Francesca Valtorta doesn’t do things by halves: She revealed that and much more to us exclusively at VelvetMAG. The theater, cinema and television actress returns to the stage with the show Caravaggio – il maledetto directed by Ferdinando Ceriani with Primo Reggiani and Fabrizio Bordignon, which will be performed from January 19th to 22nd at the Teatro Ghione in Rome.
behind his back, Frances Valtorta has enjoyed a successful career spanning film, television and theatre. After his cinema debut in kiss me again from Gabriel MuccinoShe has acted in some of the most popular television productions. Antimafia Squad, Red bracelets and ladies paradise are just some of the titles that embellish his curriculum.
The poster of the show “Caravaggio – The Cursed” (left), Francesca Valtorta, right (Credits: Paolo Palmieri) – VelvetMag
But with Francesca Valtorta, the static is tight. Always on the lookout for new charms, she has been a member of a club since last year Rome winery, whose opening allowed her to realize her passion for wines after obtaining a diploma as a sommelier. He also tells us about this other way of him and the show Caravaggio – the cursedby Ferdinando Ceriani, told us much more.
Interview with Francesca Valtorta
Who was Lena really for Caravaggio? And how did you approach her?
Lena is a very important figure, both in Caravaggio’s private life, maybe even the only woman he has ever fallen in love withbut also in the professional, as being model. It was a real revolution in art history, for Caravaggio was perhaps one of the first, if not the first, to use ordinary people as models for sacred images – even depicting the Madonna. He portrayed religious figures with human features: even the Madonna, always represented with ethereal forms, is very real and human. So Lena is his role model, his point of reference. It is the symbol of the revolution: the truth and humanization brought about by Caravaggio.
The discovery of Caravaggio’s “Lena”.
The show Caravaggio – the cursed They bring to the stage “what probably could have happened”: How much and in what way was Lena important to Caravaggio within the show?
It’s one dream show, in the sense that there is no chronological trend. We begin with what is probably Caravaggio’s final days, when he is almost dying on the beach at Porto Ercole. We thought that he would be received by fishermen who would take care of him in his final days. – explained Frances Valtorta – The show consists of only three actors: we are always on the stage and, with the exception of Caravaggio, who always plays the same role, we transform during the performance.
First, my colleague Fabrizio Bordignon and I are the two fishermen who welcome him. And then, meanwhile Delirium of the last days of life, it’s like Caravaggio reliving some moments of his life, with the people who were his caregivers. I therefore turn to Lena and Fabrizio, various characters such as Cardinal del Monte, the patron who commissioned many of Caravaggio’s paintings.
How much of you is in Lena?
She is a very pure character, sincere, without superstructures. He is a person who gives and gives himself completely to his relationship with Caravaggio, despite coming from an experience like that of his very particular “work”. At least that’s how we imagined it, – explains Francesca Valtorta – well an almost childlike relationship, but sublimated by those moments when it is elevated to an almost sacred level. We devoted a lot of time to those moments where Lena almost becomes the “Madonna” and is invested in a role that nobody would have even remotely thought of. Somehow I find myself in it because of its purity, because of its naivety and authenticity, and I tried to convey it with Lena.
Francesca Valtorta poses (Credits: Paolo Palmieri) – VelvetMag
Beyond “Lena”: Who is Francesca Valtorta?
Looking back, in addition to the theatre, there is still cinema and a lot of television, but you still felt the need to have a “plan B” of also becoming a sommelier.
I really wouldn’t call it a “Plan B”. My work remains that of the actress. I believe that it is wrong to approach this work by creating a “Plan B”, also psychologically, because we have to invest so much energy in “Plan A” that it will be the end if we also think of something devote to other. – explains Francesca Valtorta – It is a passion of mine that I have cultivated and that came about by chance. I have always been wine lover and before Covid broke out I visited this one course (Fisar Professional Course) which intrigued me and came to fruition even more than I became Partner of the local Vinificio Roma, which has only natural wines. It’s almost become an “obsession” for me (laughs).
It was a wonderful challenge to open a place that caters to the general public who don’t know or aren’t used to natural wines and I think I can say that we won today. Usually there are actually realities associated with natural wines, but they are very niche. We decided to open a place that did that evenings, DJ setsprecisely because our idea was to dispel the myth that natural wine is only trendythat it’s not good etc.. Then for goodness sake everyone has their own taste. But we were happy to change many people’s minds, who stayed happy and kept coming back. We are very happy.
Act as an “extreme choice”
Returning to acting, you have previously defined this profession as an “extreme choice”: Would you still choose that path today, even given the difficulties of recent years caused by Covid?
It’s a lifestyle choice in the sense that it’s not a “normal” job. – reveals Francesca Valtorta and continues – It’s a profession that has to do with the identity of the person because it’s about emotions: when dark times take over, it’s as if it forces us to question ourselves. In this area there is a much stronger bond between the person and the work: in that sense, however, it is a very risky job it’s the only thing i could have done. Even today, looking back, I would still say: “If I had chosen a ‘normal’ job, I would be more balanced‘ but I would have been a different person. So I don’t think I could have made any other choice, and I certainly would have made this one anyway.
Let’s say a key term is “balance”: Do you think it can describe you?
It describes me backwards, in the sense that they are absolutely unbalanced. I have no sense of proportion: either everything is beautiful or everything is very ugly; I’m either very happy or very sad. (laughs)
Rightly so, when one thrives on emotions, this is the inevitable implication.
Yes, exactly. It’s a series of things. And a bit’ my job, which takes me through ups and downs and it’s kind of my personality. I rarely settle for “normal” or quiet things. I always tend to emphasize everything, for better or for worse: while it can be beautiful in that way, sometimes it’s not as hot as it seems. Life on a roller coaster can be complicated over time.
Professional Recording by Francesca Valtorta (Credits: Paolo Palmieri) – VelvetMag
A role you would absolutely play?
I always said a role of a person who really existed, and in fact this Lena really existed. – explained Frances Valtorta – But you don’t have the elements to actually do a study, so it’s like he’s a bit of a “made-up” character in a way. So yes, I’ll answer that for myself It would be interesting to play a real characterto do another course. I wouldn’t just be an actress reading the text, from there I imagine and build the character, I should find the middle ground between something the actor creates instinctively but is based on something that already exists.
Have you always wanted to be an actress? Or did you discover the passion over the years?
Ever since I started doing theater in the afternoons in high school, I’ve actually always had the feeling that I wanted to do it. In fact, before I entered the Centro Sperimentale, which was the start of my actual career, I definitely made my decision letters with address theatre, so always something that revolved around this world. So I knew I was going to do something that was definitely related to acting. When I enrolled at university, I had taken into account that I might be a critic. But my passion has always been the and I never had any doubts.
What would you say to yourself about starting with today’s consciousness?
I would tell her “run away, run away!” (laughs) I would tell her to take it a little harder with lead feet. Because if you start off in fourth gear, you risk falling.