De Laurentiis began working on films by contributing to the props and set departments of her father's productions. However, her first major credit came in 1973 as an assistant costume designer on Luchino Visconti's Ludwig.[citation needed] She then worked as a production assistant on Hurricane (1979) before stepping into a producer role at Dino De Laurentiis Productions.[5]
In 1987, she left her role as president of production at De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG).[6] While at DEG, she read the script for Prancer and eventually produced the film as her first theatrical venture under her Raffaella Productions banner.[7]
In 1989, she entered a long-term relationship with Universal Pictures whereas De Laurentiis would produce their projects for a two-year production agreement.[8]
Three years after her father's death in 2010, De Laurentiis began pursuing a TV miniseries and theatrical biography about her father.[9]
