| Coralina Cataldi-Tassoni | |
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| Born | Coralina Cataldi-Tassoni February 24, 1971 New York City, New York |
| Other name(s) | Coralina |
| Official website | |
Coralina Cataldi-Tassoni (born February 24, 1971) is an American actress, musician, and artist.
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Acting career
Coralina Cataldi - Tassoni is an internationally recognized actress, painter and musician.
Born in Manhattan, she moved to Rome, Italy, as child, where she spent many years.
Coralina directly descends from a family of prominent historical figures, which includes generals, poets, aristocrats, ambassadors, corsairs, political philosophers, and artists from all walks of life.
The daughter of two globally prominent opera figures (and granddaughter of Maestro Corace Cataldi-Tassoni who studied under Mascagni and conducted for Giacomo Puccini), Coralina was an active member of her father's opera company since early childhood and, by the age of three, had a singing role in Puccini's La Bohème.
She continued performing on stage and assisting her father in theaters around the world until her late teens.
Despite her love for the opera world, Coralina felt herself drawn to film. Not long after making this choice, having studied acting in the Unites States and Italy, she starred in IN CERCA D'AMORE, a film commissioned by the TV show PASSIONE MIA, produced by acclaimed actress Monica Vitti.
Her on-screen acting skills and undoubted charisma caught the attention of legendary film-maker Dario Argento, who cast her as Sally, the lead in his production of Lamberto Bava's DEMONS 2. Her lively performance in the movie prompted Argento to create the role of Giulia expressly for her in his next movie, OPERA.
Both roles have become iconic figures for fans all around the world.
Following OPERA's success, several directors (Dario Argento, Lamberto Bava, Pupi Avati, Luciano Odorisio, Andrea Manni, to name a few) have written roles expressly for Coralina and worked with her on more than one occasion.
Coralina was offered a scholarship to the internationally recognized training center for improvisation: Second City, in Chicago. Director Luciano Odorisio, whom Coralina had worked with on LA MONACA DI MONZA and VIA PARADISO, had always noticed, along with her strong dramatic skills, a unique skill for comedy and urged her to accept this offer.
She took this advice to heart and, eager for a new artistic venture, returned to the United States.
After attending Second City and performing on stage in Chicago, Dario Argento cast Coralina once more in his re-imagining of Gaston Leroux's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Performing alongside Asia Argento and British actor Julian Sands, Coralina was privileged to have the role of Honorine, a character invented exclusively for the film.
In recent years, Coralina composed and produced her debut album LIMBO BALLOON, containing eclectic works which she likes to call “Arias”, embodying an array of influences from rock and roll to Opera. She has performed her music in venues in the USA and Canada.
Coralina then began to experiment with her lifelong ambition to paint. A self-taught artist, Coralina's solo exhibits have gathered high praise within Manhattan's gallery scene. Many of her pieces have since been displayed in the USA and Europe. Her clientèle includes many illustrious film-makers and performers.
Lamberto Bava cast Coralina as a lead (Elizabeth) in his supernatural thriller GHOST SON, shot in South Africa where she performed alongside John Hannah (The Mummy), Laura Harring (Mulholland Drive),and Academy Award nominee Pete Postlethwaite.
Upon completion of this film, Dario Argento cast Coralina in the pivotal role of Giselle in the final chapter of his long awaited “Three Mothers Trilogy” - THE MOTHER OF TEARS. As with all their previous collaborations, the director created the role of Giselle specifically for her.
In 2008 Coralina received an award for BEST ACTRESS at Fright Nights Film Festival in Austria for THE DIRT: a film directed by celebrated musician Claudio Simonetti, frontman of the band GOBLIN and composer of the soundtracks for numerous movies, along with his sister Simona Simonetti. The film also won a SPECIAL AWARD at Rome's Fantafestival '08.
Journalist Filippo Brunamonti is currently writing CORALINA: HOMAGE TO CORALINA CATALDI-TASSONI, due out in 2010. To promote the launch of the book, Coralina wrote and co-directed a highly cinematic book trailer, along with renowned director Mariano Baino.
She divides her time between New York City and Rome, Italy.
Music career
She is also an accomplished painter and singer. Most recently she released her first CD album titled Limbo Balloon which is made up of original music which she wrote and sang.
Artist career
Coralina has exhibited her paintings in solo and group shows in the USA and abroad.
References
External links
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
