Violeta Nicola  __ You are from Sicily; how was growing up in Southern Italy?

 Marianna di Martino __ Exactly how you would imagine it! I loved cooking “mud cakes,” building shelters in the woods, and climbing trees and rocky seashores. It’s been such a blessing growing up surrounded by overwhelming nature. And the food! In August, we ritually cooked the tomato sauce for the winter; September was when my grandpa and I harvested grapes.

Violeta  __ You studied acting at the Lee Strasberg’s Theatre and Film Institute in New York City. Can you tell me what made you decide to study acting in New York?  

Marianna __ In 2008, I participated in the Miss Italy contest, and Anna Strasberg was president of the artistic jury. I ranked second, but Mrs. Strasberg came up to me and invited me to her Institute. I wasn’t interested in acting at the time, but it sounded like a great excuse to visit New York. So after a few months, I finally got there. Five minutes after I walked into the school, I had the epiphany of my life, and I knew I wanted to be an actress. I remember the adrenaline of acting the first time I stepped on stage. I was performing in the play called A Social Event by William Inge, and I remember being terrified of getting on stage. I was so focused on the scene that I can’t recall much. It wasn’t until later, when I heard the audience laughing and applauding, that I knew I had done it. I became addicted to that feeling and never changed my mind.

Violeta __ You starred as Camilla in the Italian comedy Un fantastico via vai (A Fantastic Goings) directed by Leonardo Pieraccioni. How was working with Pieraccioni?

Marianna __ It was such an emotional experience. My character was eight months pregnant with a daughter, and I was the same age my mother was when she had me, so I felt like somehow I was playing her. Pieraccioni was the sweetest director and gently guided me through the emotional rollercoaster that Camilla, and I, with her went through. At first, I was scared to work with such an iconic director. Still, he was so humble, fun, and empowering from the very beginning that I forgot about my anxiety and enjoyed the ride. It is still one of the best memories of my career.

Violeta  __ Your international breakthrough moment was the film Man from U.N.C.L.E. What was the experience like working on this project and with your co-stars?

Violeta __ Your most recent role is Agata Scalia in Framed, streaming on Netflix. Can you tell us about the character and the show?

Marianna __ Framed is a crime comedy that plays with all the cliches of Sicilian and Italian culture and modern society. Salvo and Valentino (aka Ficarra & Picone, a huge comic duo in Italy, also creators and directors of the series) are two TV technicians that stumble upon a murder scene. From that moment, every step they take to avoid being suspected lands them in deeper trouble. Agata is the deputy chief in charge of the investigation of the murder. She is a strong woman, but she’s also been Valentino’s crush since high school, so let’s say that Agata, too, just like our goofy two heroes, will be “framed” in a hilarious and absurd turn of events.

Violeta __ Can you tell me one memorable moment filming on set you would like to share?

Marianna __ When we were shooting the reunion party scene of Framed. Everyone had fun mingling and chatting away. At some point, the cheering is abruptly interrupted by something very dramatic. There is a long moment of suspense; the stakes are high. Everyone is holding their breath, and… there it comes, the hilarious actor playing the journalist (shoutout to Sergione Friscia) slowly pops his head out! All smiles and excitement for the crime flip that just occurred. Everybody burst into laughing and kept laughing for a very long time. You know how laughing can be contagious, and you struggle to stop laughing; that’s what happened. I remember Valentino, one of the directors, had to walk off set because he couldn’t stop laughing. 

Violeta Nicola  __   How do you prepare for an upcoming role?

Marianna __ The first thing I love to do after reading the script for the first time is to start working on a playlist for my character. I would think about her favorite artists or maybe a song that connects me to one particular moment in the plot. Music helps a lot in understanding who is the person that I will become. The second thing I do is research. I ask myself, what does my character do in her life? And I try to research as much information as possible before filming. For example, when I was playing a pregnant woman, I lived my life with a pillow tied to my belly for weeks. Now I’m playing a police officer, so I take self-defense training and read about how to detect when somebody is lying. 

Violeta  __ What is your favorite thing about being an actress? And your least favorite? 

Marianna  __ What I love the most is that you can live many different lives. The awareness that’s not my personal life makes me incredibly fearless; that’s a surprisingly powerful and addictive feeling. My least favorite thing is that you don’t often get to know things in advance, so your life does a 180 for the next few weeks or months, no matter your plans. I have to admit, though, that gives me adrenaline too!

Violeta  __ Who are the three actors and directors you’d like to work alongside, and why? 

Marianna __ That’s a tricky question; I’m constantly changing my mind! At the moment, I’d say Toni Servillo for his sophisticated sensibility. Leonardo DiCaprio, as it would be thrilling to face such an adaptable actor. The third actor is Vanessa Kirby. I saw her once in the play Uncle Vanya at the Almeida Theatre in London, and I’ve been in love with her ever since. For directors, I’d like to be directed by P. Sorrentino, Q. Tarantino, and W. Anderson for their ability to mold actors into something completely new, complex, and unique. I know I’m aiming high here, but if there’s something life has taught me is that nothing is impossible.

Violeta __ Is there a cause important to you that you’d like our readers to know about? 

Marianna __ I fight for and believe in many different causes, so I can’t just pick one. But one thing I’d like to point out is empathy. I firmly believe that if we’d try to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes more often, many of the battles we fight for wouldn’t even be necessary.

Violeta __ What is the best advice you have gotten?

Marianna __ Never be afraid to follow your dreams. You have one life, and you’re entitled to fight for your happiness. That’s what my mother says every time I have a bad day or when I am afraid to make a decision. She’s an actress who raised two children by herself, so you can easily imagine how she is a role model for me.

Violeta  __ Do you have any exciting new projects coming up?

Marianna __ I recently shot a thriller movie by Swiss director Samuel Perriard called Im Fallen (Falling) and I have good news for everybody who’s asked me about season 2 of Framed. Netflix has renewed the show!