Born in Florence, after a few minor roles Ricci emerged in 1984, with the Pupi Avati’s film Impiegati, for which she won a Globo d’oro for Best New Actress.

In 1988 she won a David di Donatello for Best Supporting Actress and a Silver Ribbon in the same category for her role in Carlo Verdone’s Io e mia sorella.

In 1990 Ricci was awarded with a David di Donatello for Best Actress and a Ciak D’Oro in the same category for her performance in Ne parliamo Lunedì.

She is married to the musician Stefano Mainetti. Her second baby, Maria, was born in 2004. She was previously married to Luca Damiani and was also in a relationship with Pino Quartullo, with whom she had a daughter with.

In 2010 she shared with Lunetta Savino a Silver Ribbon for Best supporting Actress for Mine vaganti, directed by Ferzan Özpetek.

In 2018, she won the Silver Ribbon for Best Actress for her role of Veronica Lario in Paolo Sorrentino’s Loro, for which she won the David di Donatello for Best Actress the following year.