Giancarlo Giannini, the legendary Italian film star, was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles on March 6, 2023. The ceremony was held in front of a large crowd of fans who came out to show their appreciation for Giannini’s remarkable career.

The ceremony was attended by Barbara Broccoli who worked with Giannini in the Bond films Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace (where Giannini had the role of Renè Mathis), by Undersecretary of State of the Italian Ministry of Culture Lucia Borgonzoni and the newly appointed Italian Consul General Raffaella Valentini. Giannini, who received the 2,576th star, is one of only 18 Italians to receive this honor.

“I like this star very much,” Giannini said upon hearing the resolution declaring March 6 the “Giannini day in Hollywood” from Lupita Sanchez-Cornejo, Chairman of the Board of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. “I like it because I see myself together with many stars or friends who I spent a lot of time of my life on the stage and on sets. I want to dedicate this star to this wonderful director Lina Wertmüller who created me. I am sure she is waiting for me up there to do other movies better than here! Thank you and I am very happy to be here.”

Over the course of his more than five-decade-long career, Giannini (born in La Spezia, Italy, on August 1, 1942) has become one of Italy’s most celebrated actors. He has worked with some of the most renowned filmmakers in the world, including Federico Fellini, the aforementioned Wertmüller and Martin Scorsese, and has received numerous awards and accolades for his performances.

Giannini is perhaps best known for his work in Italian cinema where he has become synonymous with the golden age of Italian filmmaking in the 1960s and 1970s. He has appeared in iconic films such as Wertmuller’s The Seduction of Mimi, Seven Beauties, Love and Anarchy and Swept Away, and his performances have become a touchstone for generations of Italian film fans. Swept Away received a Hollywood remake in 2002 with Madonna and Giancarlo’s own son, Adriano Giannini, directed by Madonna’s then-husband, Guy Ritchie.   

Giannini has performed in several Hollywood hits such as Ridley Scott‘s Hannibal (2001), Tony Scott‘s Man on Fire (2004), Casino Royale (2006), and the TV miniseries Catch-22 (2019).

A few days before the Walk of Fame ceremony, during a Q&A at the Italian Institute of Culture in Los Angeles moderated by HFPA member Luca Celada, Giannini expressed his excitement about receiving the star. “I am deeply humbled and honored to receive this star,” he said. “It’s a dream come true for me to be recognized in this way, in this city that has meant so much to me throughout my career. I have received many awards during my life and my career, but the star is the biggest recognition because it represents my entire career, not an individual film. It tells you that you are really a star forever, that you did your work well, and that you are in very good company!”

During that Q&A, Giannini spoke at length about his love for the craft of acting, and the importance of storytelling in his life. “For me, acting has always been about telling stories,” Giannini said. “It’s about connecting with audiences and sharing something meaningful with them. And I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to do that, over and over, throughout my career.”

Giannini’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is a testament to his enduring legacy as one of the greatest actors of his generation. It is also a recognition of the important contributions that Italian cinema has made to the world of film, and the ongoing influence of Italian filmmakers and actors in the global film community.

Giannini’s star on the Walk of Fame joins those of other legendary Italian actors, including including Sophia Loren, Marcello Mastroianni, and Roberto Benigni, along with the recent stars of Lina Wertmüller and opera singer Luciano Pavarotti, as a tribute to Italy’s rich cultural heritage in film.

But more than that, his star is a celebration of the power of cinema to bring people together, to inspire and entertain. It is a recognition of the importance of storytelling, and the profound impact that it can have on our lives.

As Giannini himself said at the Italian Cultural Institute, “Film is a language that transcends borders and cultures. It has the power to unite us, to inspire us, and to move us in ways that we never thought possible. And I am honored and grateful to have been a part of this incredible art form, to have worked with so many talented filmmakers and actors, and to have shared my work with audiences all over the world.”

In addition to his acting work, Giancarlo Giannini has also been a vocal advocate for social and political causes. He has spoken out on issues such as poverty, immigration, and human rights, using his platform as a public figure to raise awareness and promote change.