Valentina Cortese (born January 1, 1925) is an Italian actress.

In her U.S. career she starred in The House on Telegraph Hill directed by Robert Wise. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1975 for her performance in La Nuit américaine. Valentina Cortese (also credited as "Cortesa") was once married to actor Richard Basehart(1914-1984) with whom she had one son before divorcing in 1960. She also appeared in the Franco Zeffirelli miniseries Jesus of Nazareth (movie).