At the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, a short clip went viral: John Travolta hugging Romanian actress Mădălina Ghenea and kissing her on the temple on the red carpet. The two were in Cannes together for That’s Amore!, Nick Vallelonga’s new film. Four months later she was back on a festival carpet in Venice, and Romanian press reported she was preparing to direct.
Ghenea has spent fifteen years turning a modelling career into a European film career. She played Miss Universe in Paolo Sorrentino’s Youth, Sophia Loren in Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci, and starred opposite Matthew McConaughey in a Dolce & Gabbana film directed by Martin Scorsese. Here is how a girl from Slatina got there.
Who Is Mădălina Ghenea?
Mădălina Diana Ghenea is a Romanian actress, model and producer based mainly in Italy. She is known for Paolo Sorrentino’s Youth (2015), the series Medici (2016), Zoolander 2 (2016), House of Gucci (2021) and the thriller Deep Fear (2023), and for Dolce & Gabbana’s The One campaign. In 2026 she appeared at Cannes and Venice and announced plans to direct.
How Old Is Mădălina Ghenea?
Mădălina Ghenea is 38 years old. She was born on 8 August 1988 in Slatina, in Romania’s Olt County.
Early Life
Ghenea grew up in Slatina and began modelling as a teenager, working internationally before she was twenty. She later settled in Italy, the country where most of her acting career has been built, and has spoken often of how close she feels to Italian cinema, citing Anna Magnani and Sophia Loren as inspirations.
Career
Modelling and Dolce & Gabbana
Ghenea built her name in fashion, and in 2013 she starred opposite Matthew McConaughey in Dolce & Gabbana’s campaign film for the fragrance The One, directed by Martin Scorsese. The campaign made her face known far beyond Romania and Italy.
Youth and international film (2015 to 2021)
Her breakthrough as an actress was Paolo Sorrentino’s Youth (2015), which premiered in competition at Cannes; she played Miss Universe opposite Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel and won the Vanity Fair award at the Taormina Film Festival for the role. She followed it with Ben Stiller’s Zoolander 2 (2016) and appeared in the period drama series Medici (2016). In Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci (2021) she appeared as Sophia Loren.
Deep Fear and producing (2023 to 2025)
She took the lead in the shark thriller Deep Fear, released in October 2023, describing the shoot as the hardest experience of her life. She has also moved into producing and received an award as a producer at the Taormina Film Festival.
What Is Mădălina Ghenea Doing Now? Latest Updates in 2026
In May 2026 Ghenea attended the Cannes Film Festival with That’s Amore!, directed by Nick Vallelonga, in which she stars alongside John Travolta; a moment of Travolta embracing her on the red carpet went viral. On 5 September 2026 she walked the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival, where Italian outlets noted she wore the first all-leather look of the edition. She also returned to Romania for Mercedes-Benz Bucharest Fashion Week 2026, and Romanian media reported that she is preparing her debut as a director. She has said she wants to develop film projects that reach Romanian cinemas.
Personal Life
Ghenea has a daughter, Charlotte, born in 2017. She is known for keeping her romantic life private; in 2026 a photo she posted with an unnamed man prompted speculation in the Romanian press, which she did not address.
Belloria’s View
Ghenea is often filed under “model turned actress”, which undersells how deliberately she has built her career in Italy rather than chasing Hollywood. Sorrentino, Scorsese and Ridley Scott chose her for small but memorable parts, and she has turned that credibility into producing and now directing. If her first film behind the camera lands in Romania, it will be the clearest sign yet that she wants to be judged as a filmmaker.
Social Media Stats
| X (Twitter) | IMDb | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| @officialmadalinaghenea | No official page found | @madalinaghenea8 | Verified profile found |
| Official account | Official account | Mãdãlina Ghenea |
Social media figures are approximate and may change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who did Mădălina Ghenea play in House of Gucci?
She played Sophia Loren in a cameo appearance in Ridley Scott’s 2021 film.
What is That’s Amore!?
It is Nick Vallelonga’s film starring John Travolta, which Ghenea promoted at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.
Who did Mădălina Ghenea play in Youth?
She played Miss Universe in Paolo Sorrentino’s Youth (2015), a role that won her the Vanity Fair award at the Taormina Film Festival.
Where is Mădălina Ghenea from?
She was born in Slatina, Romania, on 8 August 1988.
Does Mădălina Ghenea have children?
Yes. She has a daughter, Charlotte, born in 2017.
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