Google the name Enrico Lo Verso, and a funny thing happens. Instead of being bombarded by a long litany of past scandals, temper tantrums and wild extravagant spending associated with most big named stars, you will instead find a list of the movies he has acted in, and a few interviews here and there.
The reason? Enrico Lo Verso is a man who simply loves to act, and who has spent most of his life perfecting his craft. The other stuff: the TMZ, gossip column stuff, he could care less about. And it is this love and his years of hard work which has made him one of today’s most admired and beloved movie stars.
Having studied at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia and Istituto Nazionale del Dramma Antico, Enrico has acted since he was just a little boy in Syracuse, Italy. His most acclaimed roles include Farinelli, L’America, and Hannibal; while he is currently being seen by viewers all over the world in the hit Italian Soap Opera, Centovetrine where he plays the dashing Cedric Saint Germain.
Soon, he will be back in movie theaters starring in the film “Nomi e Cognomi” with the beautiful Maria Grazia Cucinotta. I caught up with the actor as he talked to me about the great lengths he takes in order to prepare for a role, how he grew up watching Spaghetti Westerns, and why Marcello Mastroianni must never be forgotten.
Gaya Lynn: Enrico, it is such an honor to have you here with L’Italoamericano and me. Benvenuto. First, let’s talk about fashion.
Enrico Lo Verso: Yes. If I have to show up to an event, I always dress in [la moda Italiana] and wear Armani. In my normal, day to day life, I wear comfortable clothes and wear Montura, similar to the style I had in the movie, “Il Turno di Notte Fanno le Stelle.”
GL: Perfetto. When you were eight, you had decided you wanted to become an actor. I bet most of your friends at that age wanted to be a soccer player, but instead you wanted to act.
EV: I grew up in Syracuse, Italy. It was known for its Greek history and culture. There, on a Sunday afternoon, my mother took me and while I was waiting, I saw the stage. Thousands of people were there. And I saw Opedipus Rex. Instantly, I decided at that moment, I wanted to act…From then on, I studied all the ancient Greek classics…. the tragedies. At sixteen, I acted in a play at the Greek theater.
GL: I understand that you also loved and were influenced by Westerns.
EV: I was a huge fan of these films. John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Gary Cooper, Sergio Leone. For me, acting was like playing cowboys and Indians. I loved it.
GL: Tell me how your parents influenced your career. I believe it was such a significant moment for you when your father said, Vedo per te, e’ un lavoro. ( I can tell, this is a real job for you.) Also, what do you think about parents who force their kids into acting and are those typical “stage moms.”
EV: My parents never forced me. They told me, ‘It’s your life, this is your path. The only thing you must do is this: Do it. Be honest. and finally, be the best.’ They didn’t stop me. In terms of parents forcing their children into acting, it is wrong. Parents do not realize how much work is involved in acting. It is sad. Children need to be children. They need to play. As for my father, he realized that I was not there for the spotlight nor the limelight, I was there because I loved acting.
GL: I heard you were a rascal as a child, always in trouble at school. I cannot believe it. Here, you are so sweet.
EV: I was always in trouble. But now, the teachers have changed their minds about me and say, “ah, Enrico was my student!”
GL: Perhaps, the best advice your parents gave you was that they did not give you any advice and allowed you to follow your own path. Enrico, you started with small roles such as Atto di Dolore and you built your career from there. So many young actors just want to become a huge star without having paid their dues.
EV: True. Yes, I started with little roles, but soon I was playing leading role s such as Il Ladro di Bambini. (Stolen children) I was lucky, I had the right meeting at the right moment.
GL: You once mentioned before shooting a scene, you often glance at notes from past acting teachers. Can you please tell me one of your most treasured notes. Also, do you any advice to an actor/ actress who just started out?
EV: I remember one acting teacher who wanted us to mentally create our characters in our mind before the scene….I’m not just saying lines, I have to mentally think about the role beforehand. My advice for actors is to continually work on yourself as a person and expand your horizons. You need to read, listen to music, go to art exhibitions and watch movies. The most important thing for an actor is to enrich his soul, and enrich his world.
GL: Having acted for so many years, when the cameras are off and the directors say CUT! do you ever find it difficult just being spontaneous?
EV: Yes, it is hard. I have portrayed wonderful lives, and acted in powerful, compelling situations. These are so intense, you may have them in your real life, perhaps once or twice at most. After the CUT, sometimes, you are just proud of what you have accomplished, sometimes you are sad, because the “acting” moment is done…These moments become real, they have to become real. If not, you are not acting.
GL: Let’s talk about your most beloved role model, Marcello Mastroianni. Tell me about what he means to you.
EV: I do not have any actors who are for me “un punto di referimento” besides him. He is the one. When I was a kid and I was watching him, I was thinking I don’t understand what’s the big deal, he’s not acting. But when I grew up, I realized he was acting better than anyone else. He is the best.
GL: Although it happens with every generation, it is sad to think that kids may or may not know who these actors are and what they meant for film. For us in the states, Gregory Peck and Marlon Brando may be forgotten and sadly, but hopefully not, Mastroianni.
EV: Once I was working with a sixteen year old boy in a movie…I mentioned Robert De Niro and the boy did not know him. I didn’t know what to do!
GL: In film, you have been a policeman, a teacher… Oh, I fell in love with your character in Salvatore, Questa e’ La vita…then the film of Edoardo Ponti, Il Turno di Notte Lo fanno Le stelle…What is it that draws you to a particular script?
EV: When I read a script, I don’t think about my character, I think about the movie. Would I like watching it; do I want to be apart of it.
GL: Let’s talk about your new role in the Soap Opera, Centovetrine. You play Cedric Saint Germain.
EV: I love acting in this role….I have been doing this for five months. The character is an extraordinary character who faces many incredible situations. Plus, they give me a lot of creative freedom.
GL: One thing that I noticed in your roles is your uncanny ability to transform into your character. On screen, you are no longer Enrico, instead you are Marco Brioni, Andrea Corsale, Antonio, Desideria. For example, in Come Mi Vuoi, it was for me a capolavoro, a masterpiece. You did the role of Desideria with such elegance, such sweetness, and a certain dignity. How do you dive into roles like that?
EV: When I am acting and playing the policeman or a transvestite, I do not think I am playing [just any] policeman or transvestite, instead, I think I am playing Marco Brioni, Andrea Corsale or Desideria….I do not want to become a general character–I want to be that character with his feelings, his emotions, his desires and fears. For the role of Desideria, I prepared for that role months [before the filming even began.] I let my fingernails grow, I studied yoga, belly dancing…
GL: I think an actor with lesser talent would have just played a stereotype. They would have not understood the complexity of this role. Instead, you played a person.
EV: That’s right. I wanted to play a person.
GL: Enrico, you are as charming as you are talented. I look forward to seeing your films as you will undoubtedly become the role model for other young actors.
Ti ringrazio. Sei bravissimo. A presto. Un abbraccio forte.
Many thanks to press agent, Katya Marletta.
For more, go to “centovetrine news’ on Facebook or follow #centovetrine14 on Twitter.
After living in Italy for many years, Gaya now resides in California. www.about.me/gayalynn
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