She began her career as an actress in the theater, in the Dante Testa company. In 1910, together with her sister Letizia, she was hired by Itala Film, but her film debut took place in the same year in the short film L'ignota produced by Aquila Films. 1914 is the year of her artistic consecration with the interpretation in the film Cabiria, which also makes her gain international fame.