Francesca Fagnani
Francesca Fagnani | |
|---|---|
Francesca Fagnani in 2023 | |
| Born | 25 November 1976 Rome, Italy |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Known for | Belve |
| Partner | Enrico Mentana (2013–present) |
Francesca Fagnani (born 25 November 1976)[1] is an Italian journalist, writer and television presenter. She started her career as an investigative journalist against the Italian mafia and organized crime. She was later involved in various reportages about Italian youth detention centers. Since 2018 she hosts the Italian interview program Belve and its spin-off, Belve Crime, both in which she serves also as co-creator and co-writer.
Early life
Francesca Fagnani was born in Rome, Italy, on 25 November 1976,[1] to a family from Cagnano Amiterno, Abruzzo.[2] She has a fraternal twin sister.[3]
Fagnani graduated from the Sapienza University of Rome with a degree in modern literature.[1] She obtained a doctorate in Dante philology from New York University, and was in New York City to witness the September 11 attacks in 2001.[1]
Career
Fagnani subsequently volunteered to work at RAI's New York office, where she did an internship with journalist Giovanni Floris before returning to Italy.[3][4] In Rome, she worked with journalist Giovanni Minoli, before making her debut as an investigative journalist on Michele Santoro's television program AnnoZero in 2006.[1] She stayed there until 2010. From 2013 to 2020, Fagnani wrote for Il Fatto Quotidiano and La Repubblica, and focused mainly on covering organized crime.[5] Since March 2018, she has been the host of the Italian television interview series Belve, which consists of face-to-face interviews between Fagnani and "beasts", strong personalities from the world of entertainment, politics or news.[6] Belve Crime, a spin-off series hosted by Fagnani and focused on figures from crime news, debuted in June 2025.[7]
Fagnani co-hosted the Sanremo Music Festival 2023.[1][8]
Personal life
Since 2013, Fagnani has been romantically linked to journalist Enrico Mentana.[1][8]
Media appearances
Fiction
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Vita da Carlo | Herself | Episode: "L'invidia è una brutta belva" |
Non-fiction
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–2010 | AnnoZero | Reporter | Political talk show (seasons 1-4) |
| 2018–present | Belve | Host | Interview show; also co-creator and co-writer |
| 2018 | Il prezzo | Host | Investigative program; also creator and co-writer |
| 2019–2020 | Quarta Repubblica | Opinionist | Political talk show (season 2) |
| 2020–2023 | Non è l'Arena | Opinionist | Political talk show (seasons 3-6) |
| 2021 | Le Iene | Guest host | Investigation program (season 25) |
| 2023 | Sanremo Music Festival 2023 | Co-host | Annual music festival, co-host for the 2nd night |
| Italia Loves Romagna: The Concert | Co-host | Concert special | |
| 2024 | Cena di Natale | Reporter | Variety special |
| 2025 | Belve Crime | Host | Spin-off and crime version of Belve; also co-creator and co-writer |
| 2026 | Sanremo Music Festival 2026 | Guest performer | Annual music festival, performed "Parole parole" with Fulminacci in the duets night |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Ascione, Arianna (25 November 2023). "Fagnani compie 47 anni: vide cadere le Torri Gemelle, come ha conosciuto Enrico Mentana" [Francesca Fagnani Turns 47: Her Beginnings in Rai, the Success of Belve, 7 Secrets]. Corriere della Sera (in Italian). pp. 1–7. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ "L'Aquila capitale italiana della cultura 2026: i dettagli della cerimonia con Mattarella e chi sono gli ospiti abruzzesi". Abruzzo Daily (in Italian). 23 December 2025. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
- ^ a b Sarfatti, Micol (17 August 2022). "Francesca Fagnani: 'La morte di mia madre mi ha devastata. Mentana? Siamo i primi fan l'uno dell'altra'". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ Volpe, Maria (30 October 2022). "Francesca Fagnani: 'Mentana? In casa non vuole parlare di lavoro. Da Guzzanti e Bignardi i no più inattesi'". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Archived from the original on 27 April 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ "Francesca Fagnani". Il Fatto Quotidiano (in Italian). 17 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ Serini, Raffaella (14 March 2018). "Francesca Fagnani: 'Viva le donne Belve'" [Francesca Fagnani: 'Long Live the Beast Women']. Vanity Fair Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ "Francesca Fagnani Conquers the Public with the Debut of Belve Crime". Notizie.it (in Italian). 11 June 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
- ^ a b Martino, Gaia (8 February 2023). "Francesca Fagnani a Sanremo 2023: la carriera, il successo di Belve e il compagno Enrico Mentana" [Francesca Fagnani at Sanremo 2023: Her Career, the Success of Belve and Her Partner Enrico Mentana]. Fanpage.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 14 January 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.