Margherita Mazzucco on ‘Chiara’ | Open Roads: New Italian Cinema 2023

Best known for her leading role as Elena Greco in the hit HBO show, My Brilliant Friend, Margherita Mazzucco takes on Saint Clare of Assisi in her film debut, Chiara.

Directed by Susanna Nicchiarelli, the film is an inventive depiction of the 13th-century saint who, at 18 years old and upon hearing St. Francis preach, runs away from her wealthy family to become a nun.

On the occasion of the 22nd edition of Open Roads: New Italian Cinema, Mazzucco spoke with NOIAFT’s founder/president Taylor Taglianetti about her latest project.

Are you in New York for the first time?

Yeah, it’s my first time.

Wow! What have you done so far?

Not much. I came yesterday, so I just did a walk in Central Park and then I saw Fifth Avenue near the hotel. And this morning, I grabbed a coffee and I went to Times Square, but not much.

Was it everything you had imagined?

Yeah…like a movie.

Let’s talk about this movie. But first, I must say, I think My Brilliant Friend is the best show on television and you are one of the most talented actresses on television…so, it is truly so fantastic to have this opportunity to chat with you. As for Chiara, it’s quite an intriguing film. I read in an interview that you said that you’re not much of a believer. I’m curious if having that objective perspective helped in the role?

I don’t think so. The director is also not a believer and I believe that religion is not the central part of the movie. More so spirituality, I think. The work of Clare [Chiara in Italian] and Francesco was very human. To me, it’s a human story, making it universal.

I completely agree with you. Although this film is your first role after My Brilliant Friend and second role in your career, you seem to be drawn to characters who are fearless women. Is that just because the projects present themselves? Or are these characters that naturally appeal to you?

I enjoyed playing this character and I am lucky to play two very strong female characters, that raised themselves. I am very happy and I am choosing these roles. They also bring out of me things that I didn’t know about myself, which I enjoy.

What sorts of things?

The bravery, I think, and the strength. I used to think that I was very calm, very shy. But I’m not really like this. And this character helped me to figure that out.

It’s interesting you say that because when I watched this movie, I thought you had this reserved strength that I also observed in My Brilliant Friend. I’m not sure how to describe it except that it doesn’t call attention to itself in a traditional sense. But you have a strong presence, even in the most quiet moments. In having that consistency, if you will, it made me feel like I was visiting an old friend in this movie. I missed watching you on screen! Your characters have an aura that makes you a protector, in a sense, and makes people gravitate towards you. And I feel like this must be a natural quality within you since it carries over. Do you feel that?

I remember two things. One…the director of the third season of My Brilliant Friend, told me: “You don’t expect from pretty girls bad things. So you seem like an angel, but you are a diva.” And also, the director of Chiara, she told me, “You have this magnetism around you.” And Chiara is like that so she was able to bring other girls towards her. I think that maybe I do have this.

You emote in such a way that I feel I don’t need subtitles. Perhaps this is also because you are a natural – you didn’t have any previous acting experience before My Brilliant Friend. Because of this, is your preparation not traditional? Also you’re preparing for a film and not a series, which is much different.

I have coaches. Before My Brilliant Friend, I did five months of rehearsal and for Chiara, I did around two weeks of rehearsal because I was just finishing the third season of My Brilliant Friend. Two days later, I was on Chiara. I like working with coaches and also directors.

What did you think you wanted to do before going into acting?

I didn’t know. Maybe I wanted to be a chef or an architect.

Wow…well, they’re both artists in a way, right? So that’s so interesting. Do you have someone you look up to in the culinary or architect space?

As a little girl, I really enjoyed Ratatouille. So I wanted to be a chef. So Ratatouille is my hero.

Ha, that’s so neat! What did you think of the musical aspects in the film? Are you someone who has a passion for music?

Yes, I was very scared of that part because I had to sing and I don’t know how to sing! I was also scared of how the musical aspects would work out in the movie but when I watched it, I thought they turned out perfect. The music is so beautiful. The songs were even magical, I think, and that’s why it was perfect.

So you had to learn how to act for My Brilliant Friend…then learn how to sing for this?

Yes!

That’s a lot! In such a short amount of time, too.

Yes, thank you. But also dance! We had to learn how to dance and that was fun. But to sing, I was very scared. So in fact, they didn’t put my voice in the movie because it was not right!

That’s too funny. So do you think American audiences are going to take away something different from this film than Italian audiences have?

I don’t know. I hope that this story reaches a lot of people because it’s a very beautiful story. I didn’t know the story and I live in Santa Chiara in Naples. So it’s strange. We all know in Italy, the city of San Francisco [in the U.S.], because we studied it in school. But I hope that with this film, she speaks to people. And I think that girls and boys can be inspired by her especially since she was only 18. She did this incredible thing for the time. I think that it’s important for teenagers to watch this film.

I think so. Now I’m curious, how do men, specifically teenage boys, react to your roles? Men have strong reactions to powerful and tough women…a reality they can’t always digest.

I remember that I was at university and there was this boy that told me: “You watched into my soul with your eyes!” So I think that maybe some of them can be intimidated!

I was going to ask. I figured they would be intimidated.

I don’t know why, but I think so!

I understand what he’s saying. But I think it’s a compliment. To connect is a skill, to connect that intensely is a power. By the way, I read that you love rom coms.

Yes, I do.

Do you have aspirations to be in a rom-com?

Yeah, I hope so! I really like rom-coms from the 90s, early 2000s. I don’t know if rom-coms now are on that level.

Which ones do you like?

I really like, I don’t know it in English. “You’ve got an email?” Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks?

Oh, You’ve Got Mail! Yes. Oh, yeah… I love that movie!

Yeah, I love Meg Ryan. And, 10 Days to Hate You?

10 Things I Hate About You with Heath Ledger, right? I was surprised how much I enjoyed that movie.

Yes. But also that movie with Matthew McConaughey.

Oh, yeah. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.

Yes. Yes.

Interesting…so those movies are popular in Italy?

Yeah, they are!

What about them do you like so much? It’s funny because I feel like rom-coms are making such a big revival because of streaming. I think that’s also what was exciting to me about My Brilliant Friend. It’s HBO’s first non-English language show and that type of storytelling is so much more accessible because of streaming. It also allows HBO to take a chance on that type of material for a worldwide audience. And I think it is Netflix that truly revitalized the rom-com. Rom-coms may not do well in theaters, but streamers know how to capitalize on the genre. Do you think streaming affects the projects that you pick? I also know how much you like going to the theater.

Yeah, I do. And all of my friends do. We have our theater in Naples, our small theater in the neighborhood. So I went there since I was little. With streaming, I think it’s very important in how I choose projects. Also I think the writing is changing because of streaming. You have to be able to please the taste of a lot of people. Be mindful of what the characters do and say.

What is next for you?

I don’t know yet. I’m searching. I want to choose something beautiful because I did these two characters that are very beautiful, very strong, and I want to continue to do this. I want to choose carefully. I haven’t found something on that level. So I’m waiting.

You probably need a little bit of a break, too!

Yeah, yeah. I took this year as a break because I started acting at 15 and I’m 20 now, so I needed this break.

Do you enjoy doing all the press and things like that or?

It’s not my favorite part, but it’s part of my job, so it’s okay.

At least you get to do it in New York this time!

Right, yes!

Well, I know you’re not a fan of selfies, but I hope that’s a part of the job because I would just love a selfie with you.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Open Roads: New Italian Cinema is the only screening series to offer North American audiences a diverse and extensive lineup of contemporary Italian films. This year’s edition again strikes a balance between emerging talents and esteemed veterans, commercial and independent fare, comedies, gripping dramas which reflect today’s social themes as well as the historical issues of the past.   

Special thank you to Sally Fischer Public Relations for arranging this interview and to Emily Bernard for transcribing.