Asia Argento was born in Rome, Italy, into a family of renowned actors and filmmakers, where she was destined to follow in their footsteps. Her debut in the film industry came at the tender age of nine, when she appeared in Sergio Citti's Sogni e bisogni in 1985. Two years later, she took on the leading role in Cristina Comencini's first film, Zoo, and went on to play a significant part in Michele Soavi's The Church in 1989.
In 1989, she collaborated with Nanni Moretti on Red Wood Pigeon, playing the role of his daughter. However, it was her role in Close Friends, written and directed by Michele Placido in 1992, that marked a significant turning point in her career, allowing her to move away from playing young girls and take on more mature and complex roles. The film received critical acclaim at the Cannes International Film Festival.
Asia's remarkable acting skills were further showcased in Giuseppe Piccioni's Condannato a nozze in 1993, where she delivered a standout performance. The same year, she co-starred in Carlo Verdone's Perdiamoci di vista, earning her the David di Donatello for best actress for her portrayal of Arianna, a physically disabled girl. She also had a notable role in Patrice Chéreau's Queen Margot in 1994.
In addition to her acting career, Asia has also ventured into directing. She made her directorial debut with two short films, "Prospettive" and "Aritroso", both released in 1994. In 1996, she directed a documentary on her father, Dario Argento, and in 1998, one on cult director Abel Ferrara, which won an award at the Rome Film Festival.
Asia's feature-directing debut, Scarlet Diva, was released in 2000 and earned her an award at the Williamsburg Film Festival in Brooklyn, New York. She has also directed numerous music videos and has given birth to her first daughter, Anna Lou, in 2001. In addition to her work in film, Asia is also a published author, having written short stories and a novel, "I Love You, Kirk", which was published in Italy and France.