Italian actress Monica Bellucci welcomes baby girl at 45

Italian actress Monica Bellucci has revealed that she is very happy with the birth of her second daughter, and that she finds being a mother at an older age more rewarding.

According to People magazine, Bellucci, 45, who has five-year-old daughter Deva with actor husband Vincent Cassel, gave birth to another girl, Leonie, in Rome, Italy, last week and both are doing "marvellously".

The actress, who married Cassel, 43, in 1999, had previously spoken about how she is glad to be an older mother.

"I wouldn't want to be 20 again for anything. I am much happier now than when I was younger," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted her as saying.

"You have to discover who you are, who you are going to be, there are so many insecurities. Today, I know the things that I need, the things that I can live without.

"Deva arrived at a perfect moment for me. I have done so many things in my life, been to so many places, had some great times - but when she came I was ready to give her everything she needed.

"The most important thing with children is to give them time," she added.