C.ot one of its more characters complex, Anna Valle returns to TV with a mixture of strength and delicacy, recounting the most incomprehensible pain for a parent: the death of a child.
And that, at the same time, it must putting together the pieces of his existence, which seems to have shattered after the loss of the baby she was carrying. It is about Lea Castelli, a nurse who returns to her job in the pediatric ward of the Ferrara hospital after a long period of leave; protagonist of Lit’s at – A new dayfiction broadcast from 8 February tonight for 4 evenings on Rai1.
In addition to these two tragedies, there is also the problem that her ex-husband (Giorgio Pasotti) became the new head of the pediatric ward. Just the one where she works too.
Anna Valle and her alter ego, Lea Castelli
Does your Lea Castelli look like you in any way or is she a woman you feel different from you?
We have things in common, of course, and others less so. We both have a strong empathy towards the people around us, in his case towards children. Our biggest difference, however, is that she is not passionate about music, while I am very much. Not that she has any knowledge of who knows how deep, but I love to listen to her during my days. She gives me rhythm, gives me energy, charges me or relaxes me. I also take her to the set: she is a great playmate.
Which genre do you love to listen to? I imagine you a classical musician.
No, far from it! I’m crazy for rock music, and I like to range from Skunk Anansie, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Mumford & Sons… Rock musicians are great ballad authors with great depth, I think of the band Florence and the machine, like many others. But even the hardest rockers, like Nirvana or Metallica, have written very beautiful lyrics ».
Anna Valle and Giorgio Pasotti at the photocall of “Lea – A New Day” at Rai Viale Mazzini on February 07, 2022 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Elisabetta A. Villa / Getty Images)
In your style you are always very bon ton, but is your rock soul also reflected in your looks?
Absolutely yes. It is not said that because you like rock you have to dress with belts and a bandana, but you can add touches to a sober, everyday look: I really like to wear bikers, or a biker jacket, or a slightly rock bracelet. , with some studs. Even the great designers often add touches of rock to the most classic clothes ».
Anna Valle as a pediatric nurse
You play a nurse, but how did you learn the gestures of this profession?
In the work of the actress the first thing to learn is to observe the people around you and “learn” from them. And often we don’t even have to go too far: in Lea’s case, everyone has had to deal with hospitals or medical staff. Then, to deepen her gestures, some nurses helped me to use tools that she uses daily. Finally, during the filming, a doctor stayed with us explaining how things were said correctly, but understandable to the public.
Actors hate this question, but did any anecdote happen on set that you want to tell us?
As soon as I arrived on the set, together with my “fellow” nurses, we would dance and sing like crazy for a few minutes, all together. It was our pre-shooting ritual, which charged us and eased the tension of scenes that were perhaps a bit heavy to shoot. Then we also involved the other people of the troupe, the director – who is very nice and helped out – but also Giorgio (Pasotti), etc… It was our collective superstitious ritual !.
Anna and her “colleagues” nurses (and dancers). (Photo Pierfrancesco Bruni)
The fiction also touches on very delicate themes: racism, adoptions, even the death or illness of children. How important is it not to make these social issues taboo but to talk about them openly?
I think it is essential. I am convinced that talking about things – not just problems – always does and just fine. And I mean everything: from teaching your child how to handle something, to talking about a personal aspect that could become a problem … The important thing is to do it constructively.
Filming in time of Covid
What was it like filming in Covid time?
Complicated, because there were several protocols to be respected. However, in the end, a protected microcosm is created between the actors and the workers, in which you work peacefully. We actors take off our masks when we shoot, but the people around us always wear them. In the past, until recently, many intimate scenes of kisses or hugs have been cut if deemed superfluous, to expose the actors to even less risk.
You have two children, Ginevra, born in 2008 and Leonardo, born in 2013. How did they live this period?
For Leonardo, who was in first grade when the pandemic broke out, it was difficult to approach, but now he knows all the rules well and is extremely autonomous. Ginevra was in sixth grade, and she will finish this school cycle still under a pandemic: no going out with friends, no parties, no pajama parties … Children have the great ability to adapt to everything, but now they are very tired, and I’m not just talking about mine sons. I’m afraid this will leave a mark on our kids’ lives, regardless of their age.
Anna Valle at the “Lea – A new day” photocall. (Getty Images)
The children and notoriety
What relationship do they have with your fame? They are jealous, proud, they get angry.
They are quite used to it, it is not a strange thing for them. Of course, if I am with them I tend to go to places where our family serenity is not disturbed, but sometimes it happens that someone asks me for a photo. In the past, a funny thing happened: they wanted to take the picture with me, but I explained that they couldn’t – I didn’t want their face to be seen – and they replied: “But why can you take the photo and we can’t?”.
You don’t have social media, but do you also ban your daughter from them?
Ginevra has a cell phone, especially in this period she needs to stay in touch with her friends. But she doesn’t have social media. This is an aspect that must be managed with maturity and calmly. Fortunately, it is not something he is thrilled to have, also because Ulysses and I (Lendaro, her husband, ed) we explained the difficulties of managing a social network. With her, as her parents we have her antennae raised about her, without ever giving her the feeling of anxiety, but stimulating her to talk about what she feels about her. Her relationship with our children is very peaceful and open.
What mother do you try to be?
I think I’m a pretty friendly mother, but with that authority that a mother must have. In short, I’m certainly not a best friend. But my daughter knows she can tell me everything. And I do everything to be a present mother, even if my work often takes me far.
Beautiful at the Sanremo Festival 2022. (Getty Images)
And Miss Italy has also changed
You won Miss Italy in 1995. For a couple of years the contest has changed: on February 13, 2022 it will be broadcast not on TV but in streaming, even talking about not letting girls in costume parade… What do you think?
I think it is right to adapt to the times and to the perception of the moment we are living, more attentive to the exposure of the female body … But let’s remember that it is a beauty contest and this is the discriminating factor for which every girl will be evaluated. Like it or not, the aesthetic question has to be there.
Before leaving, tell me a professional dream, the first that comes to mind.
In my career I have played many characters, most of which are always very positive, loyal, respectable. But, now, I’d like to play a controversial one, with a thousand contradictions… I dream of a character who has another type of color. Indeed, do you know what it is? I would like to experience the real challenge of playing, for once, a very bad person, who is the (secret) dream of every actor! ».
iO Donna © REPRODUCTION RESERVED