Elisabetta Canalis
An Italian television personality who transitioned from modeling and presenting into acting, gaining international attention through high-profile relationships.
Born 1978 (age 48)·Italian actress, singer and showgirl·Birthday: September 12·Generation X
Biography
Elisabetta Canalis first found the spotlight in Italy as a model and a 'velina' (showgirl) on the popular variety show 'Striscia la Notizia,' a role that made her a household name. Her striking looks and on-screen charisma led to hosting duties and acting opportunities in Italian cinema and television. While she built a steady career at home, a romantic relationship with American actor George Clooney in 2009 propelled her into the relentless glare of the international paparazzi, fundamentally altering her public profile. She has since navigated this fame, continuing to act in films, trying her hand at music with a single, and participating in the Italian version of 'Dancing with the Stars.' Canalis represents a specific archetype of European celebrity, where media presence and personal life are often inextricably linked.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Elisabetta was born in 1978, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Elisabetta Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Elisabetta's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 40
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Gained national fame as a presenter and showgirl on the long-running Italian program 'Striscia la Notizia'.
- Hosted the 2008 Italian film award ceremony, the 'David di Donatello' awards.
- Placed as a finalist on the Italian edition of 'Dancing with the Stars' (Bailando con le Stelle) in 2020.
Did You Know?
She was a contestant on the American reality show 'The Bachelor' in 2002, but was eliminated early.
She published a novel titled 'L'abbiamo fatta grossa' in 2012.
She is a trained dental assistant.
She has a daughter, born in 2017, with her partner, musician Brian Perri.
“I started as a velina, but I built a career on my own terms.”
