 Nina Petronzio was born in Victoria County, Nova Scotia, Canada, to New York artists who were inspired to open an art foundry after her father, bronze sculptor Robertino Petronzio returned from his studies at the prestigious Accademia di Belle Arti Firenze in Florence, Italy.At age eleven, she was cast to play the female lead "Jo", in the film "Vincent and Me".Tcheky Karyo played the role of Vincent van Gogh.