Alessandra Martines

Alessandra Martines, born on September 19, 1963, is a talented Italian-French dancer and actress renowned for her work across English, French, and Italian entertainment sectors. She began her artistic journey in the world of ballet, performing on prestigious opera stages in Switzerland, France, the United States, and Italy. In the 1980s, she transitioned to television, becoming a prominent figure on RAI, Italy's national public broadcasting service.

Martines is perhaps best recognized for her iconic role as Princess Fantaghirò in the beloved Fantaghirò film series, which spans five films from 1991 to 1996 and continues to be a favorite across Europe. She also collaborated on numerous auteur films with her then-husband, acclaimed director Claude Lelouch, with whom she worked on nine projects until their separation in 2009.

Her impressive accolades include the Best Actress Telegatto for "The Cave of the Golden Rose" (1991), the Grolla d'oro for "Edda" (2005), and the Silver Hugo for Best Actress at the Chicago International Film Festival (1998) for "Chance or Coincidence." Martines has also been recognized with the Diamanti al Cinema Award in Cannes (2007) and received the European Golden Globe in Rome (2009). In 2008, she was honored as a Knight of the Ordre national du Mérite by the French President and later received a lifetime achievement Kineo Award at the 71st Venice International Film Festival in 2014.

A second cousin to Carla Bruni and Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Martines moved to France at age five and later studied at the Conservatoire de Paris, where she honed her skills in solfeggio, dance history, and classical music. She made her debut as a dancer at the Zurich Opera House in 1972 and continued her career in dance and television, including notable appearances in "