Impressive reality at Cannes

But the star didn't walk the red carpet at the Italian movie's gala premiere on Friday. He was where he has been for two decades — in prison.

Arena is riveting in the film by Gomorrah director Matteo Garrone — lively, likable and lost — and many viewers were astonished to learn he is serving a life sentence for murder. He has worked for a decade with the respected Fortezza prison theatre company but has never appeared in a feature film.

"I wanted him to appear in Gomorrah, but the judge wouldn't allow it," said Garrone, whose bloody crime drama won Cannes' second prize in 2008.

"We received the authorisation for him to appear in the film [Reality] but he was not allowed to come here to Cannes." Garrone said the absence was "not too bitter a disappointment" for Arena, because the movie's success means he can continue acting. Movie publicists would not comment on the nature of his crime.