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Born to native Italian parents—her mother from Naples and her father from Sardinia—Sylvia De Fanti, a fluent multilingual stage and screen actress, was raised across Panama, Hong Kong, and Rome. De Fanti entered the world as a true global citizen. Her father, Pino, a civil engineer, was stationed in Montreal, Canada, when his wife Paola gave birth to their only daughter. At age two, the family relocated to Panama due to Pino’s next assignment, and by her sixth birthday, they were living in Hong Kong. It was there that De Fanti attended a British school until her parents decided to return to Italy with 11-year-old Sylvia and her 13-year-old brother Roberto, now CEO and founder of RDF Football, a Premier League agency.
De Fanti initially enrolled at Sapienza University, but it was her drama classes at the Sorbonne that first introduced her to the stage. While in Paris, she also pursued studies in Human Sciences, focusing on Cinema, Postmodernism, and Women & Gender Studies.
She graduated cum laude with master's degrees in Communication and Cultural Anthropology, writing her thesis on Chaos Theory and Complex Identity. Alongside her academic work, she continued rigorous training as both a comedic and dramatic actress.
In 2004, De Fanti co-founded Angelo Mai, an independent artist space and cultural production center in a historically significant location in Rome. Esteemed by international performers and creatives in music, literature, art, film, and television, Angelo Mai is widely regarded as a cultural hotspot for the avant-garde. Her theater company, Bluemotion, is credited with pioneering a new wave of modern English dramaturgy in Italy. A respected stage performer, De Fanti often showcases her singing and bass guitar talents in various productions. In July 2023, Bluemotion was invited to present its critically acclaimed "Sogno Creatore" at La Biennale di Venezia.
De Fanti also co-founded Teatro Valle Occupato, housed in a historic 1727 theater, which became a pivotal part of the global Occupy movement. Praised by The New York Times and The Guardian as an innovative institution, it was established to empower Italy’s workers in art, entertainment, and culture. The association received multiple humanitarian and cultural honors, including the European Cultural Foundation’s Princess Margriet Award, which De Fanti accepted on behalf of her colleagues.
Having collaborated with esteemed European directors such as Carlos Saura, Giuseppe Tornatore, and Daniele Lucchetti, De Fanti’s first major television role was as a series regular on Italy’s longest-running and highly popular show, "Incantesimo" (RAI). Subsequent roles included appearances on ABC and Touchstone’s epic "Empire" and Netflix’s "Medici," leading to her first English-language series regular role as the formidable ‘Mother Superion’ on Netflix’s "Warrior Nun." People Magazine (U.S.) named her "One To Watch." As an LGBTQ+ ally and human rights advocate, De Fanti dedicates significant efforts to these causes, including producing theater events for young LGBTQ+ individuals.
She lives with her partner Dario and their son, Valentino.
