From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia Nicoletta Braschi born April 14 1960 is an Italian actress and producer best known for her work with her husband actor and director Roberto Benigni Born in Cesena Braschi studied in Romes Academy of Dramatic Arts where she first met Benigni in 1980 Her first film was with Benigni in 1983 the comedy Tu Mi Turbi You Upset Me She later appeared in two Jim Jarmusch films Down by Law and Mystery Train Braschis two most successful collaborations with her husband have been Johnny Stecchino 1992 and La Vita è Bella Life is Beautiful 1997 The first an Italian comedy that cast the actress as the girlfriend of a mobster Benigni was a huge hit in Italy while the second in which Braschi played the wife of an Italian Jew Benigni imprisoned in a concentration camp was a widelypraised success that launched both Braschi and her husband into the international spotlight She was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild award as a cast member of Life is Beautiful She is also a David di Donatello award winner Italys equivalent of the Oscars In 2002 she was a member of the jury at the Berlin Film Festival In 2010 she has returned to theatre starring in Tradimenti Description above from the Wikipedia article Nicoletta Braschi licensed under CCBYSA full list of contributors on Wikipedia