2022 was your debut on cinema with "L’Ombra del Giorno". What did you feel taking part in this project?

It was amazing. I never thought I'd have started in that way, with an auteur film. I am very proud, because I feel very lucky for this experience, because I know that normally many actors start with more niche projects or with television and then make their debut in cinema.

What was it like working with professionals on this kind of set?

Working with actors such as Riccardo Scamarcio, Benedetta Porcaroli, Vincenzo Nemolato, Lino Musella has been deeply rewarding, as well as an enormous privilege.

Among other things, in the world of cinema, there is this unwritten rule that by acting with people with a lot of experience, you can also improve your acting. This movie was my baptism, my initiation rite into this world. Furthermore, I realized that everything that can be learned on set contributes to the creation of a wealth of skills that no academy can ever provide. Every experience must be treasured.

What is the best thing you bring with you from this first experience?

The love for this job affects everything I do, from the smallest experience to the electrifying one in cinema. I have always considered acting as my personal artistic expression and I love the way I feel when I have the opportunity to do it.

Part of the movie was filmed in a very dark period, the one during which humanity was trying to face the global pandemic. I can say that I have lived everything with greater lightness and serenity, because I spent whole days on the set and I only remember the countless laughs, and the chats. This adventure, in addition to making me experience extraordinary emotions, has made me grateful for all the human connections with great artists that I would not have had the opportunity to know, from whom I have learned small and big lessons and to whom I always address my admiration. I will never forget any of this.

Did you start acting right after high school?

Yes, I attended acting schools in Florence, Rome and Bologna. I started with a cinema school and then with a theater school. In the meantime I attended masterclasses at the Policinema in Bologna. Two years ago I tried to be admitted to the Silvia D’Amico Academy, but I was not chosen. In retrospect, I'm happy, because otherwise I wouldn't have had the chance to take part in the movie directed by Giuseppe Piccioni.

Was there an exact moment or an anecdote related to the decision to devote yourself to acting?

Actually, no. In high school I was still very confused about my future. I wondered what I could have done during all my life and that question upset me, because of the weight of its responsibility. I grew up in a family of professions very far from the world of cinema: my mother is a doctor, my father an engineer and my two sisters are an architect and a doctor. It was difficult to bring out this inherent artistic propensity in me: not because they did not support me, but precisely because it was too distant from everything else. Then looking around, I realized that it was the wave to ride.

I guess acting requires a lot of inner work. Does it help you to know yourself better?

I reflected on the fact that a person who has a profession that has less to do with art, does not always translate their sad or negative experiences, which life often forces us to face, into constructive ideas. An artist, on the other hand, must treasure any emotion and make it a lesson to do their job better and better. I always try to analyze myself and to understand more about myself: I have certainly learned that you have to find the positive side in any situation, even in the most dramatic scenario.

Is there a boundary between work and your private life or is it impossible to separate the artist from the human being?

I want those two aspects to remain distinct. I like the idea that the part of me as an artist is linked to the work and does not intersect with the human part. I do protect my privacy and I feel like a different person when I am at work than when I am with my family, with my friends and the people I love.

What is your favorite movie genre?

I tend to like drama. I love to cry, so dramatic movies are among my favorites. But basically I like to look at everything, taking a cue and absorbing all that is important in the art of cinema.

So, is there a director or actor that you would like to have some future experience with?

Yes, there are. If I think of the dream director, the genius of Martin Scorsese or that of Quentin Tarantino immediately comes to my mind. I would like to be able to work with them and take part in movies like "The Irishman" or "The Wolf of Wall Street", in which compelling and insane stories and sensational epilogues match the immeasurable competence of the directors. An international career would be my future dream: I would like it to happen very much. Unfortunately or fortunately, I've been often told that my facial features do not do justice to my Italian origins and this increases the chances of being chosen in a varied cast. Now I focus on my English accent, making it as pure as possible.

In your private life, are there any battles that you dedicate yourself to and that you feel you have to do something about? Is there something that you particularly care about?

Yes, there is in particular a project that I have been running for several years with ADMO, the Bone Marrow Donors Association. It all started when I was a teenager, when my best friend fell ill with leukemia. I fought hard to do something that could save him. First of all I underwent a test to find out if I was a compatible donor. In the hospital I continually asked the doctors for explanations on this matter. I remember that it was natural to ask them to do something together to raise awareness about this disease. We decided to start together from schools, where we share experiences and explain in detail everything there is to know for correct information. Even now, although less frequently for work reasons, my friend and I, who is fortunately healed, continue to talk in schools. It touched me very personally and I think it is fair to continue to fight for this cause.

Costantino Seghi for French Fries Magazine issue 5

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