Interview with Gabriella Giardina, the Sicilian actress with an oriental flavor

An international actress by definition, that instead of the Centro Sperimentale in Rome was transported in more exotic locations. After the Classic Lyceum Gabriella Giardina started attending the Whistling Woods International Institute of Film, Communication & Media Arts in India, the country where she moved with her family. The passion for acting, however was born in Italy, with the Dyonisos group, under the direction of Gianni Battaglia. It was an experience that introduced her into the entertainment industry, and then opened to both the Indian and the American market.

Did you compare these formative experiences to the Italian cinema? Which of the Italian directors and actors are a reference points in Mumbai and Los Angeles?
The Italian cinema is highly respected and is obviously present abroad, and for this reason the analysis is quite wide, from Federico Fellini to Vittorio De Sica to Sergio Leone as directors. The acting courses study Italian actors and actresses who have made the history of Italian cinema, such as Sophia Loren, Anna Magnani, Vittorio De Sica and Marcello Mastroianni. The thing that surprised me, and that I found very interesting is that the films are never dubbed, providing the opportunity to appreciate their real expressive art.

Who are the actors who inspire you?
One of the key principles that the acting schools teach is to first of all compare you with yourself. I think the biggest mistake you could make is to go in search of a scene played by great artists and try to repeat it. Obviously, beyond this aspect, each one of us has his reference actors, in general. There are actresses who are the pillars of Italian cinema, to which I refer. I talk about Sophia Loren and Anna Magnani. Watching a movie interpreted by them is always a lesson. Among the contemporary artists I really appreciate Maria Grazia Cucinotta, and I say this with a touch of pride being Sicilian like her. I appreciate her as an actress and also as a woman because she had the courage to move on and follow her dreams, never losing humbleness. I would love to work in some of her productions, or even directly acting with her.

Among actors in Hollywood my reference are Catherine Hepburn, Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, but also Robert De Niro, Tom Hanks and Matthew McConaughey, all of them great professionals.

An Italian role in which you'd enjoy acting?
I risk of being repetitive but the Oscar to Sofia Loren for her performance in La Ciociara tells all about this great actress and the role she plays in this film. While a bursting beauty, Sophia Loren does not distract the audience, downplaying the drama of the story. She is capable of great impetus that gives extraordinary humanity to the character, being able to communicate the anger of a mother and a woman living the ugliness of the war. Cesira is a complex and tormented personage, of great intensity, a tough challenge to play this character, and I like to challenge me, definitely a role that I would like to take.”

I guess that even from the States you're following the success of Perfetti Sconosciuti and Lo chiamavano Jeeg Robot. You think it's a good period for Italian cinema?
Italy has always been able to produce films of high artistic value, in the past, with great directors such as De Sica, Bertolucci, Fellini, Monicelli, but also contemporary stars like Roberto Benigni, Giuseppe Tornatore, Paolo Sorrentino, Gabriele Muccino. Paolo Genovese, with Perfetti Sconosciuti, seems that have taken up this road and the critical appreciation confirms it. Gabriele Mainetti too, with his Lo chiamavano Jeeg Robot, has created an original work deserving positive attention by the critics. Both Genovese as well as Mainetti remain linked to the Italian veracity, but they present their films in a format that is equally original for the Italian cinema. As I heard, many countries, including the United States, have requested Perfetti Dconosciuti’s rights for a remake.
I think that Italian cinema has suffered the great financial crisis, however, productions such these show that when a project starts from a well-written story, directed by sensitive directors, then the Italian cinema is always in a position to assert itself. Going to me, my ambition is to work on good projects, I'd be proud to also be part of some Italian production.

Do you already have plans for the future?
Currently I am undertaking some specialization course in Los Angeles, at the Michelle Danner Acting Studio, in Hollywood, one of the most successful acting schools that counts many of its students as winner of Academy Awards, Golden Globes, Emmys.
My immediate plan, therefore, is to complete these studies. In the meantime I am working to finalize the agreements in progress with new agency and manager, to hopefully acquire valuable roles in movies production and TV Series".

- Marta Leggio -