Ester Pantano was born in Catania, where she manages an arthouse cinema alongside her mother and other partners. Drawn to all forms of art and expression since childhood, she later trained at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome. She made her television debut in Il Commissario Montalbano and established herself across theater, film, and hit series such as Imma Tataranni and Màkari. She furthered her training across Rome, New York, Paris, Beijing, and London, honing her skills in acting, dance, and singing. She has collaborated with directors such as Paolo Virzì, the Manetti Bros., Paolo Genovese, Ricky Tognazzi, and Costanza Quatriglio. Serving as the Host of the 70th Taormina Film Fest, in 2025 she starred in several feature films, including Francesca e Giovanni – Una storia d’amore in tempo di guerra, Io + Te, and Oi vita mia.
Also a songwriter and singer, she wrote and performed the soundtrack for the third and fourth seasons of Màkari, in addition to starring in the series. For the Disney+ series I Leoni di Sicilia, she composed the lullaby that her character, Giuseppina Florio, sings to her son. For the past three years, she has been touring Italy with her jazz trio concert-show, Vucchi l’arma. Written by Pantano herself, the show centers on female artists—their stories, the behind-the-scenes realities, and the turmoil and injustices they endured despite everything. It is a journey through different eras, exploring their social commitment and activism; an intimate experience that allows the audience not only to listen to the artist but to truly see her through her evolutions and revolutions.
