Serena Rossi

Serena Rossi
Serena Rossi in 2014
Born (1985-08-31) 31 August 1985
Naples, Italy
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active2003–present
Height1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)

Serena Rossi (born 31 August 1985) is an Italian actress and singer. She is/has best known for portraying Carmen Catalano in Rai 3 soap opera Un posto al sole (2003–2010). She subsequently starred in a variety of stage and film productions and lent her voice to animate television and film. In 2019 she gained widespread recognition for portraying singer Mia Martini in the biographical drama Io sono Mia, for which she was awarded with a Nastro d'Argento.

Biography

Born and raised in Naples, Serena Rossi comes from an artistic family originally from Montefalcone nel Sannio, in the Province of Campobasso, Molise.

After a variety of small musical roles on stage, Rossi rose to prominence in 2003 starring as Carmen Catalano in Rai 3 soap opera Un posto al sole, from season eight to season fourteen. She later reprised the role in the second season of its spin-off Un posto al sole d'estate.

In 2005, Rossi returned on stage in her first lead engagement starring in Mal'aria, a musical inspired by Romeo and Juliet but set in Naples. The musical was performed at Teatro Palaparthenope in Naples.

The following year, Serena Rossi signed with EMI and released her debut extended play, Amore che, a folk-pop record conteining five song written by Franco Fasano. The songs were promoted by Rossi during the tenth season of Un posto al sole.[1] She also guest-starred in the internationally popular hit detective series Inspector Montalbano, based on the novels by Andrea Camilleri, in the episode "La vampa d'agosto", which aired on November 2, 2008.

In 2011, Rossi starred in Rai 1 comedy-drama series Che Dio ci aiuti, playing the single mother Giulia Sabatini. For the role, she won the Massimo Troisi Award for "Best Comedy Actress". Rossi left the series after the first season. The following year, Rossi appearaed in a recurring capacity in the third season of Canale 5 police procedural series R.I.S. Roma – Delitti imperfetti.

In 2013, Serena Rossi was chosen as the Italian voice of Anna for the Disney animated fantasy film Frozen. She released the official Italian soundtrack album, featuring all the original songs in Italian with co-lead vocals by Serena Autieri, the Italian voice of Elsa. Rossi reprised the role in all the subsequent installments. In the same year, she returned on stage playing the female lead Rosetta in a new production of the popular musical Rugantino, directed by Enrico Brignano and performed at Teatro Sistina in Rome. On December 16, 2013, the artist released her debut studio album Nella casa di pepe, produced by Paolo Varriale.

In 2014, Serena Rossi made her major feature film debut starring in the heist comedy film Song'e Napule, directed by Manetti Bros. The film premiered at Rome Film Festival in 2013 and was released on April 17, 2014, in Italian theaters receiving positive reviews by critics and winning a variety of awards including two David di Donatello, three Nastro d'Argento and a Globo d'Oro. For her portrayal, Rossi won an Italian Movie Award for Best Actress. In the same year, Rossi competed during the fourth season of the reality competition series Tale e quale show, based on the format of Your Face Sounds Familiar. During the show, the artist impersonated numerous popular singers, including Pharrell Williams, Beyoncé, Tosca, Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson and Elisa. On December 2, 2014, Rossi was featured in Matteo Becucci's fourth studio album Tutti quanti Mery in the cover song "Vorrei incontrarti fra cent'anni", originally performed by Ron and Tosca.

In 2017, Serena Rossi received widespread recognition starring as Fatima in Manetti Bros. musical comedy film Love and Bullets. The film premiered during the 74th Venice International Film Festival and won all the major Italian film awards including David di Donatello for Best Film, Best Costumes, Best Score and Best Original Song (for "Bang Bang", performed by Rossi, Franco Ricciardi and Giampaolo Morelli). Rossi also won the Nastro d'Argento for Best Original Song for "Bang Bang", and received the "Colpo di fulmine Award" during the Ciak d'Oro ceremony. In the same year, Serena Rossi was featured as a part-time host in the talk-variety show Detto fatto and as a judge in the second season of the children's talent competition series Piccoli giganti. Rossi also hosted a concert special for Radio Italia and the Rai 1 music variety special Celebration, alsongside Neri Marcorè. The following year, Serena Rossi was featured as a commentator during the finals of the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 and dubbed Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins in the Italian version of the 2018 film Mary Poppins Returns.

In 2019, Serena Rossi starred as singer-songwriter Mia Martini in the biographical drama film Io sono Mia, directed by Riccardo Donna. The film follows Martini's artistic career, her entourage, her sister Loredana Bertè, and the tumultuous relationships with her parents. For her portrayal, Rossi received critical acclaim and was awarded with a Special Nastro d'Argento Award. To promote the film, Serena Rossi performed Martini's huge hit single "Almeno tu nell'universo" with Claudio Baglioni during the Sanremo Music Festival 2019. In the same year, Rossi starred in the comedy film Brave ragazze and reprised the role of Anna in Disney's Frozen 2.

In 2020, Rossi starred in the romantic comedy 7 ore per farti innamorare, for which she was nominated for a Nastro d'Argento and a Ciak d'Oro for Best Actress, and appeared in Stefano Mordini's thriller You Came Back, presented as the closing film during the 77th Venice International Film Festival. The following year, Rossi starred as the titular role in Rai 1 comedy-drama series Mina Settembre, which ran for three season ending in February 2025. In the same year, Serena Rossi hosted the variety show Canzone segreta and appearaed in the Naples-themed episode of Alberto Angela's show Stanotte a…, that aired on December 25.

In 2024, Serena Rossi starred in the drama film The Children's Train, directed by Cristina Comencini and based on the novel of the same name by Viola Ardone. The film premiered during the 19th Rome Film Festival and was later released on Netflix.

In 2025, Rossi co-wrote, co-directed, co-produced and starred in the original stage musical SereNata a Napoli. Set in Rossi's native town Naples and inspired by the Canzone napoletana, the show embarked a National tour on the main Italian stages. In the same year, Serena Rossi also voiced Gal Gadot as the Evil Queens in the live-action remake Snow White.

Filmography

Key
Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released

Film

Year Title Role(s) Notes
2007 Liberarsi: Figli di una rivoluzione minore Teresa
2012 La stagione dell'amore Monica Short film
2014 Song'e Napule Marianna
Ti sposo ma non troppo Luca's ex-girlfriend Cameo appearance
2016 Troppo napoletano Debora Iovine
Al posto tuo Anna
2017 Love and Bullets Fatima
Caccia al tesoro Rosetta
2019 Io sono Mia Mia Martini
Brave ragazze Maria D'Urso
2020 7 ore per farti innamorare Valeria
You Came Back Anita
La tristezza ha il sonno leggero Flor
2021 Diabolik Elisabeth Gay
2022 Beata te Marta
2024 The Children's Train Antonietta Speranza
2026 Non abbiam bisogno di parole Pre-production

Television

Year Title Role(s) Notes
2003 Salvo D'Acquisto Francesca D'Acquisto Television movie
2003–2010 Un posto al sole Carmen Catalano Series regular (season 8–14)
2004 Virginia, la monaca di Monza Angelica Television movie
2006 La moglie cinese Rosaria Television movie
2007 Un posto al sole d'estate Carmen Catalano Main role (season 2)
2008 Inspector Montalbano Adriana Monreale Episode: "La vampa d'agosto"
2009 Puccini Cherie Television movie
2010 Restless Heart: The Confessions of Saint Augustine Khalidà Television movie
Ho sposato uno sbirro Barbara Castello Main role (season 2)
2011 Eroi per caso Laura Palumbo Television movie
Dove la trovi una come me? Monica Television movie
2011–2012 Che Dio ci aiuti Giulia Sabatini Main role (season 1)
2012 R.I.S. Roma – Delitti imperfetti Anita Cescon Recurring role (season 3)
Caruso, la voce dell'amore Elvira Television movie
2013 Il clan dei camorristi Patrizia Teduccio Main role
Adriano Olivetti: La forza di un sogno Teresa Television movie
Rossella Natuzza Main role (season 2)
2014 Tale e quale show Herself / Contestant Reality competition (season 4)
2015 Rex Josephine Episode: "Gelosia"
Squadra mobile Agent Valeria Goretti Main role (season 1)
2016, 2018 Inspector Coliandro Ilaria Sparzaglia 2 episodes
2017 Radio Italia Live! Herself / Host Concert special
Il coraggio di vincere Monica Television movie
Piccoli giganti Herself / Judge Children's talent competition
Detto fatto Herself / Host Variety show (hosted from September 11–29)
Celebration Herself / Co-host Concert special
2018 Da qui a un anno Herself / Host Reality show
Eurovision Song Contest 2018 Herself / Commentator Finals only
2019 Andrea Bocelli – Ali di libertà Herself / Guest Concert special
2021 Canzone segreta Herself / Host Variety show
Stanotte a… Herself / Guest Episode: "Stanotte a Napoli"
2021–2025 Mina Settembre Mina Settembre Lead role
2022 La sposa Maria Saggese Three-parts miniseries
2024 Call My Agent - Italia Herself Episode: "Episode 4"
Wonderboys: The Secret Treasure of Naples Angelica / The Old Hag Main role

Voice dubbing

Year Title Role(s) Played by Notes
2013 Frozen Anna Kristen Bell
2014 Race Gurram Spanadana "Sweety" Shruti Haasan
Winx Club: The Mystery of the Abyss Bloom Original role Singing parts only
Once Upon a Time Anna Elizabeth Lail TV series
Into the Woods Cinderella Anna Kendrick
2015 Rana Vikrama Paru Adah Sharma
Frozen Fever Anna Kristen Bell Short film
Brothers Mary Kareena Kapoor Khan
2017 Olaf's Frozen Adventure Anna Kristen Bell Short film
2018 Mary Poppins Returns Mary Poppins Emily Blunt Singing parts only
Ralph Breaks the Internet Anna Kristen Bell
2019 Frozen 2
2020 Once Upon a Snowman Short film
2021 Queenpins Connie Kaminski
2023 Once Upon a Studio Anna Short film
Migration Pam Mallard Elizabeth Banks
2025 Snow White Evil Queen Gal Gadot Singing parts only

Stage

Year Title Role(s) Venue Notes
2002–2003 C'era una volta… Scugnizzi Ensemble Teatro Augusteo, Naples
2005 Mal'aria Giulietta Palapartenope, Naples
2013 Rugantino Rosetta Teatro Sistina, Rome
2025–2026 SereNata a Napoli Serena Italian tour Also co-writer and co-director

Discography

Studio albums

  • Nella casa di pepe (2013)

Extended plays

  • Amore che (2006)

Cast recordings

Awards and nominations

Award Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
Campania Film Gala 2016 Best Actress Troppo napoletano Won
Ciak d'oro 2018 "Colpo di fulmine" Award Love and Bullets Won
2020 Best Actress Io sono Mia Nominated
2021 La tristezza ha il sonno leggero Won
2023 Category "TV Series" – Best Italian Actress Mina Settembre Nominated [2]
David di Donatello 2018 Best Original Song "Bang Bang" (from Love and Bullets) Won
Giffoni Film Festival 2015 Giffoni Experience Award Herself Won
2020 Won
Italian Movie Award 2015 Best Actress Song'e Napule Won
Massimo Troisi Award 2013 Best Comedy Actress Che Dio ci aiuti Won
Nastro d'Argento 2018 Best Original Song "Bang Bang" (from Love and Bullets) Won
Best Actress (Comedy) Love and Bullets Nominated
2019 Nastro d'Argento Special Award Io sono Mia Won
Pellicola d'Oro 2022 Best Actress Mina Settembre Won
2023 Nominated
2025 The Children's Train Won
Sorrento Film Festival 2017 Best Actress Love and Bullets Won
Tertio Millennio Film Fest 2017 Best Actress Love and Bullets Won
Venice Film Festival 2018 Kineo Diamanti Award Love and Bullets Won

References

  1. ^ "Serena Rossi, dalla fiction al cinema: vacanze con... premio". TGCOM. 7 July 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  2. ^ "Ciak d'Oro Serie tv, tutti i vincitori dell'edizione 2023". Sky TG24 (in Italian). 7 April 2023.