The second child of an Italian germanist and a Greek painter, Valeria Golino grew up in Naples until her parents parted. After three years in Athens with her mother and another three in Naples with her father, she began to work as a model. She left high school after her first movie and didn't study performing arts at all. In 1985 she got the leading role in Piccoli fuochi by Peter Del Monte and the next year won the Best Actress Award at the Venice Film Festival for A Tale of Love. After some European co-productions (Dernier été à Tanger, Occhiali d'oro, Gli, Paura e amore) she began to work in Hollywood (Big Top Pee-wee). She soon gained prominent roles in Rain Man, Hot Shots! and Hot Shots! Part Deux. Now she works in the US (Clean Slate, An Occasional Hell), Europe (The King's Whore, Immortal Beloved) and in Italy. too, especially with young directors (Come due coccodrilli, The Acrobat, Shooting the Moon). In 1994 she produced and acted in Sfagi tou kokora, I by Greek director Andreas Pantzis. Her voice is more appreciated in Hollywood (where she took speech therapy) than in Italy (where she is sometimes dubbed); in "The Slaughter of the Cock" she acts as a deaf and dumb woman. She speaks four languages: Italian, Greek, French and English. Her brother is a musician and their uncle Enzo Golino is a famous journalist.
Began modeling at age 14. She speaks English, French, Greek and Italian. Measurements: 33-21-33 1/2 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine) Engaged to director Peter Del Monte (1985-1987) Engaged to actor Fabrizio Bentivoglio from 1993 to 2001. Engaged to Benicio Del Toro from 1988 to 1992. Her close friends are: Isabella Ferrari, Sean Penn, Ennio Fantastichini, Asia Argento, Patricia Arquette, Salma Hayek, Mike Figgis, Greta Scacchi, Ferzan Ozpetek and Vincent D'Onofrio. Engaged to Italian actor Andrea Di Stefano (2002 - March 2006) "David di Donatello" award winner for "La Guerra Di Mario (2006)" "Leone d'Oro" award winner for "Storia d'amore (1986)" "Nastro d'Argento" award winner for "Respiro (2002)" "Nastro d'Argento" award winner for "La Guerra di Mario" (2006) Flaiano Film Festival award-winner for "La Guerra di Mario" (2006) "Grolla d'oro" award winner for "La Guerra di Mario" (2006) Engaged to actor Riccardo Scamarcio since April 2006 She lived in Los Angeles, California from 1988 to 1998 "Innovator Award" winner at "Italian Cinema Style" (October 2006). One of the biggest internationally recognized Italian actresses. Originally offered the role of Vivian in Pretty Woman (1990) but turned it down. She was the finalist with Julia Roberts at casting. Her father, the Germanist Prof. Golino died in October 2006 in Naples, Italy, where he lived. "Premio d'inverno" winner for her dramatic character in "La Guerra di Mario" at "Festival delle cerase" (January 2007). Acted with her ex-boyfriend Benicio Del Toro in three film: Big Top Pee-Wee (1988), The Indian Runner (1991) and Submission (1995).