Parietti was born on 2 July 1961 in Turin, Piedmont, Italy, the daughter of Francesco, a Piedmontese partisan originally from the Langhe then a chemist, whose nom de guerre was Naviga, and Grazia Dipietromaria, a painter and writer.

She began her performing arts career in 1977 with an appearance in the theatrical play, The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde.

Although she did appear on television as early as 1975, her first role was in a major theatrical film in 1983 in Sapore di Mare (American version entitled Time for Loving).

[1] During Parietti's brief foray into the music industry, she was primarily associated with the Italo disco style and released a series of singles during the 1980s as well as an eponymous album in 1996 and an EP in 1990.

The single "Only Music Survives" was a moderate commercial success and was her only release to make the Top 40 national charts.