Maria Carmela D'Urso (born 7 May 1957), known professionally as Barbara D'Urso, is an Italian television presenter, actress and writer.

Career

D'Urso was born in Naples, Campania. Her father was from Laurenzana (died in 1996), and her mother, who died when Barbara was 11, was born in Sant'Eufemia d'Aspromonte.[full citation needed] She made her debut in 1977 in the programme Goal, alongside Diego Abatantuono, Teo Teocoli and Massimo Boldi. The following year she took part in the variety show Stryx. In 1979 she presented the programme Che combinazione broadcast on Rai 2, and the year afterward, together with Pippo Baudo, she appeared in Domenica in on Rai 1. That same year, 1980, she also made her debut as a singer, with the single Dolceamaro, which was not very successful.

In 1984 she appeared naked on the front cover of Playboy and Playmen magazines. After that, she started working for the television network of Silvio Berlusconi: she participated in a television fiction, and in 1995 she also presented Agenzia matrimoniale, but she returned to the RAI with In famiglia together with Le ragazze di piazza di Spagna, Donne di mafia and Una donna scomoda.

She received moderate notability as a result of her performance in La dottoressa Giò (1997).

Since then she has taken part in many reality shows. For three years D'Urso presented three editions of Grande Fratello, the Italian version of the Big Brother (one in 2003 and two editions in 2004). In 2005 she was the host of the Italian version of The Farm. D'Urso maintained this role for two years. In June 2005 she had a role in the TV series Ricomincio da me.

In 2006 she took part in Reality Circus, which was unsuccessful, and in 2007 with Uno due tre stalla.

In January 2008 she presented Mattino Cinque, with Claudio Brachino; this was followed in the spring of 2008 with Lo show dei record, dedicated to the Guinness World Records. In autumn 2008, she presented the prime time show Fantasia, while in the season of 2008/2009 she hosted Pomeriggio Cinque and Mattino Cinque.

In the 2009/2010 season, she left Mattino cinque and became the presenter of Domenica Cinque, a Sunday afternoon programme, and Pomeriggio 5. In the 2011 season she was replaced by Federica Panicucci.

In December 2010 she hosted the New Year Canale 5's show Capodanno cinque and, in January 2011, left Domenica Cinque to host the primetime show Stasera che sera!, which aired for only two episodes and was suspended because of extremely low ratings.

In September 2011 she hosted the program Baila!, which was also cancelled after 4 episodes due to a court sentence for plagiarism of the program Dancing with the Stars.

Discography

Singles

  • "Dolceamaro/Se mi guardi così" (1980)

Music videos

  • 2019 – Dolceamaro with Cristiano Malgioglio

Music videos by other artists with Barbara D'Urso

  • 2020 – Come Adamo ed Eva: Live Milano - The Club/Fidelio Éva Henger with Sciarra

Filmography

Films

Film roles showing year released, title, role played and notes
YearTitleRoleNotes
1985Blues metropolitanoFrancescaFeature film debut
1989Vogliamoci troppo beneVanessa
1992Non chiamarmi OmarGolda Fez
1995Mollo tuttoBettina Giacobetti
Romanzo di un giovane poveroStudent's mother
1999Il manoscritto di Van HeckenGiulia
All the Moron's MenDr. Giorgia Basile
2004Per giusto omicidioBarbara
2018Il vegetaleHerselfCameo appearance
Show DogsDaisy (voice)Italian voice-over role
2021Genitori vs. InfluencerHerselfCameo appearance

Television

Television roles showing year released, title, role played and notes
YearTitleRoleNotes
1978StryxHerself/co-hostVariety show (season 1)
1979Delitto in via TeluadaAnnieTelevision film
1979–1980Che combinazioneHerself/co-hostVariety show (season 2)
1980–1981Domenica inHerself/co-hostTalk show (season 5); also performing
1981La casa rossaGildaMiniseries
Un disco per l'estate 1981Herself/co-hostAnnual music festival
1982Fresco frescoHerself/hostVariety show (season 3)
Giorno dopo giornoAliceTelevision film
1986Buon Natale a tutto il mondoHerself/hostSpecial
1987La lunga notte di BiancaneveHerself/hostSpecial
1987 Castrocaro Music FestivalHerself/hostAnnual music festival
1992BonyGinaMain role; 13 episodes
1995Per amore - Dove porta il sentimentoHerself/hostTalk show
Doctor Giorgia - Una mano da stringereDr. Giorgia BasileTelevision film
1996AgenziaHerself/hostDating/Reality show
1996–1997Mattina in famigliaHerself/hostTalk show (season 8)
1997–2019Doctor GiorgiaDr. Giorgia BasileLead role
1998Festival di NapoliHerself/hostAnnual music festival
Le ragazze di piazza di SpagnaDr. Giorgia BasileEpisode: "Episode 1"
2001Via Zanardi 33Barbara2 episodes
Donne di mafiaGiulia MarottaMiniseries
2002Lo zio d'AmericaMagdaMain role (season 1); 8 episodes
2002–2003UgoVeronicaCo-lead role; 20 episodes
2003–2004Grande FratelloHerself/hostReality show (seasons 3–5)
2004NoiChiara DoniMiniseries
RoccoLuciaTelevision film
OrgoglioPrincess Maria PiaMain role (season 1); 13 episodes
2005–2006La fattoriaHerself/hostReality show (seasons 2–3)
Ricomincio da meVera MolinariLead role; 4 episodes
2006Reality CircusHerself/hostVariety show
2006–2009Lo show dei recordHerself/hostGame show (seasons 1–2)
2007Un due tre stalla!Herself/hostReality show
2008–2009Mattino CinqueHerself/hostTalk show (seasons 1–2)
2008–2023Pomeriggio CinqueHerself/hostTalk show
2009–2010Domenica CinqueHerself/hostTalk show (seasons 1–2)
2011Baila!Herself/hostTalent dance show
2012–2021Domenica Live!Herself/hostTalk show
2018–2019Grande FratelloHerself/hostReality show (seasons 15–16)
2019–2021Live - Non è la D'UrsoHerself/hostTalk show
2022La Pupa e il Secchione ShowHerself/hostReality show (season 5)
2024Ballando con le StelleHerself/guest dancerTalent show (season 19)

Documentary

  • Il Ribelle – Giacomo Franciosa (2010)

Theatre

  • Appuntamento d'amore – P. Passalacqua (1993)
  • E meno male che c'è Maria – P. Garinei (1999)
  • Lisistrata – Walter Manfrè (2002)
  • La vedova scaltra – W. Manfrè (2007)
  • Il letto ovale – G. Landi (2007–2008)

Books

  • Più forti di prima (Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, 2010)
  • Tanto poi esce il sole (Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, 2011)
  • Ma credo ancora nell'amore – Sopravvivere alle ferite del cuore (Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, 2012)
  • Ecco come faccio (Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, 2013)
  • La mia Contursi (Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, 2014)

External links