The Fantastic 5
On Wednesday January 17, in prime time on Canale 5, a new eight-episode television series will be launched that tells the story of the sporting activities, difficulties, passions and relationships of a group of Paralympic athletes from the Nova Lux Athletics Society and their friends coach Riccardo Bramanti, played by Raoul Bova: “The Fantastic 5”. It is not the first time that the actor, born in 1971, has taken on sporting roles: between 2011 and 2013 he played the former swimming champion and then coach Alessandro Dominici in “Come un dolfino” and in 2021 he directed the documentary film “Last Race” together with Marco Render ».
The past as a swimmer
Raoul Bova has a history as a swimmer: he began his sporting career at the Aurelia Nuoto swimming pool and won the Italian youth championship in the 100-meter backstroke at the age of 15. He later gave up competitive sports. “I was 17 years old and took part in the selection for the World Cup,” he told Corriere in 2016. As they say in the trade: I had “time in my arms”, I was strong in the pool, very fast, I felt ready for the big test. And that morning I was first to the last pool, but when I got to the bottom, the moment I was pushing against the wall and making the final turn to reach the finish line, my feet slipped on the wall and I remained practically silent: from the first I will be the last. I was saddened, discouraged and disoriented.
The beginnings on television
Raoul Bova's television career began in 1991 with Scomtiamo che…? as a valet. In 2020, as a guest of Francesca Fialdini in Da Noi… a Ruota Libera, the actor remembered Fabrizio Frizzi: “He always had a positive energy, he was always laughing.” He is a person to whom I remember with great affection remember.
The debut on the big screen
In 1992, Bova debuted on the big screen with a small role in Roberto D'Agostino's film Mutande Crazy. In the same year he appeared in the miniseries “Una storia Italiana” about the Abbagnale brothers, directed by Stefano Reali. He recalled that time: “I couldn't tell my father that I no longer wanted to continue, that I wanted to stop swimming, but I happened to take part in the audition for the Rai drama “Una storia Italiana” in Abbagnale -Brothers, glory of rowing. The director Stefano Reali, who was watching me during my performance, noticed that I was full of anger. We start talking, I tell him my story and the turn I couldn't make on that wall that I made in my life.
The first leading role
Raoul Bova's first leading role, which brought him great popularity, dates from 1993: the film was “Piccolo grande amore” by Carlo Vanzina. Bova (voiced by Fabrizio Manfredi) played Marco, a surfing champion who a beautiful foreign princess, played by Barbara Snellenburg, falls in love with. Throughout his career, the actor has been directed by directors such as Ferzan Ozpetek, Giuseppe Tornatore, Pupi Avati, Daniele Luchetti and Paolo Genovese. He has appeared in several films but also in television series, especially in crime dramas: including “Palermo Milano One Way” and the miniseries about the captain of the Carabinieri Ultimo. In 2022 he took over the baton from Terence Hill in the TV series “Don Matteo” in the role of the new priest Don Massimo.
Films in the United States
At the beginning of the 2000s, Bova moved to the USA, to Los Angeles, where he stayed for a few years: he starred in “Avenging Angelo” with Sylvester Stallone (2002), “Under the Tuscan Sun” (2003) and in “Alien”. against Predator” (2004). “It was my first time in the legendary American studios,” he recalled to Corriere in 2016. At the beginning, I had a school-level knowledge of English, and when I attended press conferences, I memorized all sorts of questions and associated answers for journalists. The problem was when they asked me an unexpected question: I answered with the prepared answer and saw the smile on the face of the interlocutor who understood the trick.
synchronization
Raoul Bova's artistic CV also includes some experience as a voice actor: He lent his voice to Hercules in the animated film “Hercules”, the little dog Bolt in “Bolt – A Four-Legged Hero”, Uncle Fester in “La Addams Family” and Chip in ” “Chip & Dale Special Agents”. He also voiced a gangster in Family Guy.
Private life
In the 1990s, Raoul Bova lived a love story with actress Romina Mondello. In 2000, the actor married veterinarian Chiara Giordano, daughter of marriage lawyer Annamaria Bernardini de Pace, and in the same year the couple's first child, Alessandro Leon, was born, followed by Francesco in 2001. The union ended in 2013. Bova later found love again: on the set of the film “Immaturi – Il viaggio” he met the Spanish actress, showgirl and model Rocío Muñoz Morales. The couple had two daughters: Luna in 2015 and Alma in 2018. “I was in no hurry to separate: the boys were teenagers and experienced moments of anger and disillusionment – the actor recently told Verissimo about his children -.” I was close to them to make them realize that they were just as important as my two daughters. I never imposed anything on him, I told him: “When you feel ready to be together, I will be there.” I had the satisfaction of having to wait 10 years and one evening I was able to hold back tears, I was so happy: the five of us sat together at dinner, my children talked and laughed. I looked at her with emotion, it was a beautiful moment.