Biography - Francesca Dellera

Francesca Dellera’s physicality speaks for itself. She has that something special that only the most riveting screen actresses have. She is so much at ease in front of the camera that when she is dressed, she appears naked and when she is naked she appears dressed.

– Tullio Kezich

After earning her high school diploma, Francesca Dellera moved to Rome where she began working as a model.
Her physical beauty, in this phase of her career, landed her image on the covers of national and international publications. Her portrait was taken by the greatest names in photography including Helmut Newton, Dominique Isserman, Greg Gorman, Michel Comte, Andre' Rau, Annie Leibovitz and many others.
Thanks to her voluptuous beauty, director Tinto Brass, after she played a role in the 3-part TV miniseries La Romana directed by Giuseppe Patroni Griffi, the television adaptation of the film of the same name directed by Luigi Zampa in 1954, which in turn was adapted from the novel by Alberto Moravia (Francesca, Sofia Loren and Claudia Cardinale were chosen by the great author for one of his very rare interviews). The miniseries attracted a television audience of more than 10 million viewers who watched her play the lead, supported by Gina Lollobrigida. Her work in this role earned her a Telegatto, but it was her work in the movie La Carne directed by one of the greatest names in Italian cinema, Marco Ferreri, that earned her international fame. Ferreri’s muse and his inspiration, he has said of Francesca that she has ""the most beautiful skin in Italian cinema".", The film debuted to great acclaim at Cannes.

Unlike the asexual ideal of beauty of our times, Francesca Dellera is a throwback to the beauty of the past; her soft, white skin is not so common any more. Today, femininity is vulgar, showy and completely asexual, as television and fashion demands.

– Natalia Aspesi

Federico Fellini was struck by Francesca’s performance in Ferreri’s film and chose her for the role of the fairy in the film “Pinocchio.” However, the film was never produced due to his passing away. Even so, Fellini refers to Francesca Dellera as one of his favorite actresses in John Baxter’s book “Fellini, the Biography.”
Beloved in France for her Mediterranean sensuality, she was one of the international actresses present in the book that Cannes dedicated to the 50th anniversary of its Film Festival. Her success continued in France and, after filming L'Ours en peluche by Jacques Deray alongside international stars such as Alain Delon, she became a favourite model of Jean Paul Gaultier, who used her in his fashion shows, a privilege only afforded to great stars such as Madonna. After spending a few more years in France, Dellera returned to Rome to play the lead role in Nanà, a 2-part television miniseries directed by Alberto Negrin, which was an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Émile Zola. She was also the star of the television movie La Contessa di Castiglione, co-produced with a French television production company, directed by French director, Josée Dayan, in which she played alongside Sergio Rubini and Jeanne Moreau.
The advertising campaigns in which Dellera appeared have also had enormous impact. She was recognized for her work in the best advert of the year, directed by Maurizio Nichetti for "IP". Dellera has also been the testimonial in several other successful campaigns for famous brands.