Sara Drago from “Call My Agent – Italy” to “Outside the truth”. The interview – iO Donna

SI had just moved to Romea few years ago, when, to his great surprise, she was selected to join the cast of the TV series Call My Agent – ​​Italy. She came to the audition after many well-known actresses, and it seemed impossible for her to pass. Instead she was taken and “her” Lea, who in the original French Dix pour cent era Andréa Martel played by Camille Cottintook on a life of its own and became another woman.

From that first season (lhe third is arriving on Sky and Now from 14 November) the life of Sara Drago, 36 years old, has completely changed. He had the opportunity to access other auditions, “with more tools”, he says, and he had the means to invest in himself. At the same time she managed not to abandon the theatre, from which she came, and continued it with balance together with TV and cinema.

In The truth is outby Davide Minnella (at the cinema from 6 November)Sara is Jessica, the author of a brand new game show that offers a million euros as a prize for those who manage to never lie. A family participates in the game – with Claudio Amendola and Claudia Gerini in the roles of parents – while Claudia Pandolfi is a cynical presenter.

Sara Drago, from TV to Theater to Cinema

For all the protagonists, the program is a gamble to win. How?
For those who work behind the scenes, like Jessica, the new TV quiz is the professional opportunity of a lifetime; there is anxiety, excitement but also fear that it could be a flop. For the competitors it is a leap into the void, and it will turn into a game of slaughter.

What do you think of the theme the film explores, that is, whether or not to tell the truth, always and in any case?
In this historical moment in which we are bombarded with lies, and surrounded by carnival characters, I believe that truly understanding who we are is also a way to accept the responsibility of taking a stand. It is true that sometimes we lie more to our loved ones, because we are afraid of losing them and, if we really expose ourselves, we fear betraying expectations of us. But today we should try to tell as few lies as possible to ourselves and to the people we love. As for my personal relationship with the truth, I have been doing therapy since I was 27; investigating myself is something I experience all the time. Only if you dig deeper can you grasp some form of truth. Otherwise we end up, unconsciously, lying to ourselves too.

Has he been in analysis since then?
No, at the age of 27 I started to approach therapy, I tried different ones, even unconventional ones. Now yes, I’m in analysis and, speaking of truth, I’m doing a good job of digging into myself. In this profession it is important, otherwise you risk pouring too many of your own things into the character, you are not doing the story a good service.

Is there an arrival point on this journey?
No, it doesn’t have an end. There can be urgency, when you are sick and need immediate help. But there is also maintenance, which means moving forward with serenity when you are better and can discover things about yourself that you cannot face in difficult moments. Maybe stop for a while and move forward independently with your own tools. If I look to the future I think I will always continue, because I care.

She became famous for her role as Lea, in Call My Agent – ​​Italy. How does the character evolve in the third season?
At the beginning we find her dealing with the mourning of the loss of Elvira, important for everyone in the agency and in particular for her; she had acted as her guide (Elvira was played by Marzia Ubaldi, who passed away in 2023, ed.). Lea does not close herself in the pain and interprets the message that Elvira leaves her as an opportunity to relaunch. This is a season of surprises, desires cast across the sea and overwhelming news at home. He will ask big questions, about himself and about the future. For me, it was a great opportunity to deal with the depth of the character.

What was it like filming for the third time with the same people?
Very beautiful, even if it coincided with a difficult period, due to very personal issues. It was interesting to see how the things that happen to you in life have points of contact with what happens to the character, what you can give of your own, and what isn’t needed. It was a bit complicated, but they helped me. We are now a very good team, we work like a theater company. On the other hand, many of us come from the theater; I think of Maurizio Lastrico, Sara Lazzaro, Michele di Mauro.

Last summer he participated in a theatrical artistic residency at the Italian Cultural Institute in Paris. What did he work on?
On texts by contemporary authors sent to me by the playwright Monica Capuani. I have done some research and will return in the spring. Theatrical residency is fundamental for a project, especially if there is no production structure behind it. Independent companies are born and live on residencies.

Are you able to reconcile TV and cinema with theatre?
Yes, I am carrying them forward in a balanced way. I’m resuming the tour of Truffle by Molière and on New Year’s Eve I will be in Milan, at the Teatro Fontana. Meanwhile, I continue with the writing of one of my fictional characters, the homeless Libero Cobes. But the theater doesn’t feed you, and it’s very difficult.

She started right from the stage, after studying at the Accademia dei Filodrammatici, in Milan. But his career took a leap with Call My Agent – ​​Italy. How did you experience it?
Lea is one of the most beautiful female roles written in Italy for I don’t know how many years, she burst into my life and changed it. Not only from an economic point of view but because now I have more tools to access auditions, to invest in work, travel, study and support my team.

How was she chosen to play Lea?
Comparing myself with Camille Cottin for the character of a series that I had loved so much was something enormous. I knew that most of the well-known Italian actresses had been auditioned. It all seemed so absurd to me that I thought: I’ll go, I’ll try to give it my all, they’ll never take me anyway. I think I jumped in with a certain amount of recklessness, fun and freedom which helped.

She had just arrived in Rome from Muggiò (MB), where she had grown up. Why this choice?
It was one of those moments where you shed your skin. I couldn’t stand Muggiò anymore, I had ended a love relationship, left a company. The choice to come to Rome made me turn two or three tables in my life. I packed my bags and left. Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to be an actress. At the Academy I understood that it would be my professional path. I am lucky to have such a strong calling.

Next goals?
I would like to be calm, continue learning. I would like to work abroad, meet artists who come from far away and braver ways of writing than here, and be able to choose a project in which to be useful.

I know he does aerobatics. It seems very difficult.
Hand! You just need training, in the gym there are women of all ages and body types. We are a group of friends, we hang in the hoop, it’s super fun and healthy. If she practiced, she would also be surprised to find herself on the hoop.

Other free time activities?
I draw, I love singing, dancing. I am among the people I love. I like to cultivate relationships, and I cultivate my Roman elective family a lot.

Is she still engaged?
No.