Claudia Gerini talks Labyrinth and Tulpa with The Fan Carpet’s Luigi Frassetto
Claudia Gerini is an Italian actress and singer. A household name in her own country, she also had a number of breaks on the international scene, thanks to a role in Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ and, more recently, with the 2-part TV drama Labyrinth, directed by Christopher Smith, where she plays the character Marie-Cécile de l’Oradore.
Gerini’s growing international status is going to be further consolidated by the upcoming release of Tulpa, an Italian-style ‘giallo’ with an international cast and her second film collaboration with her partner Federico Zampaglione, a director/musician who also produced her first album as a singer, titled Like Never Before.
Claudia took some time for a Skype chat with The Fan Carpet’s Luigi Frassetto, which is transcribed here.? The Fan Carpet thanks Mr Greg Day of Clout Communications for his kind help in scheduling the interview.
TFC: Thank you very much for taking the time for this interview and congratulations for an year so full of accomplishments.
CG: Thank you, the pleasure is mine.
I’d like to start from Labyrinth: it’s a German/South African co-production, with Ridley Scott among the executive producers. There’s no trace of Italians… apart from you! Congratulations for that! How did you get this opportunity?
It was just a normal audition. I’ve been taking auditions since I was 15 and I like to see that I still have the same enthusiasm, without taking anything for granted. I recorded a screen test at Lilya Trapani’s studio, where I was asked to act three scenes in English, then I got a call to meet the director Christopher Smith in London. He was looking for a French actress initially, but then he changed for Italy and eventually I got the part.
In Labyrinth we see you for the first time in the role of an evil woman named Marie-Cécile de l’Oradore.
That’s right, I’m a pitiless woman in an action-thriller. It was so much fun! Marie-Cécile is a charming, elegant and powerful businesswoman who would do anything to get what she wants and has no mercy for anything or anyone.
How was it to work with Christopher Smith and what are the differences when acting in another language, if there are any?
Chris is a wonderful director with a nice character and a great love of genre movies, horror in particular. He directed me with great enthusiasm and contagious energy. Acting in English is quite interesting, it’s more concise and direct than Italian, though I had to mind my accent, which had to be as clear as possible, so I had to be very concentrated and relaxed at the same time. I studied English in the US, but in Labyrinth my pronunciation had to be as British-like as possible.
Let’s talk about Tulpa now, the upcoming film by Federico Zampaglione which was previewed at Fright Fest. Tulpa is shot in English too, and again it’s a genre film: an Italian-style giallo with actors from different countries.
Tulpa is quite an extreme film and it was a very interesting work for me: a dramatic role, but at the same time sensual and controversial in general. I immediately loved Lisa’s duality, a woman who loves her solitude, very busy with her work and accomplished in her financial career, she chooses to loosen up at night and concede herself to a world of senses, where there are no rules and one’s identity is relative.?I loved the suspense scenes and the chases, the action sequences in general. With Federico as DOP (and directing as well) we moved together with lots of handheld camera shots. We had five weeks to shoot the whole picture, so there wasn’t much time for rehearsals, we had to synchronise ourselves with nods and gestures. I’m familiar with his directing style and I knew what he wanted, it was great to work with him.
Could it be that this immediacy and agitation were indeed helpful to achieve the extreme result of the film?
As soon as I read the script I knew it would be a hardcore giallo, but I thought that, if I was to get into the horror genre, I had to go all the way or nothing. When I saw the finished film I was terrified and kept my eyes closed during most of the murder scenes!!!!
That sounds awesome, I can’t wait to see it too! So we talked about Labyrinth and Tulpa, but three months ago another film of yours came out in the UK: Davide Manuli’s The Legend of Kaspar Hauser, where you star alongside Vincent Gallo. Is this a sign that Italian movie artists are coming to the fore of international cinema again, after a period of difficulty?
I really hope that’s true, although it’s really hard to achieve that while staying in Italy. Perhaps it would be easier if I lived in London or Paris. Unfortunately we don’t export much, we’re not very competitive and don’t invest much. It’s a pity, but my life is very much rooted in Italy since I have two daughters.
The ideal thing would be to make films in Italy that would arouse international interest too, like it happened during the so called “golden age” of Italian cinema…
Amiche Da Morire , a “feminine” comedy film where I starred, which came out in Italy a couple months ago, would be perfect for an international audience! I’ve worked with Mel Gibson and Audrey Wells, and with French and Spanish directors, but my artistic homeland is Italy… at least for now!
What are you working on at the moment?
I’m evaluating a proposal for a comedy film, so cinema again… but I’m thinking about going back to music too.
Again with Federico Zampaglione as producer?
No, right now I’m making some musical experiments with Planet Funk.
Wow!!
Yes, wow!!!
Thank you very much for your time and for this pleasant conversation!
Thank you, see you next time!
