Masquerade
Antonella Salvucci
Italian actress extraordinaire
Paris After Dark Steampunk Fantasy Russian National Ballet
ANTONELLA
SALVUCCI
Italian Actress Extraordinaire With the love of life and boundless passion to share, meet Antonella Salvucci, an actress, spokesperson and community benefactor. Written and Photograph Editing by Terry Check It was late May 2020, in the mist of the pandemic, when I first introduced myself to Antonella Salvucci, an accomplished and beautiful actress speaking in English with a melodic Italian accent. When in Rome, “Everyone should have a cup of cappuccino while enjoying a piece of tiramisu,” she said with a smile and a little laughter. How could I refuse such an offer, and we talked for hours. Foremost on my mind and most persons around the world, I asked the seasoned actress, “Today the world is coping with the Covid 19 virus. Italy was the European epicenter for the virus and is slowly recovering. Tell me how you are coping with the virus, share your thoughts and emotions about the pandemic?” After a moment she said, “From one moment to the next we found ourselves encapsulated in a glass bell, having to protect ourselves from an invisible and unpredictable enemy. Initially we had all underestimated the danger and continued to work. While in Monte Carlo, Monaco I was hosting an international film festival dedicated to films on peace, non-violence, and human rights, …. but when I returned to home to Rome within a few days, the lockdown took place in Italy.” At that time, Italy became the epicenter of the pandemic. With minimal person-to-person contact the positive-minded actress continued living life; studying new scripts for upcoming movies and television series; reading Dante’s poem, the “Divine Comedy” about death and his travels through Hell, Purgatory and Heaven. In short, she took refuge in culture, prepared culinary de10
lights ….. while singing and dancing to give joy to herself and her loyal followers on Instagram. In her romantic vision of appreciating people around her, it was painful being unable to converse in person, and above all, being unable to hug her love ones. In moments of human weakness, she cried unexpectedly. Along the village street from the balconies above, quarantined neighbors gathered nightly singing songs of unity and hope against the coronavirus. Someday the virus will pass and all Italians and everyone worldwide can return to life as we remember. Time passed for several months. We lost track of each other until she reached out to share her thoughts about life, happiness, and the passion of acting. As the sun was setting while sipping a glass of Tuscan wine, I asked the statuesque celebrity, “Close your eyes and share with me your dream vacation ... where would you go, who would be with you, what would you do .... dreams do come true.” Hesitating to gather her thoughts, Antonella replied, “If I close my eyes, I immediately feel the sound of the sea that cradles and relaxes me, bringing me back to my ancestral memories from birth, because I was born in a seaside village, up to the present day. For me, the sea represents a form of purification, of returning to the origins, a place to relax; but also to regain strength like the waves that break on the rocks and always find the strength to try again, as a metaphor from nature seeing my life projected in the immediate future. For sure my ideal vacation would be by the sea,
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any seaside is fine. The important thing is that next to me is my soulmate sharing simple moments such as the beauty of a sunset, savory food, and maybe let yourself go making love on the beach with the background sound of waves, the most beautiful soundtrack ever!” Pausing to gather my thoughts, I asked, “How did you get started in modeling and eventually become a talented actress?” Without hesitation my friend replied smiling lile a school girl, “With a desire to express myself, I had no idea which path to take, modeling seemed a likely choice. So, I started modeling with my sister shooting photographs. Changing into different characters, like a chameleon, with dresses, wigs, makeup and accessories, I went out of my house and rang at my parents’ door to test if they recognized me or not. Well, they always fell for my jokes and disguises. All this gave me the courage to experiment more and more”. Unknown to Antonella, her older sister, Maria Gabriella, sent the photographs to a modeling agency starting her career as a fashion runway model at 15 years of age. Remembering her early years, she mentioned “It was just the moment when I started to become aware of my beauty. While I was walking in the streets with my parents, I felt the eyes of the boys, perhaps
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Andrea Marcato
because of my well-groomed appearance creating a certain magic. All this made me feel like the protagonist of a good movie. I continued the modeling job with great determination, but after a few years, I felt that it was only a springboard to push me towards more challenging objectives of communicating and expressing myself to all from the stage.” With an elegant, flamboyant flair, the young spokesperson started presenting fashion shows, and then, film and music festivals. During the summer periods, Antonella worked to save money to fly to America, and attended acting schools studying the techniques of Hollywood stars. With an undying fever to improve her craft of acting, she practiced endlessly in empty theaters, and auditioned at every opportunity. At times I felt overwhelmed with her conversation, and asked, “Studying acting and becoming an actress must be a long journey. Share your story with me.” The award-winning actor said “Being an actress involves many sacrifices especially in private ddddddjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjeoeolife. You must be ready to put your emotions into eoeoe play, life experiences together with mental balance epepepepepepepepeppepeppepepepepeto never get lost. Sometimes the work of the actor is not taken seriously as for example an engineer depepe signing buildings, but actors like me who love this profession, it can give immense satisfaction allowing you to discover your best and worst sides.”
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Andrea Marco Marcato Minello Maison Lombardi
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Luca Noto
“For you as an actress, how do you change from being an actor of many characters, to you as a real person?” I added. “Personally, I like to distinguish public life from private life. There is a big difference between what I am on set and what I am in everyday life. Very often I play the role of an antagonist, great woman or femme fatale bringing my persona, allure and charisma to the role. When off-camera, I find my simple child-like nature of playing, laughing, making jokes, and being surrounded by good friends. I love cooking for them and making desserts for releasing the tensions of work. For example, making a nice tiramisu is an act of love when enjoyed by my friends.”
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Stefano Campanini
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Sean Arthur
During our conversation together and viewing Antonella’s Instagram, I noticed her unmistakable radiant beauty, and often I wondered about the celebrity’s inner beauty of soul and heart. When mentioned to her she said, “Beauty has always been a great source of inspiration for singers, musicians, and poets. It is the blossoming of life allowing you to look at life with a more positive attitude …. The soul of a person is the reflection for better or worse on your face. Therefore, a beautiful and enlightened face is synonymous with a beautiful soul …. sending karma to all around you.” Finishing my cappuccino and the last bite of tiramisu, I asked her, “Looking forward, what do you see.” “I am a true daydreamer. So, my vision projected into the future is bright and full of good intentions for me and those close to me, starting from friends, parents and an eventual partner. I hope my partner will be at my side to get infected by my good energy, to make a project together and to give each other inspiration. In the end we all want simple things, especially the love of your family supporting you in every challenge. I have been lucky with my family of origin; my parents have been well together for 50 years, and I would
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Stefano Campanini
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Marco Minello
like to create something similar, keeping my career as an actress to become more popular and create a charitable foundation to meet the needs of the neediest.” It is time to say “Goodbye”, but one last question I asked her, “Give me your first thought ..…” “Favorite color.” “Turquoise because it expresses my inner world, made by sweetness, independence, calm, self-respect.” “Favorite season.” “Summer for sure, the living is easy. I can smell the scent of the flowers. I can walk free, and not too much dressed up. Being surrounded by the sunshine is a gift from God.” “Favorite time of the day.” “I love dawn because you have the perception that your day is going to be long and productive. You can create by yourself a brand-new day.” “Favorite food.” “Lasagna homemade by my mother. She would give me lasagna every time I can back home, especially after my overseas travels.” “Favorite song.” “Everything I Do, I Do It For You by Bryan Adams, so romantic and strong at the same time, with a sensual voice like his …. It is real life.” “Favorite hobby or activity.” “Painting when I am in the mood, singing to awake my intimacy, walking to feel free.” She smiled and said, “Ciao Ciao.”
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Ricardo Michele De Antonia Simolo
Our time with Antonella Salvucci has come to an end, until we meet again at her upcoming film premiere in Rome, Italy. Masquerade Magazine (www.masquerade. us) wants to thank Ms. Antonella Salvucci for meeting with our writer and photography editor, Terry Check. Many thanks members of our creative team: photographers: Sean Arthur, Stefano Campanini, Paride Jabez, Marco Minello, Andrea Marcato, Luca Noto, Luigi Scuderi, Michele Simolo and Antonio Sinibaldi; and fashion designers/stylists: Maison Lombardi, Gai Mattiolo and Eire Mota. Special thanks to Marco Minello for the cover photograph.
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Luigi Scuderi Scuderi Maison Luigi Lombardi