A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was unveiled Monday honoring Giancarlo Giannini for a career which included a best actor Oscar nomination, part of an extensive collaboration with legendary Italian director Lina Wertmuller. “This is a wonderful moment, and I’m very happy to be here,” Giannini told the crowd during the unveiling ceremony. “I want to thank all who thought of giving it to me, this star.”

Giannini said he wanted to dedicate the star “to a wonderful director, her name is Lina Wertmuller, who created me and I’m sure is up there waiting for me, maybe to do other movies.” Wertmuller died in 2021. Italian Sen. Lucia Borgonzoni, a former undersecretary for cultural heritage and activities, movie producers Michael Gregg Wilson and Barbara Broccoli and Tiziana Rocca, the artistic director of the Filming Italy Los Angeles Festival, were among those joining Giannini at the ceremony.