Rita Rusić

Rita Rusić (Italian: [ˈriːta ˈruːzitʃ], Croatian: [ˈriːta ˈruːsitɕ]; born 16 May 1960), also known as Rita Cecchi Gori, is a Croatian-born Italian producer, actress and singer. Rusić's career began as an actress with a major role in the 1982 film Attila flagello di Dio. She was eventually moved into the film industry, with Il pentito in 1982. Later that year she also began filming Joan Lui - Ma un giorno nel paese arrivo io di lunedì.

Following her work as a singer and an actress, Rusić became a producer in the early 1990s. Since then, she has been a recognised producer for over 80 films. Many of these films were released primarily in Italy, but a number of them had global success. Rusić also featured on the Italian version of Dancing with the Stars.

Early life

Rusić was born in 1960 in Poreč, in the Istrian region of Croatia (then part of Yugoslavia). In 1981, she met filmmaker Vittorio Cecchi Gori, whom she eventually married.

Career

Model (1977–1981)

Rusić started her career as a fashion model at the age of 17. Her modelling career started in Milan, where she worked on mainly advertising campaigns for both magazines and television. Her modelling work led her to work for Fiat, Tampax, Timex and Cognac.

While she was working as a model, she was awarded the beauty pageant titles of Miss Santamarina and Miss Zelena Laguna. While studying medicine at the University of Milan, she met Vittorio Cecchi Gori and subsequently moved into the film industry.