Belladonna Defranco

Belladonna is a young creative, martial artist and multi-instrumentalist. She has always loved dancing and acting, but is also a talented musician, having picked up a total of 5 instruments and loves to sing. Belladonna was the composer for the Film Flashback (2022) at the Hamilton Film Festival and in her spare time enjoys music production. She was recently accepted into a specialized Arts High School for popular music, where she will be mentored in composing and creating music. Belladonna can often be found performing at open mics or on the patios of restaurants in the evening or on weekends.

In 2022, Belladonna was cast as Sammy, a technology enthralled daughter of an Italian restaurant owner in “Sparks Over Brooklyn”. Belladonna has enjoyed computer science and has been coding since age 8, so this witty, yet adorable role was perfect for her to bring to life. Representing her Italian heritage, working with Canadian director Sean Cisterna and acting along side Ramona Milano was a dream come true.

Belladonna was cast as the Lead role in the pilot series, “Before I Turn 12” where she told her story of being a ballet dancer, hoping to dance on pointe before she turned 12. In this role, Belladonna was able to show her talents in acting and dancing. Her love for performing and natural ability on camera are showcased well in this role.

Belladonna has also played supporting roles in multi-award winning Films Echo (AltFF Best drama North America, Canada Shorts Film Festival) and Hate Kills (Sweden Film Awards, Best Istanbul Film Awards, Indian Cine Film Festival, Asia South East Short Film Festival).

Hamartia (2023) is another film where Belladonna has shone in a supporting role, a child who is an innocent protagonist. While watching the lead character struggle, viewers fall in love with Belladonna’s character Margot and hope for vengeance.

Belladonna also voiced a character in an animated film that is expected to be released in 2023.
Film and Television are a passion for Belladonna. She is mentored in Film Production at Hamilton Film Festival school under Nathan Fleet and Mike Trebilcock. She has since produced promotional material and assisted with short film production for Hamilton Acting School. Her knowledge from behind the camera has enriched her abilities as an actor.

Singing is in her blood, both her Mother and Great Grandmother were singers. Belladonna currently trains with acclaimed voice coach and vocal producer Marla Joy. She enjoys posting videos, playing and singing with her keyboard, ukulele or electric guitar.

As a dancer, she has performed as a cast member with Ballet Jorgens and attended a fulltime ballet day school, studying under Melania Pawliw (NBS), Amelia Wanderlingh (Bolshoi) and Max Ratesvosian (Vaganova Academy/National Ballet of Canada). Belladonna has achieved levels of distinction in RAD ballet examinations, she was an overall winner and national finalist at Bedazzled Dance Competitions. Some other incredible dance opportunities have been dancing in Justin Bieber’s music video “Holy: the choir version” and she was an ambassador for True North Talent Dance Convention. She continues to train in various dance classes including with JoJo Siwa’s lead choreographer Guy Groove.

Belladonna is definitely a young philanthropist, involved in fundraising and volunteering from delivering food with Basket Brigade Canada, toy drives at Christmas, gathering school supplies for low income families for back to school, building playgrounds for immune compromised kids and participating in events for Cystic Fibrosis. Belladonna loves helping her community and has a big heart.