Sabina Guzzanti

Sabina Guzzanti (born 25 July 1963) is an Italian satirist, actress, writer, and producer whose work is devoted to examining social and political life in Italy. Born in Rome as the eldest daughter of Italian political commentator and journalist Paolo Guzzanti, she graduated from the Academy of Dramatic Arts of Rome. Her first appearances on stage were at the side of her brother Corrado, also a satirical writer and actor, and since 1987 she has practiced Nichiren Buddhism as a member of Soka Gakkai International.

Her career began when she took part in successful television comedy formats such as La TV delle ragazze and Scusate l'interruzione; her imitations of Italian porn star Moana Pozzi gave her popularity, and film director Giuseppe Bertolucci recruited her to star in his film The Camels (I Cammelli). She toured Italian theatres with her own comedy shows, including Con fervido zelo (1991) and Non io: Sabina e le altre (1994). In 2001 she participated in the alter-globalization demonstrations against the G8 in Genoa while impersonating journalist Oriana Fallaci.

In November 2003 Guzzanti wrote, directed and was featured in the first and only installment of Raiot, a late-night political satire show on Rai 3, which was pulled after she lampooned Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and was sued by Berlusconi's Mediaset lawyers. As a form of protest she shot her film Viva Zapatero! (2005), which premiered at the Venice Film Festival and condemned the lack of freedom of expression in Italy. She directed Sympathy for the Lobster (2007) and Draquila. Italy Trembles (2010), the latter screened out of competition at the Cannes Film Festival as a report on the earthquake in L'Aquila. In 2011 she directed Franca la Prima, a homage to actress Franca Valeri.