Biography for Asia Argento

Fantasma dell'opera, Il (1998) (The Phantom of the Opera) is the third film Asia has made with her director father, Dario Argento; in 1992 she made Trauma (1993) (filmed in the US) and Sindrome di Stendhal, La (1996) in 1996. Asia Argento was born into a family of actors and movie-makers (her mother is the actress Daria Nicolodi) and is one of the most sought-after actresses of the moment. She made her debut when she was only nine years old in Sergio Citti's "Sogni e bisogni" (1984) (mini). In 1988 she had the leading role in Cristina Comencini's first film Zoo (1989) and was part of the cast of Chiesa, La (1988), directed by Michele Soavi. The following year she played Nanni Moretti's daughter in Palombella rossa (1989) (also directed by Nanni Moretti). It was with Amiche del cuore, Le (1992), written and directed by Michele Placido that Asia's career really took off and she was able to move on from playing very young girls to more mature, complex roles. The movie was well received at Cannes film Festival. In Trauma (1993) she worked for the first time with her father, playing an anorexic girl in search of her parents' killer. Asia's absorbed, intense style of acting was well-used in Giuseppe Piccioni's Condannato a nozze (1993). In 1993 she co-starred in Carlo Verdone's Perdiamoci di vista! (1994) in which she played Arianna, a physically disabled girl - an intricate, difficult role which won her the David di Donatello for best actress ('93-'94). She also had a featured role in the international cast of Reine Margot, La (1994) directed by Patrice Chereau. In 1995 she worked with Michel Piccoli in Peter Del Monte's Compagna di viaggio (1996), which again won her a David di Donatello and a Grolla d'oro. In 1994, Asia turned her hand to directing two short films: 'Prospettive' (an episode of the film DeGenerazione (1994)) and 'A ritroso'. In 1996 she directed a documentary on her father, and in 1998 one on Abel Ferrara Abel/Asia which won her the Rome Film Festival award. In 1999 Asia made her debut directing a feature film entitled Scarlet Diva (2000) for which she is the leading actress and author of the screenplay. Scarlet Diva has been released in May 2000 in Italy, and the rest of the world. The movie won an award at the Williamsburg Brooklyn Film Festival. In 2001 after directing a number of music videos she gave birth to her first daughter, Anna Lou. In 2002 she's starring in Sirène rouge, La (2002) by Olivier Megaton with Jean-Marc Barr and the action thriller XXX (2002) directed by Rob Cohen, with Vin Diesel. Asia Argento is also the author of a number of short stories published in many prestigious magazines such as "Dynamo", "L'Espresso", "Sette" and "Village". Her first novel "I Love You Kirk" has been published in Italy by Frassinelli Editrice in October 1999 and in France by Florent Massot in 2001.

Officially named Aria since the registration office did not accept Asia.

Daughter of Dario Argento and Daria Nicolodi Granddaughter of Salvatore Argento As of July 2001, has four tattoos: A eye on her left shoulder (acquired at age 14), two snakes entwined around a sun on her lower back, a winged angel on her lower abdomen, and the name "Anna" (after her deceased sister) over one of her ribs. Daughter, Anna Lou, born June 20, 2001. Younger, half-sister of actress Fiore Argento. Niece of Claudio Argento. Her first name is pronounced 'Aass-ee-ah' Speaks Italian, French and English.

(Personal quotes )

During the shooting of my directorial debut, I must never let myself go to any goliardery, even if I might think I am missing some fun, never mingle with the rest of the crew, because they are actors while I am the mirth of a rickety poem. They are solo artists, virtuosos - but I am the orchestra, the strings carpet where everybody has to lay. They are the public, while I am tonight's special event. I allow them to be instantly well-liked, but I must remain rigorous to reveal my eyes, I have to act out the things that never happen. When I think of my film, I don't take anything from the reality that I know, I suck only from the utopia/reality I would want to live. When I say my lines, the I have written for myself, I think about this, of a womb-like world where amniotic liquids protect me from injustices and the boogey man. [In answer to the question "How do you want to be remembered?"] "As somebody who has done everything, but didn't know how to do anything." "I want to be adopted by the french. I want to go to live in Paris. I want to live in a country where a guy like "Gaspar Noé" can direct his films without going to jail. I don't want to live in Italy, the country of the apes, and end up being an actress with an onion placed where I once had a heart, that instead of beating, it stinks." "I care only about that. Almost only about cinema" "Sometimes I think my father gave me life because he needed a lead actress for his films."

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