How a Facebook discovery launched an Italian star's cinematic career
In short: In 2015, director Matteo Rovere was scrolling through Facebook when he stumbled upon Matilda De Angelis. He wasn't looking for a professional actress, but a newcomer who could master a specific regional dialect. This chance encounter would soon transform a young musician into an award-winning force in European cinema.
Matilda De Angelis's journey from musician to actress began long before her film debut. Raised in a creative family in Bologna, she was born on 11 September 1995; her father was a comic book artist and graphic designer. Her musical foundation was established early, starting violin and guitar at age eleven, and by thirteen, she was already composing her own songs. By 2011, she was touring Europe with the band Rumba de Bodas, releasing the album Karnaval Fou in 2014.
Her transition to acting was catalyzed by a chance digital encounter. In 2015, director Matteo Rovere discovered her via Facebook while casting for the 2016 film Italian Race. Rovere specifically required a non-professional capable of speaking the Emilia Romagna dialect. After multiple script-based auditions, De Angelis secured the lead role, a performance that earned her a David di Donatello nomination for Best Actress in 2017 and a Nastro d'Argento for Best Newcomer.
Following that success, De Angelis explored various genres, including the 2020 HBO miniseries The Undoing and the 2020 Netflix movie Rose Island, earning a David di Donatello for Best Supporting Actress for the latter. Her versatility has led to roles in Luc Besson's Dracula (2025) and lead performances in series like The Law According to Lidia Poët and Citadel: Diana. Beyond the screen, she has maintained a presence in music, collaborating with Elisa on the single "Litoranea" in 2022, which became her first FIMI-certified song.
Her rise is marked by significant industry recognition, including a Best Actress award at the Taormina Film Fest for the 2021 film Atlas. From her early days in a musical band to her role as an ambassador for Tiffany & Co., De Angelis represents a modern, multi-disciplinary approach to stardom, bridging the gap between the music charts and international film festivals.
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