Birthday girl

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There is often a reverent silence on the film set - but with Monica Bellucci it is not out of fear, but admiration. With her elegant beauty and cool charisma, she attracts everyone's attention. "My looks attracted attention and curiosity," she once said. She celebrates her 60th birthday on Monday.

Since the 1990s, Bellucci has thrilled audiences as an actress in films such as "Bram Stoker's Dracula", "The Magic of Malèna" and "Matrix Reloaded". At the age of 51, she played the oldest Bond girl in history in "Spectre", breaking with convention.

Her repertoire ranges from popular films to arthouse cinema. In "Irreversible" (2002), she caused a sensation with a realistic rape scene that shocked critics. She recently played the ex-wife of the title character in the horror comedy "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice", directed by her partner Tim Burton.

Tim Burton and Monica Bellucci(Bild: APA/AFP/Marco BERTORELLO)

First "Bond wife"
Bellucci, who is in a relationship with director Tim Burton and was previously married to Vincent Cassel, commuted between Italy, Brazil, Lisbon and Paris. She uses her beauty consciously, but never in a stereotypical way. Her career began as a model before she entered the film business in 1990 with a production by Dino Risi.

Although Bellucci turned down an offer as a Bond girl 30 years ago, she later played the first "Bond woman" older than the agent himself - a groundbreaking step. Comparisons with Italian film divas such as Sophia Loren and Gina Lollobrigida are inevitable, but Bellucci leaves her own legacy.

After her most recent appearance in Venice, she still remains "Bella Bellucci" at the age of 60. She is relaxed about her age: "You can't fight against time. You have to come to terms with it and hope that it caresses you graciously."