Athina Cenci, a native of Greece, but adopted by Prato, made her debut in the entertainment industry alongside Alessandro Benvenuti and Paolo Nativi in the first formation of the cabaret trio Giancattivi, within the cultural spaces of the Teatro Metastasio in Prato.
The television broadcast that consecrated their popular success was Non stop, directed by Enzo Trapani, in which the Giancattivi performed alongside the Neapolitan trio La Smorfia, consisting of Massimo Troisi, Lello Arena, Enzo Decaro, Zuzzurro, and Gaspare, as well as many other young comedians who would later tread the stages of cinema, theater, and television in the years to come.
Her film debut occurred in 1982 under the direction of Alessandro Benvenuti in Ad ovest di Paperino, a film in which Athina Cenci, alongside her two constant companions, gave free rein to her surreal comedy, interspersed with moments of a mild social analysis.
Her two most mature cinematic performances were undoubtedly in Speriamo che sia femmina (1986),directed by Mario Monicelli, and Compagni di scuola (1988) by Carlo Verdone. The interpretation of these films earned her, in both cases, the David di Donatello award for best non-leading actress.
Cenci's cinematic and television activity continued, albeit with alternating fortunes, in the 1990s, including Benvenuti in casa Gori, Ritorno a casa Gori, and I miei più cari amici, always under the direction of Alessandro Benvenuti, as well as the TV series Il coraggio di Anna and Il mastino, to name the main interpretations.
Her profound ability to mix comedic tones with dramatic ones, her surrealist vein always present in the dialogue, and her clear sensitivity to conform to the dictates of the director, have made Athina Cenci one of the best actresses that contemporary Italian cinema has known.
In 1999, she entered the city council of Florence after the June 13th elections, running on the Democratici di Sinistra ticket.
Also noteworthy is her presence on the theatrical stage. A discreet success was achieved with the play La donna gigante by Lidia Ravera.
In May 2001, she was struck by a stroke in Florence, and due to this, she was forced to abandon her artistic and political activity.
