Sergio Rubini

Sergio Rubini is an Italian actor, film director and screenwriter whose career has spanned more than three decades, beginning in the mid‑1980s and continuing robustly into the present day. Born on 21 December 1959 in the small Apulian town of Grumo Appula, he moved to Rome as a teenager to study acting, first appearing on stage before breaking into cinema with the 1985 feature Figlio mio infinitamente caro. His early roles quickly earned him the attention of celebrated directors, leading to a part in Federico Fellini’s Intervista (1987) and a supporting role in Il caso Moro. Rubini’s on‑screen presence was marked by a natural charisma and a willingness to explore both dramatic and comedic tones, which made him a versatile performer in films such as Desiderando Giulia and Ask for the Moon. By the end of the 1980s he had become a recognizable face in Italian cinema, appearing in a series of popular productions while also building a reputation as a reliable character actor. In 1990 he starred in The Station (La stazione), a project that would also mark his debut as a director. The Station earned critical acclaim, winning both a Silver Ribbon and a David di Donatello for best debut work, establishing Rubini as a credible auteur. Over the following years he continued to oscillate between acting and directing, helming La bionda (1993) in which he also played the lead opposite Nastassja Kinski, and co‑writing Giuseppe Tornatore’s Una pura formalità (1994). His directorial style often blends intimate character studies with a subtle social commentary, as seen in The Bride’s Journey (1997) and Soul Mate (2001). Internationally, Rubini reached a wider audience when he portrayed Saint Dismas in Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ (2004). Though his personal life has been relatively private, he was married to actress Margherita Buy from 1991 to 1993. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s he remained a prolific figure, appearing in notable projects such as The Talented Mr. Ripley and Manuale d’amore, while also directing films like Let’s Talk (2015) and Il Grande Spirito (2019). Today Rubini continues to influence Italian cinema both in front of and behind the camera, celebrated for his artistic versatility and enduring commitment to storytelling.