30 Facts About Greta Scacchi

Greta Scacchi received another Primetime Emmy Award nomination for her performance in the Western television film Broken Trail.

Greta Scacchi was born on 18 February 1960 in Milan, Italy, the daughter of Luca Greta Scacchi, an Italian art dealer and painter, and Pamela Risbey, an English dancer and antiques dealer.

In 1975, after Greta Scacchi's mother's remarriage, the family moved to Perth, Western Australia, where her stepfather was a visiting professor at the University of Western Australia.

In 1977, Greta Scacchi returned to the United Kingdom to study at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, where her contemporaries included Miranda Richardson and Amanda Redman.

Greta Scacchi's first leading role was in the British film Heat and Dust, opposite Shashi Kapoor and Julie Christie; her performance earned a BAFTA nomination for Best Newcomer to Film.

Greta Scacchi went on to give performances in films such as The Ebony Tower, The Coca-Cola Kid, White Mischief, Presumed Innocent, The Player and Country Life.

Greta Scacchi turned down the role of Catherine Trammell in Basic Instinct.

In 1996, Greta Scacchi won an Emmy Award for her portrayal of Alexandra of Hesse in the television film Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny, and was nominated for a Golden Globe and numerous other awards.

In 2007, Greta Scacchi received an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for Broken Trail.

Greta Scacchi is fluent in English, French, German, and Italian, which has made her a popular choice for European casting directors.

Greta Scacchi has performed in a wide range of parts in theatre.

Greta Scacchi appeared In Times Like These and Cider with Rosie as her film career was taking off.

Greta Scacchi returned to Sydney in 1996 to play Cecilia in Sam Shepard's Simpatico.

In 2001, Greta Scacchi returned to Sydney for Harold Pinter's Old Times, directed by Aarne Neeme, playing Kate.

In that year, Greta Scacchi performed in Terence Rattigan's The Deep Blue Sea at the Theatre Royal, Bath, on tour and then in the West End back at the Vaudeville Theatre.

In 2010, Greta Scacchi replaced an injured Kristin Scott Thomas in the Chatelet Theatre, Paris in the French premiere of Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music.

In May 2011, Greta Scacchi appeared alongside Anita Dobson in the play Bette and Joan at London's Arts Theatre, written by Anton Burge and directed by Bill Alexander, about the personal and professional relationship between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.

In 2014, Greta Scacchi played Arkadina in Chekhov's The Seagull in Perth.

Between 20 August and 12 November 2016, Greta Scacchi played Phoebe Rice opposite Kenneth Branagh's Archie Rice in a revival of John Osborne's The Entertainer at the Garrick Theatre in London's West End.

In June 2024, Greta Scacchi returned to the role of Joan in Darby and Joan after the show was renewed for a second series.

Greta Scacchi applied for British citizenship after turning 18, but was refused and refused again on appeal; she later applied again due to Brexit.

Greta Scacchi is a citizen of Italy, Australia and the United Kingdom.

From 1983 to 1989, Greta Scacchi was in a relationship with New Zealand musician Tim Finn.

Greta Scacchi had a four-year relationship with American actor Vincent D'Onofrio, with whom she has a daughter, actress Leila George.

Greta Scacchi was previously the mother-in-law of actor Sean Penn, who was married to George from 2020 to 2022.

In 1997, Greta Scacchi began a relationship with her first cousin, Carlo Mantegazza.

Greta Scacchi is an active supporter of campaigns and organisations that promote environmental causes.

Greta Scacchi has supported Greenpeace and Christian Aid's climate change campaign.

Greta Scacchi continues to lead the linked Fishlove campaign, which has seen a host of well known actors pose for photographs with a variety of fish.

In October 2013, Greta Scacchi was awarded the Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana for her services to the arts.