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.D'Urso talks about her origin in an interview of Victoria Cabello, in the TV show . 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 Dolceamaro (1980) Più forti di prima (2015) Dolceamaro with Cristiano Malgioglio

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 notesYearTitleRoleNotes1985Blues metropolitanoFrancescaFeature film debut1989Vogliamoci troppo beneVanessa1992Non chiamarmi OmarGolda Fez1995Mollo tuttoBettina GiacobettiRomanzo di un giovane poveroStudent's mother1999Il manoscritto di Van HeckenGiuliaAll the Moron's MenDr. Giorgia Basile2004Per giusto omicidioBarbara2018Il vegetaleHerselfCameo appearanceShow DogsDaisy (voice)Italian voice-over role2021Genitori vs. InfluencerHerselfCameo appearance

Television +Television roles showing year released, title, role played and notesYearTitleRoleNotes1978StryxHerself/co-hostVariety show (season 1)1979Delitto in via TeluadaAnnieTelevision film1979–1980Che combinazioneHerself/co-hostVariety show (season 2)1980–1981Domenica inHerself/co-hostTalk show (season 5); also performing1981La casa rossaGildaMiniseriesUn disco per l'estate 1981Herself/co-hostAnnual music festival1982Fresco frescoHerself/hostVariety show (season 3)Giorno dopo giornoAliceTelevision film1986Buon Natale a tutto il mondoHerself/hostSpecial1987La lunga notte di BiancaneveHerself/hostSpecial1987 Castrocaro Music FestivalHerself/hostAnnual music festival1992BonyGinaMain role; 13 episodes1995Per amore - Dove porta il sentimentoHerself/hostTalk showDoctor Giorgia - Una mano da stringereDr. Giorgia BasileTelevision film1996AgenziaHerself/hostDating/Reality show1996–1997Mattina in famigliaHerself/hostTalk show (season 8)1997–2019Doctor GiorgiaDr. Giorgia BasileLead role 1998Festival di NapoliHerself/hostAnnual music festivalLe ragazze di piazza di SpagnaDr. Giorgia BasileEpisode: "Episode 1"2001Via Zanardi 33Barbara2 episodesDonne di mafiaGiulia MarottaMiniseries2002Lo zio d'AmericaMagdaMain role (season 1); 8 episodes2002–2003UgoVeronicaCo-lead role; 20 episodes2003–2004Grande FratelloHerself/hostReality show (seasons 3–5)2004NoiChiara DoniMiniseriesRoccoLuciaTelevision filmOrgoglioPrincess Maria PiaMain role (season 1); 13 episodes2005–2006La fattoriaHerself/hostReality show (seasons 2–3)Ricomincio da meVera MolinariLead role; 4 episodes2006Reality CircusHerself/hostVariety show2006–2009Lo show dei recordHerself/hostGame show (seasons 1–2)2007Un due tre stalla!Herself/hostReality show2008–2009Mattino CinqueHerself/hostTalk show (seasons 1–2)2008–2023Pomeriggio CinqueHerself/hostTalk show2009–2010Domenica CinqueHerself/hostTalk show (seasons 1–2)2011Baila!Herself/hostTalent dance show2012–2021Domenica Live!Herself/hostTalk show2018–2019Grande FratelloHerself/hostReality show (seasons 15–16)2019–2021Live - Non è la D'UrsoHerself/hostTalk show2022La Pupa e il Secchione ShowHerself/hostReality show (season 5)2024Ballando con le StelleHerself/guest dancerTalent show (season 19)2025Herself/contestantTalent show (season 20)

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)

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