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Lino Ventura's amazing transformation: How did he go from a wrestler to a French film legend?
During the golden age of French cinema in the 20th century, many actors are widely remembered for their unique charm and talent, one of whom was Lino Ventura. His life story is amazing. His transformation from a wrestler to a superstar in the film and television industry has made many people wonder what kind of power was behind such a transformation?
Angiolino Giuseppe Pasquale Ventura, better known as Lino Ventura, was born in Parma, Italy in 1919; his life drew a sharp line between wrestling, film and charity work.
Early life
Ventura dropped out of school at the age of eight and tried various jobs to support his family. In his early years, he focused on boxing and wrestling, but was forced to retire due to injuries. The end of this sports career paved the way for his later acting career and was also an important turning point in his personal journey.
The beginning of his acting career
In 1953, by chance, Ventura was noticed by director Jacques Becker. Becker was looking for an Italian actor to star opposite French star Jean Gabin in Touchez pas au grisbi. Even though he initially refused, he eventually decided to accept the role and showed off his extraordinary acting skills in the film. The film was a huge success and opened a new door for him.
In the following years, Ventura continued to perform in gang-related crime dramas and collaborated with many well-known directors to establish his own professional image.
A flourishing acting career
In the 1960s and 1970s, Ventura appeared in classic films such as The Threepenny Opera and The Wallachia Files. He is deeply rooted in people's hearts with his resolute image and often plays marginal roles in the law. The Italian actor attracted great attention from the French film industry and became one of the most popular movie stars of the time.
The fusion of humanity and art
Although Ventura focuses on tough roles, the story behind him is more human. In 1982, he played the role of Jean Valjean in the film adaptation of Les Misérables, for which he was nominated for a César Award. As a father, Ventura's life is not limited to the screen. His daughter was born with a disability, which inspired his passion for charity work.
He and his wife co-founded a charity called Perce-Neige, dedicated to helping disabled children and their families, demonstrating his inner kindness and sense of responsibility.
The struggle of dual identity
It is noteworthy that although Ventura lived most of his life in France, he always maintained his Italian identity. This identity conflict made him struggle in both his life and career. He never applied for French citizenship and rarely took part in French political affairs. Even so, the French people still regard him as a cultural icon. In 2005, he was ranked 23rd in a poll of "the greatest French people".
An eternal legend
Decades after his death, Ventura still remains in the hearts of the audience with his unique temperament. He modestly believes that his success stems from his performance limitations rather than his endless talent. For him, story is the soul of a movie. He once said: "I can't play a character if I can't believe in its existence."
He used his grasp of the story to make each character full of reality, completing his self-transformation time and time again.
Lino Ventura's transformation from wrestler to screen star is not only a story of a career, but also a journey of the soul. In the process, the brilliance of humanity and social responsibility he displayed remind us: Can every artist find the brilliance of his own story on the stage?
