Guido Anselmi
Guido is the film's protagonist. Guido is an acclaimed Italian film director in the process of making an epic science fiction film, but has recently begun suffering from writer's block, newly unsure of his creative voice and the purpose of film more broadly. Guido also struggles with an obsession with women, as it causes difficulties in his marriage.
Luisa Anselmi
Luisa is Guido's wife. She is tormented by his constant infidelity and eventually attempts to divorce Guido. She is smart and practical, despite her fury at Guido's cheating.
Carla
Carla is Guido's mistress. She, too, is married, and she hopes that Guido will someday get her husband, Luigi, a job. Carla often appears silly and extravagant, wearing a fur-trimmed gown and netted hat for much of the film. She is shamelessly about her affair with Guido, sometimes following him to his hotel when he fails to visit her at hers. Carla is prone to intense bouts of fever that threaten to kill her.
Carini Daumier
Daumier is an acclaimed writer that Guido brings onto the film's crew to advise on its screenplay. He is prone to highbrow monologues criticizing Guido's film, and even the medium of film itself.
Rossella
Rossella is Luisa's best friend. She is very spiritual and advises Guido by communicating with the spirit world. Like Luisa, she is not fooled by Guido's lies and is one of the few women that Guido does not pursue.
Claudia
Claudia is an actress that Guido has known for years. He often sees her in his dreams, as she is his ideal woman. Ultimately, she realizes that Guido is incapable of love and will not offer her a part in his doomed film.
Pace
Pace (also referred to as Commendatore) is Guido's film producer. He indulges Guido's lack of participation in the film's production. However, he later promises to ruin Guido if he fails to perform well at the film's press conference.
Mario Mezzabotta
Mario is Guido's old friend. He is visiting the spa to repair his liver and to spend time with his much younger girlfriend, Gloria.
Gloria Morin
Gloria is Mario's younger girlfriend. A student of philosophy, she is wise and stylish. She often speaks in mysterious, poetic sentences and appears in touch with nature.
Seraghina
Seraghina is a prostitute that Guido remembers from his childhood. Guido and his schoolmates used to visit Seraghina at her seaside dwelling to watch her dance the rumba. Later, the Catholic clergy told Guido that Seraghina was the devil. She figures in many of Guido's dreams as an adult.
Conocchia
Conocchia is the head of Guido's film production department. He accuses Guido of changing for the worse, but Guido later says that Conocchia is his favorite person to work with.
Madeleine
Madeleine is a French actress slated to perform in Guido's film. She is usually angry with Guido, since he gives her little to no information about her role in the film.
Maurice
Maurice is a clairvoyant entertainer and an old friend of Guido's. He is the ringleader of Guido's final fantasy.
Maya
Maurice's psychic entertainment partner.
Guido's Mother
Guido's mother only appears in his dreams, memories, and fantasies.
Guido's Father
Guido's father is dead and only appears in his dreams, memories, and fantasies.
Cardinal
The cardinal is a member of the Catholic clergy in the spa town where Guido is making his film. He advises Guido on happiness and the role of cinema in modern life.
Jacqueline
Jacqueline is a showgirl from Guido's past who appears in his fantasy.
