Carmela Carolina Fernanda "Carmen" Russo (born 3 October 1959) is an Italian dancer, actress and television personality.
Russo started her career as a model in the mid-1970s participating in several beauty contests in Italy. She first came to the public's attention for her roles in the commedia erotica all'italiana (sex comedy) genre, such as Mia moglie torna a scuola, Giovani, belle... probabilmente ricche, and Paulo Roberto Cotechiño centravanti di sfondamento.
She subsequently established herself as a television star in the 1980s with the variety shows Drive In, Risatissima, and Grand Hotel. In 2003 and 2006, she also participated in the Italian and Spanish versions of the reality show Celebrity Survivor. She won in the Spanish version Supervivientes. In 2017, she also competed in Grande Fratello VIP 2, the Italian version of Celebrity Big Brother. During her career, she released also three unsuccessful studio albums, Stars on Donna, Le canzoni di "Drive in...", and , and she was also chosen many times as a model for Playmen magazine during the 1980s.
Early life Russo was born in Genoa, on 3 October 1959. Her father, Giovanni Russo, was a Sicilian policeman, and her mother, Emilian Giuseppina Gherardini, worked as a cashier at the cinema "Olimpia". Her parents moved to Pavullo nel Frignano, a town in the province of Modena, Emilia-Romagna, and in 1969 her family returned to Genoa, where she joined a dance academy. In 1973, she finished middle school and her parents enrolled her at the Istituto Tecnico per il Turismo in Genoa, so that she would not give dance her full attention. She studied dance under Wanda Nardi, the most important dance school of the time in Genoa. She also began working as a model, appearing on a poster for the department store Coin.
Career
1974–1975: Beauty contests and night shows In 1974, at the age of 13, Russo won her first important beauty contest, "Miss Liguria".TV interview, Gip – Lo show più buono che ci sia, AllMusic (11 October 2008) The previous year, Russo also won the title of "Miss Emilia" held in Pavullo nel Frignano, but it was a qualification that had no value for the national contest. As the winner of "Miss Liguria", Russo qualified for the "Miss Italia" competition, but she was disqualified because she was too young.
1975–1979: Rome, film appearances, and TV In 1975, Russo and Mention moved to Rome, home of the major Italian film studios. The couple arrived in Rome and moved into an apartment close to Cinecittà. Every morning, Russo reportedly stood in long queues to submit auditions for a part in a movie. She was hired for a small part in the comedy movie Di che segno sei? with Adriano Celentano and Alberto Sordi.
In 1977, Russo was hired by Federico Fellini for a minor role in the film City of Women starring Marcello Mastroianni. In the movie, she shows her breasts, but was not credited. She then appeared in the crime movie Genova a mano armata as the cashier at the bar, and also made an appearance in Die linkshändige Frau (The Left-Handed Woman). The movie was a hit, especially in Germany, and was entered into the 1978 Cannes Film Festival.
During this time, she continued to work as a showgirl in nightclubs, and in 1978, she hosted, with Ettore Andenna, the TV show La bustarella, which aired on Antenna 3 Lombardia. In the same year, she appeared in Portobello with Enzo Tortora aired in Rai 2. Later, Russo appeared in many others films and debuted in the theater supporting Walter Chiari in Hai mai provato con l'acqua calda?. With this play, Russo won the Premio de Curtis. Due to the expansion of her career, she decided to settle permanently in Rome, which was also the home of the agency "Gymnasium".
1980–1983: Major roles, Playmen, and music During the summer of 1979 Russo appeared for the first time in the Italian magazine for men Playmen, at the age of nineteen. After she appeared again in the magazine in late 1980, in 1981 and two times in 1982 and 1984. She became one of the highest paid nude models in Italy.
In 1980, Russo participated in the making of two films: Patrick vive ancora with Gianni DeiFederazione italiana cineforum, p. 93 and Girls Will Be Girls. During the filming of Girls Will Be Girls, she met Gianfranco D'Angelo, who helped Russo to enter the world of television. In this year, Russo also shot Le porno killers, her first role as a protagonist. In the film, Russo played a bisexual killer. In the movie, she was credited as Carmen Bizet. Her artistic breakthrough came in 1981. She left Mention and ended the job as show girl in nightclubs. Russo's next films were starring roles in the sex comedies La maestra di sci and Mia moglie torna a scuola.
At the end of 1981, Russo signed with Fontana Records for the release of a single. Her first single, "Notte senza luna", was promoted on Italian radio. In December 1981, Russo performed the B-side of the song "Stiamo insieme stasera" during the Italian TV show Blitz aired on Raiuno. The performance was shot on the Italian destroyer Ardito (D 550). Russo also performed "Stuntman", an unreleased song.
Russo saw significant career success in 1982 and 1983. During this time, she starred in four films. Russo began with Quella peste di Pierina with Marina Marfoglia and Oreste Lionello, a few months after turning Buona come il pane. She was subsequently chosen by Pierfrancesco Pingitore for the movie Il tifoso, l'arbitro e il calciatore with Pippo Franco, Alvaro Vitali, Marisa Merlini, and Daniela Poggi and then for Giovani, belle... probabilmente ricche with Gianfranco D'Angelo, Nadia Cassini, and Edwige Fenech. In early 1983, Russo also released her first full-length studio album Stars on Donna, released as Carmen. The album contains cover versions of songs by Donna Summer and Giorgio Moroder.
1983–1986: Mediaset success and latest movies
Brando Giordani and Emilio Ravel, journalists and authors, called Russo to participate in the program Colosseum, aired on Raidue. Later in 1983, Russo participated in the TV show Drive In, in which she played a sexy cashier. Russo was a primadonna in the show, where she sings dances and recites.
The theme of the show was originally sung by Cristina Moffa ("Zucchero, Zucchero"), later changed to the cover of Patty Pravo 1968 hit "La Bambola" singing by Russo. The closing credits music, "Chiammame Ambresso" written by Cristiano Malgioglio, was also sung by Russo. During the show, Russo promoted her albums Stars on Donna and Le canzoni di "Drive In...". Le canzoni di "Drive In"...''' contains selected track of songs performed by Russo in the show. From the album was also released one single, "Mi scusi signorina". In 1984, Russo also took part for the commercial of the candys "Morositas".
In the same year at the height of popularity, she took part in Ti spacco il muso, bimba with Oreste Lionello and Sergio Vasta, Paulo Roberto Cotechiño centravanti di sfondamento with Franca Valeri, and finally Cuando calienta el sol... vamos alla playa, a '60s musical-comedy film set with Claudia Vegliante and Edoardo Vianello.
In 1985, Russo returned to television, appearing in Risatissima and then in Grand Hotel on Canale 5. She also recorded the theme "Sì", an Italo disco song that had moderate success. In 1986, Russo hosted Un fantastico tragico venerdì with Lino Banfi and Massimo Boldi, which devoted Carmen as a star of classical ballet. Also for this show, she recorded the theme "Camomillati Venerdì".
1987–1993 : Marriage, return in Rai and Spanish TV After a television-show pause in 1988, performed her last film to date Rimini, Rimini – Un anno dopo with Andrea Ronco and Eva Grimaldi. With this film Russo, turned 26 films including six as the main role.
Russo participated in the TV musical Io Jane, tu Tarzan directed by Enzo Trapani. The show did not achieve success despite the ballets always being elaborate. Due to the failure of her last program in 1990, Russo did only some appearances as a guest on several TV shows: Buonasera con Tino Scotti, Blitz, Black- out, Mixer, Stasera niente di nuovo, Playboy di mezzanotte, Pop Corn, A botta calda, and "Domenica, on which she was a permanent guest in the 1990–1991 season.
Later in 1991, Russo went to Spain to host VIP Noche on Tele 5 with Emilio Aragón for 60 episodes. The show was a surprise success, averaging a 41% share. Russo also worked on two editions of the Sunday program Batalla de las estrellas, which she co-hosted with José Luis Moreno on TVE for two years, as it aired at prime time on Saturdays.
Private life On 26 June 1987, Russo married choreographer and dancer in a small church in Cassano delle Murge. They have a daughter, Maria. Carmen Russo considers herself Roman Catholic.
Filmography Film YearTitleRole(s) Notes1975 What's Your Sign? Harassed Girl Uncredited Mark Shoots First Yatch Girl Uncredited 1976 Merciless Man Public Bath Owner Cameo1977 Nerone Lucilla Ecco noi per esempio Club Dancer Uncredited1979 Liquirizia Fulvio's Girl Cameo Satan's Wife The Nurse in the Military Madhouse Model Cameo I viaggiatori della sera Girl at Radio Station Uncredited Riavanti... Marsch! Peppina1980 City of Women Girl Uncredited Le porno killers Virginia Patrick Still Lives Sheryl Cough Contes pervers Luciana Girls Will Be Girls Orchidea1981 Ski Mistress Celia Berni / Lucille Brown Mia moglie torna a scuola Valentina Buratti Buona come il pane Lisette1982 Odd Squad The Prostitute Quella peste di Pierina Rosy Marcotulli Giovani, belle... probabilmente ricche Claudia De Santis Il tifoso, l'arbitro e il calciatore Manuela Presutti Ti spacco il muso bimba Duarda1983 Paulo Roberto Cotechiño centravanti di sfondamento Lucelia Cuando calienta el sol... vamos alla playa Samantha 2011 Centopercento Carmen – I balletti e gli sketch indimenticabili Herself Direct-to-video 2014 Un fidanzato modello Carmen Short film 2019 Sono solo fantasmi Herself Cameo 2026 Completed
Television YearTitleRole(s) Notes1978 Ma che seraHerself / Dancer Variety show La bustarella Game show Portobello Variety show Sam & Sally Girl at Restaurant Episode: "Lilli" 1980 Ma ce l'avete un cuore Herself / Dancer Variety show1981 Signorine grandi firme Herself / Co-host Variety show Stasera niente di nuovo Various 8 episodes 1983–1984 Drive In Sexy Cashier / Various Season 11985 Risatissima Herself / Co-host Variety show (season 2) Grand Hotel Various Season 1 1986–1987 Un fantastico tragico venerdì Herself / Co-host Variety show 1989 Io Jane, tu Tarzan Jane 4 episodes 1990 Il vigile urbano Herself Episode: "Sarò famoso" 1990–1991 Domenica in Herself / Opinionist Talk show 1992–1993 Il canzoniere delle feste Herself / Dancer Variety show 1993 Stelle sull'acqua Herself / Host Variety show 1994–1995 Notte italiana Herself / Co-host Variety show 1996 Hostal Royal Manzanares Giovanna Episode: "¿Quién con niños se acuesta...?" 2003 L'isola dei famosiHerself / Contestant Reality show (season 1) 2006 Supervivientes: Perdidos en el Caribe Winner 2006–2008 Buona Domenica Herself / Opinionist Variety show (season 19-20) 2012 L'isola dei famosi Herself / Contestant Reality show (season 9) 2014 Chiringuito de Pepe Francesca 3 episodes 2017, 2021 Grande Fratello VIPHerself / Contestant Reality show (season 2 and season 7) 2020 Tale e quale show Talent show (season 10) 2022 Alessandro Borghese: Celebrity Chef Season 2, episode 16 2024 Grande Fratello Herself / Recurring guest Reality show (season 18) 2025 Ne vedremo delle belle Herself / Contestant Talent show
Discography
Albums 1983: Stars on Donna part one / Stars on Donna part two (Monkey Music Records Mr 31032) 1983: Stars on Donna (Monkey Music Records Mr 31721) 1984: Le canzoni di "Drive in..." (F1 Team 33318) 1992: Una notte italiana (Canaveral QR 1000) 1996: Macho Mambo'' EP/Mini album (Canaveral)
Singles 1981: "Notte senza luna" 1984: "Mi scusi, signorina" 1985: "Sì" 1985: "Mai, Mai, Mai" 1986: "Camomillati Venerdì" 1987: "Bravi, Settepiù"