Nicolodi starred in five films directed by Dario Argento between 1975 and 1987: Deep Red (1975), Inferno (1980), Tenebrae (1982), Phenomena (1985), and Opera (1987). She also has a co-writing credit on Suspiria (as well as an uncredited cameo role as "Woman at Airport"). Notably, Nicolodi starred in Shock, the final film of Italian horror auteur Mario Bava. After her relationship with Argento ended in 1985, Nicolodi participated in a few occasional thriller/horror films (Paganini Horror, The Picture of Joy), exploiting her aura of dark lady of the genre in some films (Macaroni, The End Is Known, Notes of Love), and in recent years, movies directed by her daughter Asia Argento. In 2007, Nicolodi made a comeback to the cinema, working with her daughter Asia in Argento's The Mother of Tears, the thematic sequel to both Suspiria and Inferno.