AN ACTRESS WHO is reported to have refused an alleged invitation to sleep with Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is being hailed as a heroine in her country.

The Telegraph reports that Manuela Arcuri was allegedly offered the chance to host Italy’s most prestigious music festival, San Remo, in exchange for sleeping with Berlusconi but repeatedly refused to do so leading to praise and joking calls for her to replace the Italian as premier.

The Italian actress and model is reported to hold a black belt in karate and has been in several relationships with famous Italian stars, such as footballer Francesco Coco.

The story has emerged from telephone calls that were recorded as part of an investigation into allegations that more than 30 models and starlets were recruited for Berlsuconi’s private parties, famously known as ‘bunga bunga’.

Prosecutors are pressing for eight people, including businessman Giampaolo Tarantini who is already accused of blackmailing Berlusconi, to be put on trial for aiding and abetting prostitution during 2008 and 2009.

The wiretaps have also revealed intimate details of Berlusconi’s preferences when it comes to women.

He is reported by MSNBC to have told Tarantini ”not to bring tall [girls], as we are not tall.” Berlusconi is 5 foot 5 inches.

In another call, he boasts to “having been with eight [girls] in one night, even though I could have had eleven.”

Menawhile, opposition leaders are demanding an inquiry to see if Italian government aircraft flew a bevy of young women to Berlusconi’s private parties.

Leoluca Orlandi of the Italy of Values party is insisting that Berlusconi tell Italians if the planes were used after intercepted phone conversations in an investigation indicated they might have been.

- additional reporting from AP

Read: Eight charged with procuring prostitutes for Berlusconi >