, a play by Fausto Paravidino. For two consecutive years, she took part in Faccia da comico at the Teatro Ambra Jovinelli in Rome, under the artistic direction of Serena Dandini. She made her television debut thanks to Marco Giusti, who offered her fixed roles in his programs BlaBlaBla and Stracult. This was followed by Radio Sex by Alessandro Baracco, and Le ragazze di San Frediano, directed by Vittorio Sindoni. In 2007, she played "Marzia Meniconi", one of the protagonists of Gente di mare 2.
From early days to big and small screen success
Between 2007 and 2008, she appeared in four films: Leonardo Pieraccioni cast her as Giustina in Una moglie bellissima, where she also performed two songs from the musical Grease, part of the film’s soundtrack; Francesco Patierno chose her for Il mattino ha l'oro in bocca; and Spike Lee entrusted her with the role of Fabiola, one of the victims of the Nazi massacre in Miracle at St. Anna. In 2009, she appeared in the TV miniseries Le segretarie del sesto, directed by Angelo Longoni, and in the film Feisbum – Il film, episode Gaymers, directed by Emanuele Sana. In 2010, she returned to TV in the second season of Tutti pazzi per amore, directed by Riccardo Milani.
She starred in the feature films Maschi contro femmine (2010) and Femmine contro maschi (2011), both directed by Fausto Brizzi, portraying Marta, a lesbian character. In 2011, she co-hosted the TV show Colorado and appeared in La peggior settimana della mia vita, directed by Alessandro Genovesi. On Rai 1, she returned as Bea in Tutti pazzi per amore 3. She also featured in C'è chi dice no (directed by Giambattista Avellino) and Cacao (directed by Luca Rea). In 2011, she was awarded the Guglielmo Biraghi Prize as Best New Actress by the Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists at the 68th Venice International Film Festival.
She starred in the feature films Maschi contro femmine (2010) and Femmine contro maschi (2011), both directed by Fausto Brizzi, portraying Marta, a lesbian character. In 2011, she co-hosted the TV show Colorado and appeared in La peggior settimana della mia vita, directed by Alessandro Genovesi. On Rai 1, she returned as Bea in Tutti pazzi per amore 3. She also featured in C'è chi dice no (directed by Giambattista Avellino) and Cacao (directed by Luca Rea). In 2011, she was awarded the Guglielmo Biraghi Prize as Best New Actress by the Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists at the 68th Venice International Film Festival.
Artistic versatility and achievements
In 2012, she was the face of Dolce & Gabbana’s global men's Spring/Summer campaign. That same year, she starred in Un Natale per due on Sky Cinema and performed Carmen by Bizet, directed by Giambattista Avellino. She also returned to cinema in Buona giornata by Carlo Vanzina. In 2013, she starred in Pazze di me by Fausto Brizzi. Starting April 30 of the same year, she hosted Aggratis! on Rai 2 in late night. She also starred in Ti sposo ma non troppo, the directorial debut of Gabriele Pignotta. She hosted Fashion Style in primetime and starred in Ti ho sposato per allegria by Natalia Ginzburg, directed by Piero Maccarinelli, earning rave reviews including from Franco Cordelli in Corriere della Sera.
In 2014, she was among the lead roles in the ensemble film Soap Opera by Alessandro Genovesi. She also co-hosted Colorado on Italia 1 with Diego Abatantuono. In 2015, she was godmother at two festivals: Tavolara (July) and the 33rd Torino Film Festival (November). She starred in the series Matrimoni e altre follie, directed by Laura Muscardin. From 2015–2016, she was the female spokesperson for 3 Italia telecom. In 2016, she appeared in the film On Air – Storia di un successo and voiced Matilda in the animated film The Angry Birds Movie.
That year, she also portrayed "Perla" in Non dirlo al mio capo on Rai 1, directed by Giulio Manfredonia. She co-hosted Domenica In with Pippo Baudo. In 2017 and 2018, she starred in Due, a play written by Luca Miniero and Smeriglia, directed by Miniero, with over 200 performances and critical acclaim.
In 2017, she debuted as a novelist with Non parlare con la bocca piena (Rizzoli), a bestseller with eight editions and 45,000 copies sold, praised by Aldo Cazzullo. In May 2018, she hosted Love Me Gender on La EFFE, exploring new family models and love in the age of gender equality. The show was both critically and publicly well-received, including by Antonio Dipollina (La Repubblica).
Also in 2018, she released her second novel, Mia madre non lo deve sapere (Rizzoli), reprinted within a month. She reprised her role as "Perla" in Non dirlo al mio capo 2 on Rai 1. Since October 2018, she has contributed as a columnist for La Stampa. She published Martino e Nina, a Christmas story in Vanity Fair Italia. In June 2019, she hosted Love Me Stranger on La EFFE, exploring love between Italians and foreigners. The show again drew positive reviews (Antonio Fagioli, Avvenire).
On June 25, 2019, she released Un anno felice (Rizzoli), her third novel, which quickly became a bestseller. She starred in Martin Eden by Pietro Marcello, in competition at the 76th Venice Film Festival. From 2019 to 2022, she played Antonia in the acclaimed Coppia aperta, quasi spalancata by Dario Fo and Franca Rame, alongside Alessandro Federico, receiving widespread acclaim. Aldo Cazzullo wrote: “Chiara Francini confirms herself as the most talented actress of her generation.”
In summer 2020, she debuted in L’amore segreto di Ofelia by Steven Berkoff at the Roman Theater of Fiesole, directed by Luigi De Angelis of Fanny & Alexander. On December 1, 2020, she published her fourth novel, Il cielo stellato fa le fusa (Rizzoli). In 2021, she starred in the comedy Addio al nubilato, directed by Francesco Apolloni, a hit on Amazon Prime Video. She also played Annalisa in Altri padri by Mario Sesti, which premiered out of competition at the 39th Torino Film Festival, receiving strong critical praise. In December 2021, she hosted the Ubu Awards, live from Cocoricò in Riccione on Rai Radio Tre.
Since 2021, she has served as a judge on Drag Race Italia, broadcast on Discovery+ and later on Real Time. In 2022, she starred in Tre sorelle, released on Amazon Prime Video, directed by Enrico Vanzina. Since December 9, 2021, she has written the column Forte e Chiara in Specchio for La Stampa. Since April 2022, she has been the spokesperson, alongside Lillo, for Gocciole Pavesi. In July 2022, she debuted at the Napoli Teatro Festival with the monologue Una ragazza come io, written by Francini and directed by Nicola Borghesi. On August 26, 2022, she published an editorial in La Stampa about Aldo Braibanti. On December 29, 2022, she starred in the Rai 1 primetime film Una scomoda eredità. On February 10, 2023, she co-hosted the fourth night of the 73rd Sanremo Festival with Amadeus and Gianni Morandi, delivering a monologue on women, career, biological clocks, and guilt.
On March 18, 2023, she released her fifth book Forte e Chiara (Rizzoli), which inspired a theater show of the same name, written by Francini and directed by Alessandro Federico, debuting on October 13, 2023, at Teatro Rossini in Pesaro.
In 2024, she returned to the big screen in Pare parecchio Parigi, directed by Leonardo Pieraccioni, acting alongside Nino Frassica. On April 10, her stage show Forte e Chiara aired on Rai, based on her 2023 book, though it ended early due to low ratings.
During the 2024 theater season, she continues to tour with Forte e Chiara and Coppia aperta, quasi spalancata by Fo and Rame.
In June 2023, she co-founded the film production company Nemesis with three partners. Their first production, Coppia aperta quasi spalancata, adapted from Fo and Rame and directed by F. Di Giacomo, is written by and stars Francini. The film opens Giornate degli Autori at the Venice Film Festival on August 28, 2024, and will be released in theaters on August 29, distributed by I Wonder Pictures.
In 2014, she was among the lead roles in the ensemble film Soap Opera by Alessandro Genovesi. She also co-hosted Colorado on Italia 1 with Diego Abatantuono. In 2015, she was godmother at two festivals: Tavolara (July) and the 33rd Torino Film Festival (November). She starred in the series Matrimoni e altre follie, directed by Laura Muscardin. From 2015–2016, she was the female spokesperson for 3 Italia telecom. In 2016, she appeared in the film On Air – Storia di un successo and voiced Matilda in the animated film The Angry Birds Movie.
That year, she also portrayed "Perla" in Non dirlo al mio capo on Rai 1, directed by Giulio Manfredonia. She co-hosted Domenica In with Pippo Baudo. In 2017 and 2018, she starred in Due, a play written by Luca Miniero and Smeriglia, directed by Miniero, with over 200 performances and critical acclaim.
In 2017, she debuted as a novelist with Non parlare con la bocca piena (Rizzoli), a bestseller with eight editions and 45,000 copies sold, praised by Aldo Cazzullo. In May 2018, she hosted Love Me Gender on La EFFE, exploring new family models and love in the age of gender equality. The show was both critically and publicly well-received, including by Antonio Dipollina (La Repubblica).
Also in 2018, she released her second novel, Mia madre non lo deve sapere (Rizzoli), reprinted within a month. She reprised her role as "Perla" in Non dirlo al mio capo 2 on Rai 1. Since October 2018, she has contributed as a columnist for La Stampa. She published Martino e Nina, a Christmas story in Vanity Fair Italia. In June 2019, she hosted Love Me Stranger on La EFFE, exploring love between Italians and foreigners. The show again drew positive reviews (Antonio Fagioli, Avvenire).
On June 25, 2019, she released Un anno felice (Rizzoli), her third novel, which quickly became a bestseller. She starred in Martin Eden by Pietro Marcello, in competition at the 76th Venice Film Festival. From 2019 to 2022, she played Antonia in the acclaimed Coppia aperta, quasi spalancata by Dario Fo and Franca Rame, alongside Alessandro Federico, receiving widespread acclaim. Aldo Cazzullo wrote: “Chiara Francini confirms herself as the most talented actress of her generation.”
In summer 2020, she debuted in L’amore segreto di Ofelia by Steven Berkoff at the Roman Theater of Fiesole, directed by Luigi De Angelis of Fanny & Alexander. On December 1, 2020, she published her fourth novel, Il cielo stellato fa le fusa (Rizzoli). In 2021, she starred in the comedy Addio al nubilato, directed by Francesco Apolloni, a hit on Amazon Prime Video. She also played Annalisa in Altri padri by Mario Sesti, which premiered out of competition at the 39th Torino Film Festival, receiving strong critical praise. In December 2021, she hosted the Ubu Awards, live from Cocoricò in Riccione on Rai Radio Tre.
Since 2021, she has served as a judge on Drag Race Italia, broadcast on Discovery+ and later on Real Time. In 2022, she starred in Tre sorelle, released on Amazon Prime Video, directed by Enrico Vanzina. Since December 9, 2021, she has written the column Forte e Chiara in Specchio for La Stampa. Since April 2022, she has been the spokesperson, alongside Lillo, for Gocciole Pavesi. In July 2022, she debuted at the Napoli Teatro Festival with the monologue Una ragazza come io, written by Francini and directed by Nicola Borghesi. On August 26, 2022, she published an editorial in La Stampa about Aldo Braibanti. On December 29, 2022, she starred in the Rai 1 primetime film Una scomoda eredità. On February 10, 2023, she co-hosted the fourth night of the 73rd Sanremo Festival with Amadeus and Gianni Morandi, delivering a monologue on women, career, biological clocks, and guilt.
On March 18, 2023, she released her fifth book Forte e Chiara (Rizzoli), which inspired a theater show of the same name, written by Francini and directed by Alessandro Federico, debuting on October 13, 2023, at Teatro Rossini in Pesaro.
In 2024, she returned to the big screen in Pare parecchio Parigi, directed by Leonardo Pieraccioni, acting alongside Nino Frassica. On April 10, her stage show Forte e Chiara aired on Rai, based on her 2023 book, though it ended early due to low ratings.
During the 2024 theater season, she continues to tour with Forte e Chiara and Coppia aperta, quasi spalancata by Fo and Rame.
In June 2023, she co-founded the film production company Nemesis with three partners. Their first production, Coppia aperta quasi spalancata, adapted from Fo and Rame and directed by F. Di Giacomo, is written by and stars Francini. The film opens Giornate degli Autori at the Venice Film Festival on August 28, 2024, and will be released in theaters on August 29, distributed by I Wonder Pictures.