Teresa Saponangelo (born 22 October 1973) is an Italian film, television and stage actress. She has received numerous accolades including the David di Donatello Award, two Nastro d'Argento Awards of three nominations, and the Ubu Award.
Saponangelo's many film credits include Pájaros, Paolo Sorrentino's The Hand of God, for which she won the David di Donatello Award for Best Actress, the Nastro d'Argento Award for Best Actress, and the Pasinetti Award from the Venice Film Festival. She additionally won the Nastro d'Argento Award for Best Actress for Il buco in testa and received a nomination for In the Beginning There Was Underwear.
Life and career Teresa Saponangelo was born in Taranto, the daughter of a workman and a housewife, and lost her father at the age of two. In 1976 she moved to Naples, next to the Politeama Theater, with her mother and her brother. She graduated from Diploma di Musica (DAMS) at Roma Tre University, and appeared in a play titled Dentro la Cronaca dentro la storia by P. Amato.
After attending several dramatic societies, Saponangelo made her official stage debut in Giacomo Rizzo's Ce penza mammà. In 1994, she completed her studies at the Calabria School of Dramatic Arts in Reggio Calabria, at the suggestion of Giorgio Albertazzi, and under Philippe Gaulier at École Philippe Gaulier in France.
In 1994 she made her film debut in Il Verificatore by Stefano Incerti, and then appeared in films directed by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani, Sergio Rubini, Paolo Virzì, and Silvio Soldini, and on stage with directors Toni Servillo, Antonio Capuano, and Mario Martone, among others.
In 2000 she was nominated for Nastro d'Argento's Best Actress for her performance in Anna Negri's In the Beginning There Was Underwear; the same year she won the Ubu Award for her performance as Dorina in the stage play Tartufo.
Filmography Films YearTitleRole(s) NotesRef.1995The Meter Reader ValeriaTravelling CompanionFriend at CaféCameo appearance1996August VacationIrene VitielloIsottaCaterinaSacred SilenceAnnamaria Pica1997 The AcrobatsGiusyThe VesuviansTeresaSegment: "Il diavolo in bottiglia"The Grey ZonePatientCameo appearance1998The Dust of NaplesTeresaDolce far nienteRosa1999In the Beginning There Was UnderwearImma2000Tutto l'amore che c'èMaura2002Two FriendsMariaLa vita degli altriLuisa2004I Can See It in Your EyesChiara2007OssidianaMaria Palligiano2008Black and WhiteEsmeraldaYour Whole Life Ahead of YouMovie actressCameo appearance 2010La pecora neraTeresaCome UndoneMiriam2011Il paese delle spose infeliciNatuccio's mother2014La stoffa dei sogniMaria Campese2017GramignaAnna2018Il bene mioRita2019ProcelainCristina2021The Hand of GodMaria2023Born for YouTeresa I limoni d'invernoEleonora2024Birds Flying EastElisabetta2025Hungry Bird
Television YearTitleRole(s) NotesRef.2004Luisa SanfeliceAssuntaTelevision film2006Attacco allo StatoMaria AmoreTelevision film2008La squadraAlessia MarcianoEpisode: "Panni sporchi"La nuova squadraMain role2011RossellaPaolina AndreiMain role2014Squadra antimafia – Palermo oggiCarmela Ragno5 episodes2015La dama velataMaddalena StaineriMain role2016Il sindaco pescatoreCarlaTelevision movie2017SireneStefania MaldiniMain rolePurché finisca benePaolaEpisode: "Bastano un paio di baffi"2020Vivi e lascia vivereDaniela SonninoMain role2022Vincenzo Malinconico, Unsuccessful LawyerNivesRecurring role2025Sara: Woman in the ShadowsSara
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