GIUSY BUSCEMI — VESTAL

Actress Extraordinaire Masters the Art of Balancing Family and Stardom with Grace.

“The thing that fascinates me the most about this profession is the exploration of the human being in all its forms and contradictions, and then telling their story.”

Giusy Buscemi is an Italian actress who has captured the hearts of audiences with her dynamic performances on both the big and small screens. Giusy made her acting debut in the Italian TV series Don Matteo, and since then, she has appeared in many popular shows, including Il Paradiso delle Signore (Paradise) and Un Passo dal Cielo (One Step from Heaven). Her roles have earned her critical acclaim and a loyal fan base. Giusy just came back to the small screens as Manuela Nappi, an investigator in the seventh season of Un Passo dal Cielo (One Step from Heaven). The season revolves around the meeting of the feminine and masculine energies as Manuela and her brother Vincenzo (Enrico Ianniello) approach investigations in different ways. On one side is the grizzled, uncompromising commissioner, and on the other is the empathetic policewoman who can notice things that others miss.

Apart from her successful acting career, Giusy is also a devoted mother to three children. Balancing work and family life can be a challenge, but Giusy and her husband, Jan Michelini, make it work by alternating between work and child-rearing responsibilities.

Despite her busy schedule, Giusy has recently returned to a new set in Sicily to star in a new television series based on some of the most successful thrillers. Her fans eagerly await her upcoming performances, and it's clear that Giusy Buscemi is a rising star in the world of Italian entertainment.

Photography NICOLA DEROSA

Styling AMELIANNA LOIACONO

Vestal __ You play the lead role, Manuela Nappi, in the seventh season of the TV series Un passo dal cielo (One Step from Heaven)? Can you tell us about the show and your character?

Giusy Buscemi __ The series Un passo dal cielo (One Step from Heaven), as you said, is in its seventh season and it continues to be exciting and beloved by the viewers. This year my character, Manuela, tells her female point of view both in the investigations and relationships. Compared to her brother Vincenzo, Manuela with her innate empathy represents “The Good Cop.” She will use proxemics to her advantage, namely techniques to understand nonverbal cues when interacting with people such as micro facial expressions or body language.

Vestal __ The set of Un passo dal cielo (One Step from Heaven) are the Dolomites, one of the natural wonders of Italy. Can you tell us how it was filming there?

Giusy __ I love this series for the places we had the privilege to visit during filming. The set of the seventh season are the beautiful Dolomites in the Italian region of Veneto. Among the best experiences, I remember an early morning wake-up call to film a scene with the breathtaking sunrise over the Cinque Torri mountains as the background. The experience was everything!

Vestal __ Your husband, Jan Michelini, is the director of the show. How is working with your significant other on set?

Giusy __ This year he did not direct the series. The directors were Enrico Ianniello and Lazlo Barbo. My husband and I like to work on different projects. We then have the pleasure of talking about our day over dinner. I highly respect him as a director and I often ask him for advice or his opinion on my work.

Vestal __ Can you tell me about your first acting role? Do you remember how the experience was?

Giusy __ I remember very well my first acting role; it was a great learning experience. I was on the television series Don Matteo, with Terence Hill, and I had perfectly memorized my scene. When I arrived on set I was scheduled to do a scene with actor Nino Frassica. When Nino saw me he told me: "Did you study the part well? Great, now throw it all away, we'll improvise!" I remember my legs shaking. That was an important lesson for me because I understood that acting means, above all, living in the moment and being adaptable. That's where true creativity comes from.

Vestal __ What is your favorite thing about acting?

Giusy __ The thing that fascinates me the most about this profession is the exploration of the human being in all its forms and contradictions, and then telling their story.

Vestal __ How do you manage acting with three children?

Giusy __ It is a challenge to work with three children, especially because I want to be a mother present as much as possible. My husband and I make it work as we alternate roles between work and children. Of course, in the past, I decided to wait before starting to work again. Honestly, I feel the moment, consult with the whole family, and understand how compatible a project can be with the current circumstances.

Vestal __ What were some of the high and low points while pursuing acting?

Giusy __ Paradoxically, the highest points have also been the lowest. It was difficult for me to break from set during my maternities. However, those periods were crucial for my personal growth. Those experiences enriched me and I couldn't wait to bring this new knowledge into new roles.

Vestal __ You also played on the Italian hit series Il paradiso delle signore (Paradise). Can you tell us about the experience?

Giusy __ Il paradiso delle signore (Paradise) was the series that captured the heart of the Italian audience, and it still holds a special place in mine. The story of Teresa, a Sicilian woman full of dreams who in the 1950s moved from a small village to the big city of Milan and started working in a department store. I had a lot of fun playing with my Sicilian accent.

Vestal __ What advice have you gotten that has been valuable to you, and from whom?

Giusy __ There's a beautiful phrase that my director Enrico Ianniello told me just a few days ago, which goes like this: "If you seek life, you will find the form; if you seek the form, you will find nothing." This phrase is helping me a lot in my daily work on set. Also, one thing I have learned over the years is that my job is connected to many other professionals, and the success of one means the success of all.

Vestal __ What is the one thing you wish you could tell your younger self?

Giusy __ To my younger self, I would say to have more fun, life is not a performance. And above all, NEVER deny your origins, because they give us strength and tell our uniqueness.

Vestal __ Any new projects you want to tell us about?

Giusy __ I have just returned to a new set in Sicily. I will be the lead role of a new television series based on some of the most successful thrillers.

“Acting means, above all, living in the moment and being adaptable. That's where true creativity comes from.”

Photographer Nicola Derosa, styling Amelianna Loiacono, hair and makeup Valeria Iovino for Cotril, Talent Giusy Buscemi, Press Mpunto comunicazione.