Anyone who has seen the film “The Taming of the Shrew” has probably wondered at least once whether the actors were just playing their feelings for each other with talent, or whether there really was that chemistry between them on the set. There were many guesses about this, but both actors remained silent for a long time. Only in the 2000s did Celentano finally tell what happened between him and Muti. However, the actress herself was clearly not happy about it, and here’s why.
“The Taming of the Shrew”
When Ornella Muti and Adriano Celentano met on the set of the film The Taming of the Shrew, both were in relationships: Celentano had been married to actress Claudia Mori for over 15 years, with whom he raised three children, and Muti was married to actor Alessio Orano.
Although Celentano was considered a sex symbol, he loved his wife very much and had never given her any reason for jealousy. However, he could not resist the beauty of Muti, who was 18 years younger than him. The actors began a passionate affair, which they hid from the public, but not from their other halves.
Sacrifice in the name of love
Having fallen head over heels in love with Celentano, Muti was ready to make any sacrifice to be with him. The proof of the seriousness of the actress’s intentions was her divorce from her husband.
Apparently, Muti was expecting a reciprocal step from Celentano. But, despite the fact that Claudia, having learned about his affair on the side, left home with the children, the actor was not ready to part with his wife for the sake of his mistress. After some time, Claudia forgave her husband, stating that accidental infidelity is not yet a reason for divorce.
The insulted Muti broke off all relations with Celentano and stopped communicating with him. When asked about their affair, she always said that it was just a journalist’s invention.
Confession
It was only in 2008 that Celentano publicly admitted that he had an affair with Muti. According to him, they simply could not cope with their feelings during the filming of the movie and as a result became lovers. Ornella herself was offended by her colleague, because they promised each other to keep this story a secret.
“It was true. But I wouldn’t have told you about it. After so many years, Adriano suddenly confessed that he had an affair with me, without even telling me. He did it after a very long silence, which we kept out of respect for our spouses and especially for our children. I was shocked. If he was really going to reveal it and make the story public, I would have wanted to know about it in advance. But that’s how men are. They don’t care,” Ornella said, adding that the affair with Celentano was the only one in her life.
Mother’s Protector
After the former lovers publicly confirmed their old romance, the press began actively discussing their relationship. Then Muti’s daughter Naike Rivelli made a statement, criticizing Celentano.
“Adriano Celentano and Claudia Mori talk about their infidelities as if my mother and our family did not exist. I find him very rude, ill-mannered and self-centered. I remember well those years when he and my mother were secretly dating. I remember that time because I was five or six years old. Celentano often came to my mother’s house in Chiasso. Of course, it was a big mistake to cheat on his wife with my mother. But I remember that at that time he seemed very happy. In addition, he joked and got along well with me, and I, not knowing anything, thought that he was just a wonderful and funny actor. This story destroyed my mother. She, being a decent woman, always kept silent, especially out of respect for Claudia Mori and her family. It worries me a lot that people still talk about this sad story, about this sad man and their very sad marriage.”
At the end of her address, Nike addressed the actor directly: “Dear Adriano, instead of making statements about the past, why don’t you thank my mother? It was thanks to the two films you starred in with her that you became an actor known throughout the world.”
