Born in Milan, Italy. In Italian films from age 15, she advanced from bits to lead roles in wartime comedies and dramas. After starring in the British-Italian co-production THE GLASS MOUNTAIN (1948), she was invited to Hollywood, where she played lead roles in several films, spelling her name "Cortesa," and married one of her co-stars, Richard Basehart. (They divorced in 1970.) After a few years she returned to Europe and subsequently appeared in Italian and international productions. She won the New York Film Critics best supporting actress award and an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of a grotesque fading film star in Truffaut's LA NUIT AMÉRICAINE / DAY FOR NIGHT (1973). After 1954, she worked mostly in Europe. Her other notable (non-nominated) film credits include THE HOUSE ON TELEGRAPH HILL (1951), THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA (1954), BARABBAS (1962), THE VISIT (1964), JULIET OF THE SPIRITS (1965), THE LEGEND OF LYLAH CLARE (1968), THE SECRET OF SANTA VITTORIA (1969, uncredited), ERSTE LIEBE / FIRST LOVE (1970), BROTHER SUN, SISTER MOON (1972), THE ASSASSINATION OF TROTSKY (1972), as Herodias in "Jesus of Nazareth" (1977, TV mini-series), WHEN TIME RAN OUT... (1980), TANGO BLU (1987), THE ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN (1988), BUSTER'S BEDROOM (1991), and STORIA DI UNA CAPINERA / SPARROW (1993).  Nominated for Supporting Actress 1974: LA NUIT AMÉRICAINE (DAY FOR NIGHT) 1 nomination