Cristina Serafini was born in Turin, Italy, the only child of a journalist and a restaurant owner.
She won a scholarship to attend the Scuola del Teatro Stabile di Torino (Union of the Theatres of Europe), founded by the Italian director Luca Ronconi.
Serafini's first significant role came in Roberto Cuzzillo's Senza fine (2009) as a young homosexual - winning her critical and commercial recognition, as well as the Best Actress in a Leading Role Award at 2009 Chieti Film Festival directed by Roberto Faenza.
She played the role of Alessandro Gassman's fiancée in Natale per due and received the Best Rising Italian Actress Award at Premio Internazionale Euro-Mediterraneo, Rome, Italy.
Serafini, who has been photographed by paparazzi with American actor and director Sean Penn.