Teresa Saponangelo

Teresa Saponangelo was born on 22 October 1973 in Taranto, a coastal city in the Apulia region of Italy. The daughter of a workman and a housewife, she faced early tragedy when her father died when she was only two years old, prompting a move to Naples with her mother and brother in 1976. Growing up amidst the vibrant cultural life of Naples, she became involved with various dramatic societies, which nurtured her passion for performance and set the stage for a distinguished career in acting. Her official stage debut came in Giacomo Rizzo’s play “Ce penza mammà,” showcasing her innate talent and earning early recognition from directors and critics alike. Encouraged by the renowned actor Giorgio Albertazzi, she pursued formal training at the Accademia d'Arte Drammatica della Calabria in Reggio Calabria and later refined her craft under the legendary French pedagogue Philippe Gaulier at the École Philippe Gaulier in France, experiences that broadened her artistic horizons and deepened her methodological approach to the craft.*

Teresa’s screen career launched in 1994 with a role in Stefano Incerti’s “Il Verificatore, and she quickly became a sought‑after presence in Italian cinema, collaborating with celebrated filmmakers such as Paolo and Vittorio Taviani, Sergio Rubini, Paolo Virzì and Silvio Soldini. Her performances on stage with directors like Toni Servillo, Antonio Capuano and Mario Martone further cemented her reputation as a versatile actress. The turn of the millennium marked a watershed moment: she earned a Nastro d'Argento nomination for In the Beginning There Was Underwear, won the prestigious Ubu Award for her portrayal of Dorina in Tartufo, and later captured both the David di Donatello and a Nastro d'Argento for Best Actress for Paolo Sorrentino’s critically acclaimed film The Hand of God. Additional accolades include another Nastro d'Argento for Il buco in testa and a Pasinetti Award at the Venice Film Festival, underscoring her enduring impact on both film and theater. Throughout more than two decades, Teresa Saponangelo has remained a dynamic and influential figure in Italian performing arts, continually expanding her artistic repertoire while garnering admiration from audiences and peers alike.