After studying literature and graduating from the Accademia dei Filodrammatici, Lella Costa made her theatrical debut in 1980 with the monologue Repertorio, cioè l'orfana e il reggicalze. This marked the beginning of a career that led her to collaborate with contemporary authors, work in radio, venture into cabaret-theatre, and become one of Italy's most renowned actresses. In 1987, she debuted with Adlib, a monologue that also launched her career as a playwright. This was followed by Coincidenze, Malsottile, Magoni (featuring original music by Ivano Fossati), La daga nel Loden, Stanca di guerra (co-written with Alessandro Baricco), Un'altra storia (directed by Gabriele Vacis), Precise parole, and Traviata, also directed by Vacis. The productions Alice, Una meraviglia di paese, Amleto, and Ragazze. Nelle lande scoperchiate del fuori were directed by Giorgio Gallione with music by Stefano Bollani. In the 2011 piece Arie, she reaffirmed her preference for monologues and recitals, while in 2014, she starred alongside Paolo Calabresi in the comedy Nuda proprietà, written by Lidia Ravera and directed by Emanuela Giordano. In 2017, she brought to the stage the epistotalary exchanges between journalist Natalia Aspesi and the readers of her highly popular advice column Questioni di cuore. Together with Massimo Cirri and Giorgio Gallione, she has co-authored many of the shows she has performed. For years, she has balanced her theatrical career with numerous significant appearances on radio and television, while also serving as co-artistic director of the Teatro Carcano in Milan; simultaneously, she has maintained a steadfast commitment to social causes, particularly in support of Emergency. Her recent works include Intelletto d'amore and Otello, di precise parole si vive (2021 and 2024, directed by Gabriele Vacis), as well as Se non posso ballare non è la mia rivoluzione, a theatrical project by Serena Sinigaglia inspired by Serena Dandini's Il catalogo delle donne valorose, which was adapted into the eponymous book-narrative published by Solferino in 2025.

(photo: © Festivaletteratura)