Greta Scacchi is an Italian-Australian actress who has appeared in a number of films including ‘Heat and Dust,’ ‘White Mischief,’ ‘Presumed Innocent,’ and ‘The Player.’ She was born in Milan, Italy, and raised in both Italy and Sussex, England, where she received her training at the ‘Bristol Old Vic’ theatrical school.
She began her career with little appearances on theater and television, followed by a German film, and was immediately discovered and signed for the 1983 ‘Merchant-Ivory’ picture ‘Heat and Dust,’ which catapulted her to fame. She made her Hollywood debut with ‘Presumed Innocent,’ in 1990, after starring in a number of films and television movies.
Greta Scacchi has also appeared in Australian and European theater, in addition to films and television series/movies. She won a ‘Emmy Award’ for her portrayal of ‘Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna of Russia’ in ‘Rasputin: The Dark Servant of Destiny,’ and a ‘AWI Award for Supporting Actress’ for her work as a single mother in ‘Looking for Alibrandy.’
Career
Greta Scacchi began her career on stage with minor roles until landing the character of ‘Annie’ in the television series ‘Bergerac.’ In 1982, she made her film debut in Dominik Graf’s German film ‘Das Zweite Gesitch.’ For this picture, she studied German.
She speaks Italian, German, French, and English fluently. Greta Scacchi spent nearly eight years working in theater, cinema, and television productions. Her performance as Camille in the 1984 TV movie adaptation of ‘Camille’ was well-received.
Following her German film, she was cast in the ‘Merchant-Ivory’ film ‘Heat and Dust’ (1983). Her portrayal of ‘Olivia’ in this film earned her a celebrity.
This was followed by a string of critically acclaimed films, including ‘Burke and Willis’ (1985), ‘The Coca-Cola Kid’ (1985), ‘A Man in Love’ (1987), and ‘White Mischief’ (1988).
Her performance in a modernized version (1988) of Anton Chekov/play Tsjechov’s caught the attention of Hollywood production houses. She made her Hollywood debut in 1990 with the film ‘Presumed Innocent,’ in which she portrayed an attorney in a relationship with Harrison Ford’s character, a married man.
‘The Player,’ directed by Robert Altman, paired her opposite Tim Robbins in a showbiz dark comedy in 1992. Her 11-year-later film, ‘Festival in Cannes,’ had a similar topic to this one.
In the films ‘Fires Within’ (1992) and ‘Salt on Our Skin,’ Scacchi co-starred with Vincent D’Onofio (1992). She was offered the main role in ‘Basic Instinct,’ but she declined since the story and director did not appeal to her.
She had the ability to turn down parts, but due to personal circumstances, she did not sign any new Hollywood projects for the next five years, instead focusing on the ones she had previously agreed to. She continues to work on projects in Australia and Europe.
Her performance as Mrs. Weston in the 1996 film ‘Emma’ earned her praise from critics and the general public alike. In the 1998 Canadian-Italian production, ‘The Red Violin,’ Scacchi played a big role as an author connected with a British composer (played by Jason Fleming), which won a number of ‘Genie Awards.’ It was also nominated for a ‘Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film.’
‘Ladies Room,’ in which she portrayed the lead character of ‘Lucia,’ was an unusual film because it takes place entirely in a woman’s lavatory. She earned an AFI Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as an Italian-Australian single mother in the Australian-Italian film ‘Looking for Alibrandi’ (2000). Scacchi returned to Hollywood in 2004, starring in films such as “Beyond the Sea” (2004) and “Flightplan” (2005).
Greta Scacchi has also been in a variety of television dramas and series, including ‘Waterfront’ (1984), ‘The Farm’ (2001), ‘Daniel Deronda’ (2002), ‘Broken Trail’ (2006), ‘Nightmares & Dreamscapes’ (2006), ‘The Trojan Horse’ (2008), and ‘War and Peace’ (2011), to name a few. ‘Two Twisted’ (2006), ‘The Afternoon Play’ (2007), ‘Poirot’ (2013), ‘A.D. The Bible Continues’ (2015), ‘Versailles’ (2017), and ‘The Terror’ (2017) were her television series and films (2018).
For her depiction of ‘Tsarina Alexandra’ in the 1996 TV movie ‘Rasputin: The Dark Servant of Destiny,’ she received a ‘Emmy Award.’ For the TV movie ‘Broken Trail,’ she was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie in 2007.
Scacchi has done a lot of theater work in addition to cinema and television. She made her film debut in 1981 with the films ‘Cider with Rosie’ and ‘In Times Like These’ (1985). In the 1985 play ‘Airbase,’ she co-starred with Mark Rylance and Kevin McNally. In 1987, she starred in ‘Uncle Vanya’ at the ‘Vaudeville Theater,’ alongside Michael Gambon and Jonathan Pryce.
Scacchi played Nora in Ibsen’s ‘A Doll’s House’ at the ‘Festival of Perth’ in 1991. ‘Miss Julie’ (1992), ‘Simpatico’ (1966), and ‘Old Times’ were among her Sydney theater appearances (2001). In 2008, she was nominated for a ‘Sydney Theater Best Actress Award’ for her performance as ‘Queen Elizabeth’ in the play ‘Mary Stuart.’
Scacchi has also appeared in various European theatrical productions and toured Italy and the United Kingdom with theater companies. She has acted in productions such as ‘The Deep Blue Sea’ (2008) at Bath’s ‘Theater Royal,’ ‘A Little Night Music’ (2010), and ‘Bette and Joan’ (2011). (2011). She appeared in ‘King Lear’ (2013) at London’s ‘Old Vic,’ and toured with ‘The Glass Menagerie’ in 2015.
Greata Scacchi Awards
- 2007 – Nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Film.
- 2006 – Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: Nominated by the Screen Actors Guild.
- 2001 – Best Actress in a Telefeature or Mini-Series: Nominated by the Australian Film Institute.
- 2000 – Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role at the Australian Film Institute Awards: Winner
- 1997 – Nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Television Series, Miniseries, or Motion Picture Made for Television in 1996.
- 1996 – Winner of the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Special:
- 1984 – Nominated for a BAFTA Film Award for Most Outstanding Newcomer to Film.
Where is Greta Scacci from?
Greta Scacchi was born in Milan, Italy, on February 18, 1960, to Luca Scacchi, an artist and art dealer, and Pamela Scacchi, an English dancer and art dealer. Paul and Tom, Greta’s older brothers, are twins. Her parents split when she was four years old, and the three children moved to London and subsequently to Haywards Heath, West Sussex, with their mother.
Her mother married Giovanni Carsinga, a visiting lecturer at the ‘University of Western Australia (UWA),’ in 1975, and the entire family relocated to Perth, Australia. Scacchi attended Perth’s ‘Hollywood Senior High School’ and subsequently the University of Western Australia’s ‘University Drama Society.’ At the ‘New Dolphin Theater,’ she made her stage debut in Edward Bond’s play ‘Early Morning.’ Arne Neeme directed the film.
She worked as a cowgirl and an Italian interpreter on a ranch after finishing high school. At the age of 18, she returned to England and enrolled in the ‘Bristol Old Vic’ theater school. She worked as a model for fashion magazines and catalogs to help pay for her schooling.
Who is Greta Scacchi married to?
Scacchi was romantically associated with Tim Finn, a New Zealand singer, from 1983 till 1989.
She was dating Vincent D’Onofrio, whom she met while filming the movie “Fires Within.” They have a daughter, Leila George, together (born 1992).
Carlo Montegazza, her first cousin, is her friend, companion, and the father of her son, Matteo (born 1998). Greta Scacchi is a dual citizen of Australia and Italy. Scacchi was knighted in the Italian Republic’s Order of Merit in 2013.
Why did Greta Scacchi leave Vincent D Onofrio?
Greta Scacchi and American actor Vincent D’Onofrio split up shortly after their first child was born in 1992. She was so heartbroken as a result of the breakup that she was unable to work for four years, just as her Hollywood career was taking off.
In rehearsals with director Edward Hall for what turned up to be a triumphant run in the regions, she was obliged to resurrect those emotions.
She said: “With Rattigan, the convention is you keep a stiff upper lip and nobody shows any emotion”
“But he [Hall] got us to really plumb the depths of these emotions and use our own stories. It was quite a cathartic experience.”
“I felt I had reawakened stuff in my own situation of overwhelming sexual passion that was unrequited. It was very, very painful and quite scarring.”
“It was a real struggle,” she said. “I got caught up in this relationship that was going to leave me quite incapable of working for a few years – four years of trauma. It shot my career in the foot.”
Who is Greta Scacchi daughter?
Greta Scacchi began dating actor Vincent D’Onofrio in the early 1990s. While it is unknown how long the couple was together, they did have a daughter called Leila George in 1992. Scacchi and her husband Carlo Mantegazza brought their second child, a son named Matteo, into the world in 1998.
Little is known about Scacchi’s daughter, Leila George, who made headlines in 2016 after being photographed kissing an Oscar-winning actor. This is due to her parents’ efforts to keep her out of the spotlight; she was born in Sydney, Australia, and raised in the Brighton area of the United Kingdom. Leila George, 30 is married to The Milk actor, Sean Penn 61 in 2020 after four years of dating.
Greta Scacchi Net Worth
Greta Scacchi has a net worth of $4 million. Greta Scacchi is an Italian-Australian actress. Greta Scacchi was born Greta Graco in Milan, Italy, in 1960, and went to Australia with her mother after her parents divorced. She attended the University of Western Australia and made her acting debut in a production of “Early Morning” there.
She traveled to England in the late 1970s to pursue acting, and her first film, “Das Zweite Gesicht,” was released in 1982. During the 1980s and early 1990s, she appeared in films such as “Heat and Dust,” “White Mischief,” “The Coca-Cola Kid,” “The Player,” “Presumed Innocent,” and “Country Life.”
Where Is Greta Scacchi now?
Greta Scacchi is still working as an actress in both theatre and movies. The Australian-Italian actress, who was knighted in the Italian Republic’s Order of Merit in October 2013, has lately starred in films such as Operation Finale (2018) and Palm Beach (2019).
On the stage, she is best known for playing Phoebe Rice in a revival of John Osborne’s The Entertainer at the Garrick Theatre in London’s West End.
Conclusion
Greta Scacchi is no doubt a great actress. She has been able to build a fantastic career for herself over the years and she continued to do well in the industry.
