Who is Sabrina Impacciatore? Meet 'White Lotus' Season 2 actress starring in Olympics opening ceremony

The sports and entertainment industries embraced one another beneath the glimmering lights at the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony.

The stars were out on Friday night in Milan, with Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli and Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini and Gioachino Rossini all enlisted to lend their services in some capacity.

That responsibility also fell upon famed Italian actress Sabrina Impacciatore, who landed a starring role during one of the event's many dance numbers. Impacciatore, 57, is a world-renowned figure, best known for her portrayal of Valentina on the second season of hit American show "The White Lotus."

She showed off her range with her exploits on Friday, twirling and whirling her way into Olympic lore with an eye-catching display.

I LOVE SABRINA IMPACCIATORE!! #winterolympics #Olympics pic.twitter.com/aTrPzcLplm

With that, here's what you need to know about Impacciatore, one of most noteworthy cameos from Friday's festival of light.

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Who is Sabrina Impacciatore?

Impacciatore is an Italian actress best known for her performance in the second season of "White Lotus", the HBO black comedy drama series that follows a group of hapless travelers who take a stay at a luxury hotel chain of the same name.

The 57-year-old is a preeminent name in the Italian acting scene, having first came to prominence on comedic programs "Non è la Rai" and "Macao" in the 1990s.

Impacciatore made her film debut in 1999. She earned plaudits for her performance in the 2006 film, "Napoleon and Me", picking up a David di Donatello for Best Supporting Actress nomination. She collected a second nomination for the prize one year later after dazzling as Magda in Wilma Labate's "Miss F."

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Why was Sabrina Impacciatore at Olympics opening ceremony?

Impacciatore is one of Italian acting's greatest exports. She has shined on the silver and small screen in her native Italy and the United States, becoming an international superstar in the process. Her presence at the opening ceremony added to the pomp and circumstance to an event already teeming with it.

"Her participation in the Olympic Opening Ceremony represents a valuable contribution to the narrative of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games," the IOC said in a statement. "On the stage of San Siro Stadium, the actress will offer audiences a moment of powerful emotional impact, giving shape and voice to the spirit of the Games."

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Who did Sabrina Impacciatore play in White Lotus season 2?

Impacciatore played Valentina, a dedicated manager who held watch at the White Lotus resort in Taormina, Sicily.

Impacciatore crafted a backstory for her muse, who endured her fair share of drama across 10 episodes. It wasn't the easiest transformation for Impacciatore, who had largely served in comedic roles prior to joining the "White Lotus" cast.

"When I arrived on set, during the first days, I was terrified," Impacciatore told W Magazine in 2022. "Now that I see the show, I can see sometimes how ugly I look—it’s because I didn’t sleep at night, many nights I was crying.

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"I put everything inside Valentina. All the nights that I didn’t sleep, I said “maybe Valentina doesn’t sleep.” Valentina is lonely, Valentina is lost, Valentina feels uncomfortable, and Valentina is b—y because she’s reacting to her fear. The more she’s b—y, the more she’s trying to protect herself, because inside she’s f—ing dying."

Impacciatore found her own as shooting progressed, creating close connections with show-runner Mike White and her cast-mates -- namely Eleonora Romandini, who played Isabella, the subject of Valentina's unrequited infatuation.

"I was so happy that I could finally be softer." Impacciatore said of her scenes with Romandini. "In that moment, I had so much tenderness for this character."

Sabrina Impacciatore other roles

Impacciatore has starred in more than a dozen films, fielding David di Donatello Best Supporting Actress nominations for her performances in "Napoleon and Me" (2006) and "Miss F" (2007).

She played a fictionalized version of herself in an episode of "Call My Agent - Italia" and landed a headlining gig in "The Paper", a spinoff of famed American mockumentary "The Office." The show debuted on Peacock in Sept. 2025, with a series already being renewed for a second season.