Arttists

Eleonora Cimafonte

Eleonora-Cimafonte-Arttists-Magazine

INTERVIEW

Tell us about one of the earliest memories of your career

One of the earliest memories is definitely the first show I worked on. I was in the second year of the academy and some of us had the opportunity to go on stage at the Teatro Vascello in Rome with “The great Inquisitor” by the Karamazov brothers, on stage with us was Cosimo Cinieri, a great Italian actor.

I had a marginal and mostly physical role, I perfectly remember the feeling before going on stage, and it was like the floor under my bare feet shook… when it was time to go on stage and ….Bam! It was like being reborn, that was my place.

How do you prepare yourself before you start a new project?

It really depends on the type of project I’m working on. Obviously the play compared to the audiovisual work such as cinema or series is very different even if complex in the same way. In general I try not to take anything for granted, I try to use many of the techniques I learned from my teachers but at the same time I use my own method which I believe I have developed over time. I think one of the main things is the humility of not knowing.

There’s a whole process of reading the script, asking questions and imagining how the character you’re trying to play walks and talks and lives and feels and then structuring the work. It’s my favorite part of this job, getting “all the way” to a character, a person. In everyday life we will never be able to do this, not even with the person we think we know best.

If you had to define yourself to the world, what would the headline be?

On stage I can be anything, even a man

If you could write your own story, what would your destiny be? What goals would you like to achieve?

I would like something simple but difficult at the same time, keep it up. Living from this profession also in the future is one of my biggest dreams, I realize that I am privileged; I have had many great satisfactions and things that I am really proud of.

If I really had to say one of my dreams, however, it would certainly be to interpret Eduardo De Filippo’s “Filumena Marturano” in an important production. I’m still young for that role but it’s one of the jobs that made me fall in love with this job, so I hope one day I can play it…we’ll see!

This year you played a very particular role, that of a man. Can you tell us a little about it?

Yes! I played Herod in Oscar Wilde’s “Salome” directed by Francesco Lonano. The show was a finalist for best under 35 show at the “Scintille” award in Asti and then at the Menotti theater in Milan, from there the show was also staged in Naples and Rome. It was really hard work, the character of Herod is considered, for the desire he feels towards Salome, one of the most masculine characters in theatrical dramaturgy.

It’s the first time that the role has been entrusted to an actress and I’m really grateful to my director, we did a great vocal and physical work together, we didn’t want to give the idea of “a woman acting to be a man” but of something that could be as believable as possible for the viewer, without losing the complexity of the character.

I think this is one of the greatest magic’s of being an actor, a woman can play the king of Judea, she can be scary, she can desire, love and be terrified like the most “manly” of men, with so much work it can be done.

How has the perspective of your dreams and objectives changed over the years?

It may seem absurd to say it but not much has changed. I’ve never had a strong desire for “glory” or to be a star. I discovered this wonderful profession by pure chance, my parents are from a completely different world and I simply fell in love with acting as one falls in love with a person. I believe that being immediately aware of the difficulties of doing this job has always helped me a lot, it has allowed me to go forward, to fully enjoy many moments and not to forget why I chose to do it.

What’s really important to me is to keep learning and give my best.

What has been the most important learning during your career?

Surely knowing how to say “no” is one of the most important things I’ve learned over time, staying true to yourself and not allowing others to label you, because on stage, if you’re credible, you can be almost anything.

Another important thing I’ve learned is to divide my person as much as possible from myself as an actress, obviously it’s difficult to do this but I think it’s an important thing to do this job even better and above all to live one’s life in a serene way which is one of the most important things.

Any upcoming projects you can tell us about?

I come from a period full of novelties. A month ago I took part as an actress in the Opera “Pagliacci” for Franco Zeffirelli’s centenary at the Rome Opera House, it was my first experience of this kind, I discovered a new world and wonderful colleagues. There are some things I can’t say yet but I’m writing a script. It’s the first time I’ve tried my hand at writing and I won’t hide that it worries me, but I’m happy with the opportunity given and I hope a good project is born! Plus we will definitely bring “Salomè” back to Rome in the winter; I’m really looking forward to it.

GALLERY

ABOUT

Eleonora is a young Italian actress, after graduating from the academy she made her passion her job. Her talent and versatility immediately opened many doors for her , now he lives by and for the theatre, he hates labels and hopes to bring people ever closer to this wonderful world.