She looks like she’s just received the saddest news on the planet, even when she’s smiling. That’s how Benedetta Porcaroli once described her own face. Honestly, it’s that exact quality—a sort of haunting, vintage-soul melancholy—that has turned her into the most magnetic export of Italian cinema since the days of the great screen sirens.
You’ve probably seen her. Maybe it was that whirlwind of a performance in the Netflix hit Baby, or perhaps you caught her recently in the 2025 blockbuster adaptation of The Leopard. Either way, Porcaroli is everywhere right now. She’s not just "the girl from that one show" anymore. She’s a powerhouse.
From Rome to the World: The Benedetta Porcaroli Movies and TV Shows You Can't Miss
It all started back in 2015. She was just a teenager when she landed a role in the Rai 1 series Tutto può succedere. Basically, she was playing Federica Ferraro, a regular kid in a big family drama. It was solid work, but nobody knew she was about to explode into a global sensation.
Then came 2018. The year everything changed.
The Baby Phenomenon
If we’re talking about Benedetta Porcaroli movies and tv shows, we have to start with Baby. Netflix took a real-life scandal from Rome’s posh Parioli district and turned it into a gritty, neon-soaked teen drama. Benedetta played Chiara Altieri.
Chiara wasn't your typical TV teen. She was a "good girl" from a wealthy family who started living a double life as a student by day and a high-end escort by night. It sounds sensationalist, but Porcaroli brought this weirdly relatable vulnerability to it. People in over 150 countries watched it. She went from being a local actress to getting recognized on the streets of Miami.
- Year: 2018–2020
- Role: Chiara Altieri
- The Vibe: Intense, stylish, and deeply uncomfortable in all the right ways.
Breaking Into Cinema: 18 Presents and Perfect Strangers
Porcaroli didn't just stay in the "teen drama" lane. In fact, she’s been incredibly picky about her film roles. Her big-screen debut was actually a small but pivotal part in Perfect Strangers (Perfetti sconosciuti) in 2016. If you haven’t seen the original Italian version of that movie, stop reading and go find it. It’s a masterclass in tension.
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But for me, her real "I’m here to stay" moment in film was 18 Presents (18 regali).
She plays Anna, a girl whose mother died of cancer before she was born. Her mom left her 18 gifts—one for every birthday. It’s a tear-jerker, sure, but it’s not cheesy. Benedetta’s performance is prickly and angry. She makes you feel the weight of a girl who grew up with a ghost for a mother. She actually got a David di Donatello nomination for this one.
A Massive Year: 2024 and 2025
The last couple of years have been a complete gear-shift for her. She’s moved away from the "rebellious teen" archetype and into heavy-hitter territory.
Immaculate (2024)
You might have missed her in this if you were too busy looking at Sydney Sweeney, but Benedetta played Sister Gwen. It’s a psychological horror set in an Italian convent. Gwen is the cynical, world-weary foil to Sweeney’s naive lead. Seeing Benedetta in a habit, chain-smoking and swearing, was a total 180 from her previous roles. It showed she could handle the Hollywood machine without losing her edge.
The Leopard (2025)
This is the big one. Netflix’s 2025 limited series adaptation of the classic Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa novel. Taking on a story that was already a legendary Visconti film is risky. It's bold. Porcaroli plays Concetta, the daughter of the Prince of Salina.
This role is all about silence. Concetta is a woman trapped by her status and her unrequited love for Tancredi. Benedetta uses those "sad eyes" we talked about to devastating effect here. It’s the kind of performance that moves her from "rising star" to "prestige actress."
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The Kidnapping of Arabella (2025)
Fresh off the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, this movie is probably her most "out there" work yet. She re-teamed with director Carolina Cavalli (who directed her in the quirky Amanda).
She plays Holly, a woman going through a mystical crisis who kidnaps a child named Arabella because she’s convinced the kid is a reincarnation of her younger self. It’s weird. It’s cynical. It’s heartbreaking. And it won her the Orizzonti Award for Best Actress.
"Acting is a political act; it frees you," she said once. Looking at her choices lately, you can see she really believes that.
Why People Get Her Career Wrong
Most people think she just got lucky with a Netflix show. Honestly, that’s such a surface-level take.
If you look at her filmography, there’s a pattern of choosing roles that deal with isolation. In Amanda (2022), she played a girl with zero friends who literally stalks a childhood acquaintance to force a friendship. It’s a comedy, sort of, but it’s also a brutal look at loneliness.
She doesn't do "pretty" roles. Even when she's playing a glamorous character, there’s usually a layer of grime or emotional damage underneath. That’s what makes her different. She’s not trying to be the next big "influencer actress." She’s a student of philosophy who happened to become a star.
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Complete List of Must-Watch Projects
If you want to track her evolution, here is the essential watchlist. No filler.
- Perfect Strangers (2016): Her debut. Catch the dinner party from hell.
- Baby (2018–2020): The show that made her a household name.
- 18 Presents (2020): The one that proved she can carry a heavy drama.
- The Catholic School (2021): A dark, true-crime story. Not for the faint of heart.
- Amanda (2022): Quirky, indie, and totally unique.
- Enea (2023): A decadent look at modern Rome.
- The Leopard (2025): High-budget period drama at its best.
- The Kidnapping of Arabella (2025): Her award-winning peak.
What’s Next for Benedetta?
As we head further into 2026, the rumors are swirling about her heading to the US for a major English-language lead. She’s spent years mastering the language and doing screen tests.
But honestly? She doesn't need Hollywood. She’s already the face of the "New Wave" of Italian cinema. She’s working with the best directors in Europe and winning major awards at Venice.
If you haven't started following her career yet, now is the time. Start with Amanda if you want something weird, or 18 Presents if you need a good cry. Just don't expect her to play a happy, uncomplicated character anytime soon. That’s just not her vibe.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Check out her collaboration with Achille Lauro in the music video "16 marzo" for a quick 5-minute hit of her acting style.
- Look for The Kidnapping of Arabella on the festival circuit or streaming platforms later this year; it’s likely to be a major awards contender globally.
- Follow her career trajectory through the David di Donatello awards, as she's become a staple nominee in the Italian film industry.