Born in Florence, Italy, to a German father and an Italian mother, Alba Rohrwacher studied at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome. She gained early recognition for her nuanced performances in Italian film, establishing herself as a versatile presence in both domestic and international productions.

Her body of work is characterized by a commitment to character-driven narratives, often appearing in films directed by her sister, Alice Rohrwacher, such as The Wonders and Happy as Lazzaro. She is recognized for her ability to portray complex, internal emotional states across a wide range of dramatic roles.