You are quickly earning a reputation as a major new “scream queen” in the industry. What drew you to the horror genre, and how does “surfing” these dark, suspenseful worlds compare to your roots in Italian TV and radio hosting?
A: Aaaaaaah -I’m just starting this exciting interview with a scream- lol. That said, I am really grounded on earth which means that I know that the path is very hard but in this life you have to start somehow, in any case. I feel that I’ m just about to dig into horror after 3 feature movies and after 1 horror fantasy short movie. I adore to put myself both in front of the camera and behind it :)… but I must be honest with you… villains are my fav.characters to play. This has absolutely nothing to do with my “past” in Italy. I ‘ve worked several years as a tv and radio host in football programs related to Serie A. But I wasn’t completely satisfied with my life at the time. During the pandemic I had “the revelation” and I went through the big “changement”. I was missing my actress side and I began having ideas about horror plots. This is how I started writing bloody ideas for movies and how I decided to spend a lot of time in London, due also to the fact that my partner Christian Vit was living there. The UK is very prolific in the horror genre and you can absolutely flourish there. Anyway, for sure, since a little girl I was very intrigued by horror genre, I’ ve always celebrated Halloween and I was a huge fan of by R.L.Stine’s “Goosebumps”, I still have the Italian book’s collection entitled “Piccoli Brividi” I’ve read all of them. I think that somehow this was the “hidden horror seed” that grew inside my soul. Oh, and watching the first Wes Craven’s “Scream” in the theatre in 1997 was absolutely a mind-blowing experience!
From Behave to Jingle Hell and your upcoming projects, horror seems to be your creative home right now. What elements do you think are essential to making a truly memorable and terrifying genre film today?
A: The market is changing very fast and fortunately the horror genre is capturing attention more and more. It is one of the most bankable genres: you don’t need to have big names attached to your project, you don’t need a multimillion budget and you can definitely do a very good job if you are able to focus on a compelling, original, story that embraces today’s trends. You have to have a detailed preproduction plan, you should hire people you trust…and you’re already half way to the goal. This is why I am focusing on this genre. At the moment I have 6 pitches decks and I am writing a vertical drama horror love story and another feature movie entitled “The Echoing” . This last one is my main focus at the moment, alongside another one entitled “Ad Memoriam”, possibly we’ll film both in 2027. The elements they have in common are for sure “the unpredictable factor”, surprise and fear must walk the path together to make a movie work. Then I’d say the blurred lines between good ones and bad ones makes the plot interesting and commercially exploitable. Also the “non-visible factor” makes the difference: I mean the tension grows if you know that there’s something coming but you can’t see it.
Behave achieved impressive worldwide distribution after its run at the Marché du Film de Cannes. As a co-executive producer alongside your partner, Christian Vit, what were the biggest challenges and rewards of launching that film on the global stage?
A: We are brave people. Haha I’m joking, but no, seriously, you have to be aware of the risks and benefits. You have to know what you are doing. When we embarked on that journey we were pushed by enthusiasm but we also knew that we needed to be grounded and helped by people we trust. Of course the challenge is the journey itself because you learn about several mechanisms just through experience, doing, risking. Francesco Gabriele helped us a lot: he was really essential to the whole project. We found distribution once the movie had been completed and not beforehand. This is why I’m telling you” we were and we are brave “and this aspect can bring you rewards. Indeed our first feature movie is now visible worldwide through several platforms and it has been also dubbed in so many languages, there are also dvd’s and blue ray’s editions, especially in the Netherlands. Anyway, Cannes was a very interesting and prestigious experience, of course.
Jingle Hell is a brilliant international co-production between Lion Films and Vigory Pictures, shot across Argentina, Rome, and London. How do you balance the distinct logistics and creative energies of filming across multiple continents?
A: Indeed, it was a very nice co-production with the Argentinian Lion Films founded by Gaby Smiths and Mercedes Perez. It was the second time we worked alongside them (before as exec. producers in “La Hacienda the Return of the Damned” in 2024 NDR). I was born in Argentina, I live in Rome and I love London, so I thought someday I want to shoot a movie in these 3 locations. The main one of course is Buenos Aires where we shot in 13 days during the night, it was a tight schedule and everybody was so crucial for the project. It demanded a lot of energy. This is why you have to rely on people you know are trustable. Gaby, Mercedes,The guys, all the cast and crew in Argentina did it great! Vigory Pictures, as associate producer, was in charge to plan some shooting days in Rome and London with cinematographers Matias Recine, Jacopo Brucculeri and Vincent Rosec. My motto is ” if you want to do something, find a way to do it” so I tend to minimize the obstacles and I always try my best to transform a limit into an opportunity. This is the formula if you want to move through different continents. Jingle Hell has been described as a little gem with a distinct vintage flavor. How did the Escalada train deposit in Argentina influence the overall atmosphere and aesthetic of the film? A: Jingle Hell was filmed in the very charming train museum located in the outskirts of Buenos Aires “Talleres de Remedios de Escalada por el Ferrocarril del Sud” particularly on coach n’ RF 6505 (Reservado Familia 6505) ,declared historical masterpiece of 1925 and Nationally important historic building of Argentina with the decrete 1576/2008. Above all, we wanted our central location to be an old museum of antique trains: the perfect, unexpected backdrop to bring that vintage atmosphere to life. The Christmas lights sparkling inside the old trains and the cold, severe, atmosphere outside the carriages. This location was one of the chosen elements to pay homage to the way horror movies used to be made in technique, in rhythm, in performance.That vintage flavor lives mostly in the pacing. This isn’t a film that wants to plunge the audience into outright terror. It wants to recreate discomfort: a slow, disorienting unease that builds through shifts in rhythm as the story moves forward. The real tension isn’t fear itself, but the creeping suspicion that there’s always something more coming. Our creature blurs the line between victim and perpetrator far more uncomfortably than a traditional monster ever could do. The festival circuit has embraced Jingle Hell, and you recently won Best Supporting Actress at the Hollywood Blood Film Festival. What does that specific recognition mean to you, both as an actress and as a producer who helped bring the project to life? A: Best supporting actress? It was a huge surprise which made me extremely happy! In general I love to play villains but, yes, in this case I am the innocent one screaming queen ahahah. Well of course it is a nice incentive to go on with my actress, ideator and producer roles. For me “Jingle Hell” is like a little baby I love …and when there’ s a win or a recognition in a festival I am always really thrilled. We have also been selected to a major festival in Latam but at the moment I can’t say anything re. I am excited!
You have a highly collaborative relationship with actress and writer Stacy Thunes, whom you’ve praised as extraordinary. What makes your partnership so effective when you are writing and acting together?
A: Stacy Thunes is a marvelous actress, writer and human being. I’ve known her for 5 years and we already did a lot together. It was magical. We met in London and we became friends. I wanted her to play Nancy in Behave (her performance was amazing and funny btw) after that we acted together on her project “The Hairdo”. Then we worked together on several horror ideas (we have some pitch decks not yet the scripts) and I wanted her to write based on my original idea for the movie “Ad Memoriam”. She then played Ruth in Jingle Hell. This summer we reviewed a very interesting script together written by an Italian director. Now I want her to be the lead of my next work “The Echoing”. I think the chemistry we have is explosive and we trust each other… very rare nowadays. Let’s put this way I try to do partnership with genuine people. This works. This past summer you worked with writer/ producer Jacob Jamieson and director Luke Mordue on The Claimed.
Can you give us a tease of what horror fans can expect from this new feature?
A: I adored working with them : what an incredible team !! They were very so supportive starting from Jacob Jamieson who was very happy with my self-tape for the role of Lucia Bianchi, Luke Mordue who was very patient and made me feel very comfortable, Amrish Shah, Shane Hedges, Connor Miles, Eva, Natasha Branson, the talented Arianna Provasio and the 2 main actors Nicole Rose D’Arrecca and Timothy Blore I loved acting with them! Bellissimi e bravissimi 🙂 The movie is really cool ! I think horror fans will love it. I can’t tell you a lot about my character. I can say that my Lucia is a lil bit awkward, …and the whole story is pure mystery, nostalgia… and it explores the deep relationship between a man and a woman. Italy, Abruzzo in particular is also a great protagonist. Stay tuned 😉 You recently shifted gears from horror to play the historical biblical figure Maria Di Cleofa in Giovanni 19:26.
What was it like stepping out of the genre space for such a different role, and how was the experience of working alongside actress Cristina Nardelli, actor Nicola Ruscetti and director Angelo Cannella?
A: Awww what an experience! April 2026 :I’ve sent my material to director Angelo Cannella because I watched his movie “None”, a conceptual, niche horror feature I loved. In particular I was captivated and intrigued by Cristina Nardelli’s outstanding performance. The director was very kind and supportive to me. The cast was already decided when I asked to audition but I was anyway able to get the part of Maria di Cleofa later, and it has been a very intense and strong moment for me. It was a real person so I did research about her history and I collected all the possible information about her to be prepared at my best. Acting alongside Cristina Nardelli also helped me a lot, we developed a strong chemistry and we empathize a lot: I think this will be visible in our performances. Also acting with Nicola Ruscetti was a grounded and pleasant experience . I really do believe in something superior called “God”(?) but of course this experience gave me the opportunity to be immersed in the Christian mystery. Andrea Zanella, the actor who plays Jesus, was absolutely extraordinary and it was easier for me to get emotional during the crucifixion scene. Produced by AC Studios, the whole movie is about Jesus’s life through the apostle Giovanni’s eyes. It has been shot in the North of Italy, in Valsesia and surroundings areas, and all the people involved where so supportive and I am so grateful to all of them: l’Associazione Amici del Venerdi’ Santo di Quarona, the make up and costume team, Angela Faccone, Nicole Sala, Alice Marcelli, Davide Spinello, Franco Milesi Stefano Ghellere, Flavia Pezzotti, Marianna Regis Milano, Alice de Meo and all the fabulous people involved. It was very lovely also spending time with the other cast members like Laura Spimpolo, Maria Antonietta Ruotolo, Giulia Facchetti, Paola Bonacina, Italia Laera and all the fab.team.
With two horror features and a vertical drama story currently in pre-production—plus a mysterious new short film on the horizon— how do you manage your time between writing, acting, and producing without losing your creative spark?
A: I want to be super honest with you: it is not easy at all and sometimes it is exhausting. But the good part is that I am doing something I like and that makes me happy: this is a powerful engine. I also manage a B&B in Rome and… trying to take care of everything it’s hard. To dedicate attention and time to everything drains your energy but I am starting to understand how to dose it all and prioritize what’ s necessary. Indeed, I have another acting project in Italy. A short movie of a very talented woman who will direct it. She won a lot of international prizes and I’m very happy to work with her soon
. I can’t say more at this stage
