Veronica Lario is the wife of Italian ex-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. The shocking actress of low-budget films managed to bind a loving politician to herself for as long as 30 years and give birth to three children. However, a long marriage ended predictably: a scandalous divorce and huge alimony.
Life before Silvio
Veronico Lario is a stage name; at birth, the girl received a much less sonorous name. Miriam Raffaella Bartolini was born in the city of Bologna in northern Italy, in 1956. Little is known about her childhood. Education was not the strongest point of young Miriam, she was not interested in a boring career as an office clerk or saleswoman. A pretty blonde from a very young age dreamed of a movie set or at least a theater stage.
From her hometown, the girl moved to Milan and trips to theaters began in search of engagement. As a result, Miriam got into the Manzoni Theater and simultaneously starred in low-budget films. Unfortunately, young Veronica, who had managed to change her name by that time, did not show any special abilities. She conquered the directors and viewers with the beauty and complete absence of complexes. The crown of the career was the role in the play "The Magnificent Cuckold", where Veronica went on stage naked. By the way, it was in this role that her future husband saw her.
Fateful acquaintance
In numerous interviews, Berlusconi emphasized that it was love at first sight. Struck by the beauty of the actress, Silvio sent her armfuls of roses. Signorita Lazio herself did not pay much attention to the new fan, but he turned out to be persistent and in the end she gave up.
At the time of meeting Veronica, Berlusconi was married and had two daughters. However, the title of a happy spouse never interfered with his novels, affair and just casual acquaintances. Legends circulated about the adventures of the loving Silvio, such a dubious fame absolutely did not bother the gossip hero.
Communication with Lazio was stormy, the couple lived together without formalizing the relationship. Five years later, daughter Barbara was born, a year later the family was replenished with another daughter Eleanor, and soon the only son of Berlusconi, who was named Luigi, saw the light of day. Silvio was forced to formalize a divorce from his first wife Carla Elvira Dell'Ollo and make an offer to Veronica. Naturally, she accepted him.
Family life
In 1990, the new Signora Berlusconi became not just a friend, lover and mother, but also the official wife of an ambitious politician. A few years later, Silvio founded his own party and began to advance to the heights of power. The spouse of politics in this case has an important, albeit inconspicuous, role. Berlusconi gave numerous interviews, starred with his wife and children, creating the image of a caring and loving father of the family. True, the scandalous divorce, which took place several years ago, did not add it to the image of positive colors. But the rejection of a certain part of the population did not interfere with political growth, the party gained weight, Berlusconi received the desired posts, the prime minister’s post became the crown.
When her husband became head of government, Veronica received the unofficial status of the first lady. Unlike the United States, in Italy, the prime minister’s spouse does not bear the burden of official duties, which was quite satisfactory to Senor Berlusconi. By the way, when she got married, she did not give up her stage name, emphasizing her own independence.
Veronica was not going to join the political establishment, official meetings and receptions of international leaders and their wives clearly did not fall into the sphere of her interests. In addition, the former actress was not distinguished with delicacy and restraint, and her political views often did not coincide with the opinion of her husband. The prime minister’s wife preferred a luxurious, but much less public life; she was less and less seen in her husband’s company. Each official exit turned into a small sensation, the newspapermen began to wonder what prompted the first lady to this or that meeting.
