ARGENTO, ASIA

(1975-)

Actress, writer, director. Daughter of cult horror directorDario Argento, Asia began acting at the age of nine in the television miniseriesSogni e bisogni(Dreams and Needs, 1985). Following minor parts in several horror films, she distinguished herself playing the lead role inCristina Comencini'sZoo(1988). After costarring inMichele Placido's moving coming-of-age-filmLe amiche del cuore(Close Friends, 1992 ), she appeared inTrauma(Dario Argento's Trauma, 1992), the first of several of her father's horror films, which would also includeLa sindrome di Stendhal(Stendhal's Syndrome, 1996) andIl fantasma dell'opera(The Phantom of the Opera, 1998).Although by this time she had acquired a reputation as the "dark woman" of Italian cinema, Argento nevertheless went on to play the part of a young disabled woman inCarlo Verdone'sPerdiamoci di vista!(Let's Not Keep in Touch, 1994), for which she was awarded aDavid di Donatello, and earned another David for her leading role in Peter Del Monte'sCompagna di viaggio(Traveling Companion, 1996). Having by now built an international reputation for tough female roles, she was called to star in Michael Radford's taut crime thriller,B.Monkey(1998), and Abel Ferrara's futuristic commercial spy movie,New Rose Hotel(1998). At this point she decided to try her hand at directing, beginning with the short music videoLa tua lingua sul mio cuore(Your Tongue on My Heart, 1998), and a brief interview-documentaryon Abel Ferrara,Abel/Asia(1998). These shorts were soon followed by the full-length fictional autobiographyScarlet Diva(2000), and a powerful adaptation of J. T. Leroy's short-story anthologyThe Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things(2004).

Argento subsequently appeared in George Romero'sLand of the Dead(2005) and as Madame Du Barry in Sofia Coppola'sMarie Antoinette(2006).