The conductor: “As a boy for love I was a fruit seller.” The work: «Before every important decision I call Maria De Filippi». Self-care: «I go to the psychologist every week, it helps me». His son Santiago: “His birth was the best day of my life”
Stefano De Martino on 9 June he made his debut at the cinema with The most beautiful day by Andrea Zalone, alongside Paolo Kessisoglu, Luca Bizzarri, Violante Placido and Fiammetta Cicogna.
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What grade do you give as an actor?
“One!”.
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Come on, don’t get down.
«But no, I give myself 1 because I never thought of being an actor. I looked at the experience with curiosity, I am fascinated by the behind the scenes ».
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What was the hardest thing?
“Wait. Maybe now I’m more involved in writing my programs and the rhythms are more frenetic. On the set, between one scene and another, I happened to have to sit for two hours wearing make-up with the napkins tucked into my shirt so as not to dirty my costume and a moment later to make a joke ».
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Did you struggle to learn the script?
“No. On television I work without a hunchback, but I don’t say it to brag: I simply don’t know how to use it, I can’t hide it ».
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And has your son Santiago already seen the film?
«No, not yet: I want to bring him to the room. His opinion will be the most severe of all. He will say to me “daddy you make me laugh”, and not in the sense that we all hope! ».
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If I ask you what work you do today, what do you answer?
“Perhaps the conductor, because although now it is increasingly difficult to label the professions because we all do more things, the management better represents me and my passions”.
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Aldo Grasso, about his “Bar Stella”wrote: “We are faced with the classic failed emulation of a high model, above all because De Martino does not have the charisma, the preparation, the irony of Renzo Arbore”.
«Grasso is not famous for being lenient, but I don’t agree with compliments, I prefer to measure myself with criticism. I’m sorry that he didn’t catch the quote from the first episode: the television critic of the program is a tribute to him ».
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But would you like to become the new Arbore?
«But no, it’s just that nobody invents anything. Copying to copy, I could copy even worse … ».
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Does your appearance or age penalize you more?
“I believe they are closely related. When I have a few more white hairs and more hours of live coverage on my shoulders it will be easier to unhinge the cliché. I will remain a young conductor until I am 55, these are the times in Italy. I will take the luxury of being a rookie for another 20 years: they will allow me a few more mistakes ».
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What program do you see as a point of arrival?
“None, because the ones I like are drawn on the conductors themselves. When I see Paolo Bonolis with Come on another one! I know that only he can do that thing there. “
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Do you have a ritual before a program?
«I listen to music, from Carosone to Sinatra».
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Is it superstitious?
«I have little quirks: I always wear the left shoe first and then the right one; on the ladders I only use the yellow highlighter of a certain type ».
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«Made in Sud», «Tonight everything is possible», «Bar Stella». Which one did you enjoy the most?
«Everything is possible tonight I needed it for the management, I was taking over from Amadeus and I had to find my own formula. Bar Stella it involved and amused me more: it starts from an idea of mine and of Riccardo Cassini. It has an emotional value because it was the name of my grandfather’s bar ».
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Stefano Scassillo: did you have time to see it?
“No, he passed away in 2016, my grandmother last year. But it was a way to glorify their life too. A risky choice, the project could have failed. With my grandfather I used to play cards on a table in the closing bar. He taught me the dedication to work and how to live in the world: I saw him modulate his behavior according to the clients “.
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Have they ever asked him for protection money?
«In Torre Annunziata the Stella Bar was an institution, there was respect. Then with the advent of the younger exponents of organized crime it was more difficult to manage it. I think it was one of the reasons that led him to close, he hardly yielded to certain requests ».
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What childhood did you have?
«The first memory I have is of the sea and the beach, every year my family took a wooden cabin. I can still smell the wicker mats my mother carried in her purse, I walked behind her and my father followed us. ‘
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Support teacher mom, dancer dad. Was it inevitable for you to dance?
«Like all children of art, I had a repulsion for dance and I wanted to try other sports first. Then riding my sister Adelaide, who is five years younger than me, to the dance school, I fell in love too. I started when I was 10, I was the only student in my school to do dance ».
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Is your sister still dancing?
«Work with me, it’s my added value. She is 27 years old and takes care of logistics, she is the problem solver. I also have a brother, Davide, who, like all 18-year-olds, doesn’t know what to do in life. At his age, I already had much clearer ideas ».
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At 18 she was at the Broadway Dance Center.
“America is very formative, has a professional approach: here in Italy dance is seen as a hobby, unless it becomes a profession”.
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Where did he live?
“In Greenwich Village. I was able to support myself with a scholarship, and to supplement I worked as a waiter in Italian clubs ».
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He also worked as a greengrocer.
“Yes, before Amici. When I returned from America the most popular job was waiter, but since I had a girlfriend who was going to school and the only time to go out was during the weekend, I turned to the greengrocer ».
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And he got up at 4.30 in the morning.
“I’ve always found something romantic in the fruit and vegetable markets. When you start working so early you have an edge over the rest of the world, you almost feel like you are part of an elite ».
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In those years it could become many things.
«I grew up in Torre Annunziata in the early 90s, the times of the lace and organized crime. But in the most difficult places there are many respectable people who shield themselves with their professionalism to deny that reputation ».
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How did it go to “Amici”?
«I had auditioned with the Scuola Del Balletto Di Toscana, but when I saw the cost of the rents I went back to Naples a bit defeated: I couldn’t afford the life as an artist. Amici it was the last chance I gave myself ».
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Which meeting thrilled you the most?
«The only person who honestly seemed less earthly to me is Diego Armando Maradona: I’m not a football fan, I didn’t think I would be fascinated by him, but he seemed almost a mythological being to me. I met him in Rome in an episode of Amici».
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Does Maria De Filippi still hear it?
«Yes, I often compare myself with her and I know that she is a great little luxury for my profession. Before the big decisions I call you ».
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And Emma Marrone?
“He is a beautiful person. Our story was a youthful thing that I remember fondly. I am glad you have managed to evolve as an artist: you are an established singer, you make cinema, TV … ».
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Do you go to his concerts?
“When it happens willingly, the last one before Covid. We have remained on excellent terms ».
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And we come to Belén. You are now Al Bano and Romina 2.0. You’re together again, right?
“Yes, yes. I think there is a kind of emotional transfer towards us. Everyone had a tormented love: in the almost morbidness with which they want to understand how it ends there is the veiled hope that there is a happy ending for them too ».
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You got married in 2012. Did it end because you were too young or because of media pressure?
«In ten years many things change. Life takes strange paths and I have stopped analyzing them. I try to improvise, as I do at work ».
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Do you still go to the psychologist?
“Every week. We talk a lot about physical health, we take care of ourselves 60-70% more than our parents. It seems stupid to me to spend so little time on mental health. ‘
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How was it helpful to you?
«I learned to analyze myself, to understand how I work under stress. I can look at myself from the outside, before I was at the mercy of emotions. Attempts must be made, it is not obvious to find the right psychologist immediately ».
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Did the work on yourself also help you to experience your relationship with Belén in a different way?
“But yes, definitely. The problems I had between the ages of 20-25 have them all in their twenties: it is hard to have a precise identity. When you are with a spotlight always on you, the lack of awareness emerges. Today they recognize me thanks to my work and it is more satisfying for me, while the difficult thing about being known when you are young is that everyone knows you when you are not ready: you don’t even know who you are “.
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What dad is it?
“When Santiago was born it was the best day of my life, it catapulted me into adult life from one second to the next. With him I try to be a present father, I try to build a daily life, I don’t believe in big gestures. If I’m not there, I like to text him before he goes to school and have a video call when he goes out. It is our daily ritual ».
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What if it’s in Milan?
“I try to take him to school in the morning. The tablet has replaced the pacifier a bit, but children always prefer to play with their parents ».
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What is your relationship with Luna Marí, Belén’s second child?
“She is my son’s sister, I feel like an uncle.”
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But have you ever divorced?
“My God, I’m not sure, but I think so.”
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Would you like to remarry her?
«I had one marriage, and our one for how it went is enough and remains for another two or three lives!».
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Are you happy today?
“I’m very happy”.
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May 30, 2022 (change May 30, 2022 | 07:24 am)
© REPRODUCTION RESERVED
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