Raoul Bova

Raoul Bova (; born 14 August 1971) is an Italian actor. Bova's European film breakthrough was in the 1993 film , and he's played romantic male leads in the following years. His American film credits include Under the Tuscan Sun, Alien vs. Predator (2004) and The Tourist (2010).

Life and career Bova was born in Rome to a father from Roccella Ionica in Calabria and a mother from Acerra in Campania. At the age of 16, Bova became a local champion in the 100-metre backstroke. At the age of 21 he joined the Italian Army and performed his military duty in the Bersaglieri (sharpshooters) corps. He enrolled in the ISEF, the Italian Institute of Physical Education, but dropped out to pursue a career in acting. He studied at the school of Beatrice Bracco in Rome and also studied acting with Michael Margotta.

After making his Italian television debut, Bova starred as a hunky watersports instructor in the 1993 romantic comedy film Pretty Princess. The following years, Bova played many leading roles in Italian romantic films. His other notable American film credits include The Tourist (2010), and All Roads Lead to Rome opposite Sarah Jessica Parker.

On television, Bova had a recurring role in the ABC comedy-drama What About Brian from 2006 to 2007, and in 2018 starred as Pope Sixtus IV in the British-Italian period drama Medici. In 2019, he starred opposite Kate del Castillo in the Telemundo/Netflix crime drama series La Reina del Sur.

Personal life In March 2000, he married Chiara Giordano. In 2013, Bova and Giordano separated. That same year, he started dating actress Rocío Muñoz Morales, after the two had met on the film set of Immaturi – Il viaggio (2012). They had their first child in December 2015, the same month their film All Roads Lead to Rome was released.

In the Media

Bova is known as one of Italy's handsomest men. He was dubbed "Sexiest Actor Alive" by Glamour Magazine. He was ranked #13 in the "World's Sexiest Men" list in 2008.

Filmography

Film

Television