**Massimo Popolizio** (Genoa, July 4, 1961) is a prominent Italian actor, known for his versatility in theater, cinema, and voice acting. In cinema, he has established himself for his intense stage presence and ability to portray complex and often authoritarian characters.

He achieved widespread fame playing a memorable Giulio Andreotti in Paolo Sorrentino's *Il Divo* (2008), a role that earned him numerous awards. Other notable performances include ‘Il Terribile’ in Michele Placido's *Romanzo Criminale* (2006), his participation in *La Grande Bellezza* (2013) and the role of Mangiafuoco in Matteo Garrone's *Pinocchio* (2019). He also starred in Daniele Luchetti's *Mio fratello è figlio unico* (2007).

Popolizio stands out for his deep voice and restrained expressiveness, which allow him to portray powerful, enigmatic, and sometimes ambiguous characters with great psychological precision.