There are women who wear elegance. And then there are women who embody it.

In a world that obsesses over the fleeting, Monica Bellucci exists as an original, unique muse and idol. Her beauty is iconic, yes. But what truly endures is her presence – luminous, thoughtful and wholly human. 

Even today, the actress continues to captivate – not because she defies time, but because she transcends it. From Italian arthouse cinema to Hollywood thrillers, from the Parisian stage to fashion’s grandest runways, Bellucci’s journey has never followed trends – it has set them. Working across languages and cultures, she has always chosen roles that reflect the complexity and strength of women.

And lately, her path has drawn her closer to the Gulf region. With appearances in Dubai and Riyadh, whether she’s celebrating heritage with Cartier or filming the upcoming thriller 7 DOGS, the renowned Italian actress has embraced the Middle East with a deep sense of curiosity and admiration. 

She is the woman MADAME Arabia was created for – intelligent, rooted, yet endlessly evolving. A woman who understands that true luxury is not just what you wear, but how you carry your story.

In a conversation both personal and profound, Monica Bellucci opens up to MADAME Arabia about where she comes from, the roles that shaped her, her daughters who keep her grounded, and what it truly means to grow as a woman.

Where It All Began

In the hilltops of Umbria in Italy, where time moves slowly and tradition runs deep, a young girl began watching the world with wide, curious eyes. Raised in the embrace of a close-knit family, her earliest enchantments weren’t with the camera, but with the screen, mesmerised by the luminous women of Italian cinema. Sophia Loren, Gina Lollobrigida, Monica Vitti, Giulietta Masina, and Anna Magnani weren’t just actresses, they were forces. And their power stirred something enduring inside a young Monica Bellucci.

Years later, no matter how far her travels took her, it was never fame or fortune that defined her – it was home. “What still keeps me centred is being so attached to my Italian culture and holding on to the sense of tradition and the importance of family,” the Italian
icon says.

A Life Guided by Instinct

Bellucci’s choices, whether on screen, on stage, or in life, have rarely been overtly strategic. Instead, they’re intuitive. 

“My luck is that, through cinema, I had the chance to get in touch with so many different cultures, because I have been working with so many directors from different countries,” she shares. “This was an incredible experience, not just as an actress but also as a person.”

She is the kind of actress who doesn’t chase roles, preferring instead to wait for the ones that speak to her evolution. “When I am in front of the camera as well – for a small artistic movie or a big entertaining movie – it is exactly the same thing for me,” Bellucci confesses. “When I choose a movie to play in, it is always an instinctive choice. I need a role to give me the opportunity to evolve as an actress, and it has to be challenging.”

The Women She Portrays

That instinct led her to one of the most vulnerable and commanding roles of her career, portraying the titular legendary soprano in Maria Callas: Letters & Memoirs, which premièred in 2022. The play, directed by Tom Volf, was based on his 2018 documentary Maria by Callas and brought the singer’s private letters and reflections to life through Bellucci’s performance. She performed it in multiple cities, including Paris and London, receiving praise for capturing both the vulnerability and strength of the iconic soprano.

“Maria Callas, till today, is an inspiring woman artist around the world, not just because she was one of the most incredible sopranos of all time, but also because she was a courageous woman who followed her heart and her passion,” Bellucci reflects.

From there, she shifted from divine comedy to the dark. In Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, released in 2024, she took on the hauntingly layered character of Delores, a role that cut closer than expected. “Delores is full of scars and she represents the human condition, because we all have spiritual scars that we have to deal with. Behind the comedy, there is a deep meaning,” she notes.

Now, anticipation surrounds her upcoming performance. In 7 DOGS, which filmed recently in Riyadh and is directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, Bellucci steps into a world of shadows, secrets, and suspense. 

A mystery built on seven suspects and a single murder, the film places the veteran star at the heart of a new cinematic landscape, one that embraces the mystery of both character and setting. Her role remains a mystery, but her presence is already a promise.

The Mother Within

For all the roles she has essayed on celluloid, the one that transformed her the most happened off-screen. “My daughters became my priority,” Bellucci says. “To become a mother changed my perspective on life, even though I still have a passion for my work.”

Motherhood is a chapter she wears with softness and pride. Her daughter Deva is now a model in her own right, stepping into the world with her mother’s beauty and her own voice. “Deva has a natural passion and curiosity about her work, and a profound sensibility,” says Bellucci. “She makes her own choices, and now, she is the one who gives good advice.”

A Woman Becoming

There is a rare kind of confidence that comes from accepting that one cannot know all the answers, choosing instead to embrace the quiet unfolding of the self. At this point in her life, Monica Bellucci is not chasing reinvention. She is welcoming expansion.

At 60, she continues to uncover new layers of herself. “When you are a young person, you have to look at life with young eyes,” she explains. “The mistakes are important, because through mistakes, we learn how to survive.”

It is this wisdom that resonates so deeply with women across the Middle East. “At 40 years old, I started a new chapter of my life, because I had my first child then, and my second child at 45 years old. I think at 40, life is just a beautiful continuity for a woman,” shares Bellucci.

Her recent visits to the region include attending Cartier’s A Journey of Wonders in Dubai and Elie Saab’s 1001 Nights in Riyadh.

 This is where she also recently shot 7 DOGS – all of which served to deepen that connection. “People were so warm and nice to me, I really enjoyed every moment there,” she says.

Bellucci doesn’t hide her admiration for women in the region. “I have seen women, so feminine, so beautiful, with a great sense of elegance,” she says.

What She Wears, What She Means

In a world obsessed with trends, Monica Bellucci wears style like a second skin, never loud, always lasting. Her relationship with fashion is storied, personal, and respectful. 

Who can forget when she walked the Cannes red carpet in 1997 with Cartier for the first time? And this connection has only grown in the years that followed. “This bond remains strong because I have so much respect for this amazing brand Cartier, who has a long and important tradition, and when we talk about Cartier, we don’t talk just about jewellery, but Art,” she reveals. 

Her bond with Dolce & Gabbana is equally meaningful. “I have so much affection for Domenico and Stefano – we have known each other for so many years and our bond remains the same,” says Bellucci. “I love fashion, and also because I know all the hard work of the designers behind any fashion show – even in the movies, costumes are so important because they help you to get into the character you
are playing.”

That being said, however, to Bellucci, the most exquisite form of beauty is one that cannot be worn. “Femininity is always alive, and it has nothing to do with age – it’s a natural attitude,” she says.

A Legacy of Her Own

As she looks ahead, Bellucci is still driven by her love for her craft. “Most of all, I love acting,” she emphasises. “It is the kind of work where you keep learning all the time.”

When asked what lesson she hopes her daughters and young women everywhere carry forward, she simply says, “I love my family, my work, and really, I don’t know what my image represents for the others to give any lessons.” 

With each chapter of her life, Bellucci reminds us that true beauty lies in meaning, not in perfection. She carries her heritage, her motherhood, her art, and her values with the same elegance she brings to every frame. 

Monica Bellucci’s is a legacy that cannot be defined by fame alone, but by the impact of her quiet, consistent presence. This is a woman who doesn’t just inspire other women – she simply dignifies their evolution.

Photographer: Ricardo Abrahao 
Creative Direction: Beya Bou-Harb 
Stylist: Hugo Toucas 
Make Up: Letizia Carnevale using Nadine Njeim
Beauty Hair: John Nollet represented by Forty Ones Studio Agency 
Casting & Production: We Made It Agency
Executive Producer: Jorge Rosell 
Production Coordinator: Sofia Potapova
Hair Assistant: Pierrick Sellene 
1st Photographer Assistant: Thomas Lizzi 
2nd Photographer Assistant: Arfin Chiho Yoon 
1st Stylist Assistant: Louna Lili Guitton 
2nd Stylist Assistant: Anaelle Defiole
Retouching: Eddie Mendes
Jewellery: Cartier

Feature image: The actor wears a cape by Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda with a dress from Ulyana Sergeenko Haute Couture. She wears the Halidae necklace in white gold and sapphires from the En Équilibre collection, by Cartier High Jewellery