A journey through the most significant moments of a career and personal life: Cristiano Caccamo, our August Cover Story, takes us through the account of a journey in search of the perfect recipe. From the inspiration of a foresighted father who pushed him to take the path of life, that of acting, to the challenges faced during auditions at the Centro Sperimentale, Cristiano tells us about his passion for cinema and stories and the priceless satisfaction that comes from portraying “different” characters, allowing him to explore new parts of himself.

With Cristiano, we talked about the importance of human connections, the value of irony, and his love for conviviality and sharing, constantly seeking a balance between professional and personal life.

Because freedom, as well as the sense of belonging, are fundamental to continue growing confidently and exploring new horizons.

What is your first cinema memory, and how did you get into this world?

My first memory is of my father, specifically a car trip where he suddenly said to me: “Why don’t you take an acting course?”. Initially, I told him it was impossible because I was in the middle of university, but he insisted, saying it could be useful. In fact, he found a school for me and enrolled both me and my best friend at the time because she wanted to attend as well.

So, it all started that way, “by my dad’s orders” [laughs], I attended a theater school called Cassiopea for a year and then left it to join the Centro Sperimentale.

You’ve acted in several TV series and movies. What gives you the most satisfaction when playing a character and why?

I get satisfaction when I’m made to do something that doesn’t belong to me, something different. I’m not sure why I like it, but I enjoy the game of playing someone else, of doing something else. The opportunity to live lives I might never experience: that’s what I love most about my job.

What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your professional journey so far?

More than a specific film or work I’ve done, the biggest challenge I’ve faced so far was the beginning of my career, where it all started, namely the auditions at the Centro Sperimentale and the subsequent introductory month where we took classes and tested ourselves. Of course, every film has its difficulties, but that initial period, that turning point, was the most challenging part because everything would start from there.

“Where it all started”

With your job, when you have to empathize with characters, I believe you can come into contact with new parts of yourself, and I think it raises many questions. What is the last thing you’ve discovered about yourself thanks to your work?

Surely, when you start a job and put yourself in the shoes of a character, you stir things up inside yourself, you challenge yourself, facing new feelings and relationships. I tend to protect my things: in questioning everything about our past, I’ve always thought there must be a part that needs to be protected and treated with care.

So, balance is needed in this game we play when we work and discover who we are.

We will see you in the TV show “Giacomo Leopardi – Vita e amori del poeta”, where you play Ranieri. In bringing the character to life, were you also inspired by literature, specifically the numerous letters exchanged between Ranieri and Leopardi throughout their lives?

A small anecdote, something very tender: my agent gave me a collection of poems and letters exchanged between Leopardi and Ranieri, a little book I have at home and keep, and it was the first thing I started reading after being chosen for this project.

The series aims to emphasize the “human” side of a character so deeply marked by life itself and who has entered the collective imagination. What is the greatest legacy of this experience for you that you hope the audience will perceive?

What I want to convey with my portrayal is the unconditional love these two characters felt, a love that was more than fraternal, a sentiment that went beyond everything. What I want the audience to perceive is especially this powerful feeling. The series also shows how life tested them, presenting them with extremely difficult obstacles to overcome, even putting their relationship to the test.

I think both characters, even if they made mistakes, were always intent on great acts of love, and I would like this message to come through clearly.

“What I want the audience to perceive is especially this powerful feeling.”

You also filmed in Recanati: what do you like to think lies beyond the hedge of the Hill of Infinity?

What I would like to find in this undefined and limitless space is myself, even if it means getting lost. I would like to think that beyond the Hill lies the human limit, an infinite space where you can get lost and then find the most intimate part of yourself, recognizing yourself beyond the hedge.

You are very active on social media. How do you use these platforms to “connect” both with yourself and others and do you ever feel the need to “disconnect”?

I’ve questioned my approach to social media a lot, so lately, I’ve been trying to use them less. It’s a phase I’m going through; I don’t like some things I see anymore, I don’t recognize myself in them, and I don’t enjoy them as I used to. For now, I feel this way, but maybe these feelings will change later.

In 2021, you published a novel, “Chiedimi la luna”. What does writing represent for you in your daily life?

Writing is not particularly present in my life, but this novel was an experience. I put myself to the test; it was an adventure I wanted to live. I don’t think I would do it again because even though I had fun, it was very exhausting. It was a phase, and there will be a thousand others where who knows, maybe I’ll dance, sing… [laughs].

Have you ever thought of writing a film instead? What story would you tell?

Yes, I’ve thought about it, but I won’t tell you what story I would tell because otherwise, I’d spoil the surprise! Then, I don’t know if I’ll ever realize this dream, but if and when it happens, I’ll let you know.

This year, you also opened a restaurant, Nena mercato&cucina. Where does this passion come from?

My passion for cooking comes from my grandmother. Lunch at my grandmother’s was a convivial moment where we all gathered when I lived in Calabria: cousins, uncles, coming back from school or work, we all met there. The experience of sharing a meal has always been something I liked; it’s an occasion where you share a pleasure. That’s why I love cooking, and recently I decided to open this business, which I’m currently very happy and satisfied with.

“The experience of sharing a meal has always been something I liked; it’s an occasion where you share a pleasure.”

What makes you angrier?

What makes me angrier is when someone makes decisions for me without considering what I think. When I’m forced to do something that I haven’t decided to do because someone else has chosen for me.

How important is irony to you?

Irony is very important to me; I always use it and think it belongs to me. However, it’s also true that you can’t make jokes about everything, so you have to be careful how you use it.

Have you ever felt lonely? If so, how do you deal with loneliness? Or do you sometimes seek it out?

I have felt lonely many times. Loneliness is something I try to escape from and stay away from because I don’t like it. I always try to communicate my sense of loneliness when I feel it inside, even though there are moments when I want to isolate myself. However, I always make sure to communicate why I feel this way and to share what I feel with family and friends to understand the origin.

“…I always try to communicate my sense of loneliness when I feel it inside…”

What’s one thing you’d like to shout to the world, even in a positive way?

Tolerance. I’d like to shout to the world that it’s important to listen to others and be much more tolerant. We are no longer tolerant, I think, maybe because we’re dissatisfied, and we don’t listen to each other anymore.

What has been the biggest “fuck you” of your life so far?

More than a “fuck you”, the biggest break, which was also painful, was when I left my Calabria as a 15-year-old to move to Assisi. I left family and friends to find a different path, I left my land because I wanted to change my life.

What scares you the most?

I’m scared of a lot of things, but the thing that terrifies me the most is not having the chance to live everything I want to experience. The limit of life kills me, the fear of not having time.

What makes you feel safest, and what makes you feel most confident?

What makes me feel safest are relationships, something I try to cultivate, protect, and maintain as much as possible. What makes me feel most confident is the exact same thing.

“The limit of life kills me, the fear of not having time”

What does it mean to you to feel free?

To me, feeling free means having the possibility to choose. Feeling forced makes me angry, it’s something I hate, while the ability to choose, for better or worse, makes me feel truly free.

What does it mean to you to be comfortable in your own skin?

It’s when you can find a balance between who you are, what you do, and what you like. When all the elements of life are in balance, when everything that belongs to me is in balance, I can say that I feel comfortable in my own skin.

What’s your happy place?

My happy place is relationships. The place where I can find my loved ones, where people recognize me, and I recognize myself, where I don’t have to explain myself, and I am always understood.

Photos & Video by Johnny Carrano.

Grooming by Micaela Ingrassia.

Styling by Sara Castelli Gattinara.

Assistant stylist Ginevra Cipolloni.

Thanks to Other srl.

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