D'Urso was born in Naples, Campania. Her father is from Laurenzana, and her mother was born in Sant'Eufemia d'Aspromonte. She made her debut in 1977 in the programme Goal, alongside Diego Abatantuono, Teo Teocoli and Massimo Boldi. The following year she took part in the variety show Stryx. In 1979 she presented the programme Che combinazione broadcast on Raidue, and the year afterward, together with Pippo Baudo, she appeared in Domenica In on Raiuno. That same year, 1980 she also made her debut as a singer, with the single Dolceamaro, which was not very successful.