Monica Bellucci Exclusive Interview
![<p><strong>Is it the same all over the world?</strong></p><p>Yes, of course. In every situation – it can be cinema, it can be fashion, it can be in an everyday office. It’s what happens when you give power to people, and it’s about personalities.</p><p>You can use your power in a good way or a bad way. It’s just about dealing with power. Those people use their power to cover their own sickness.</p><p><strong>What’s the most difficult film you’ve ever been involved in?</strong></p><p>Irréversible … it was difficult but very enriching. And to work with Gaspar Noé was so interesting because he’s such a talented director. It caused quite a scandal when it was released in 2002.</p><p>Yes, a scandal, but today it’s a cult movie. They study this movie in schools of cinema. The way it was made is so special.</p><p><strong>Did it change the kind of role that you were being offered?</strong></p><p>It’s more what kind of roles I [started] looking for. As an actor, the opportunities [are beyond your control], but at the same time your freedom lies in your choice. If you [choose a certain role] it’s because maybe you’re looking for something or there is a part of you – a darkness, maybe – that needs to come out.</p><p><strong>Do you have a favourite of your own films?</strong></p><p>I don’t know; it’s so difficult to say. Maybe L’Appartement, [which] gave me so much. It was my first French movie, it won a BAFTA, and through that film I had the chance to make my first American film, with Morgan Freeman and Gene Hackman, called Under Suspicion.</p><p>And through [Under Suspicion] I could go to Cannes for the first time. It’s incredible how life is strange, and how a mix of coincidences brings you someplace that isn’t [down to] you.</p><p><strong>Which director would you most like to work with?</strong></p><p>Too many. [Laughs] When I say that, I realise how happy I am – I still have a lot of passion for my work, and I still have so much to learn. This makes me feel excited and happy – I feel I want to be in this business.</p><p>And I’m so happy I can lead my life through my work. You’ve defended airbrushing or “retouching” in the past.</p><p><strong>Don’t you think it contributes to unrealistic images of women?</strong></p><p>Of course, when there’s too much it’s not beautiful any more. But things are changing right now … they all understand when retouching is too much. It’s like sometimes when you see publicity from 15 years ago, you see how now it’s completely different.</p><p>The picture looks so old when it’s too retouched. Everybody understands that too much retouching takes the life out of the picture. You can’t recognise the faces any more.</p><p>You’ve said in the past, “Pour moi, tout est politique.”</p><p><strong>What do you mean by this?</strong></p><p>It’s about choices. When you choose to have children, it’s because you’re positive about life. You believe that things can change, that even though things are terrible sometimes you have faith in humanity.</p><p>It’s a beautiful choice that you make as a woman. Well – beautiful or not, it’s a choice of faith.</p><p><strong>What do you make of Emmanuel Macron?</strong></p><p>People like him very much. I don’t vote in France, but I like him. I think he’s bringing something new, a new energy, and so young.</p><p><strong>Do you vote in Italy?</strong></p><p>I vote in Italy … I have different bases – Rome, France, Portugal – but this is the way I’ve always lived. It’s even the way I’ve approached my work – different countries, different directors … if I wanted to make an international career, that’s the only way I [could]. But it’s so interesting for me.</p><p>When I’m with Emir Kusturica, I speak Serbian, when I’m with Bahman Ghobadi I speak Farsi – but of course I don’t speak those languages in real life. It’s just for the movies. But [languages are] so interesting.</p><p><strong>What do you make of Italian politics right now?</strong></p><p>Those in power are somewhat older than Macron – Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, President Sergio Mattarella.</p><p><strong>Where do you feel you stand politically?</strong></p><p>Things right now in Italy are going better. Economically the situation is better right now. We call Italy “il bel paese”, and maybe there is a reason for that.</p><p>And I have to say, when I go around the world, I smile when I say I’m Italian … even though there are so many problems in our country, the attitude of Italian people is beautiful. The theme of this issue of Glass is Timeless.</p><p><strong>What’s the most timeless film you’ve starred in?</strong></p><p>[Thinks for a while] Hmm … Malèna, by Giuseppe Tornatore. It’s about a woman during the Second World War.</p><p><strong>What was it, 2000?</strong></p><p>18 years old already. It doesn’t get old. The film is still very beautiful.</p><p><strong>In your opinion, what makes something timeless?</strong></p><p>It’s difficult to say. Maybe a subject that is the basis of humanity … something that is not about fashion, or the [zeitgeist]. When you see something that is timeless, it touches the soul.</p><p>Consider the Pyramids. They’re timeless, like a film, a book or a painting. They touch your soul.</p>](/_next/image?url=%2Fassets%2Fimg%2Fmonica-bellucci-interview03.jpg&w=3840&q=75&dpl=dpl_Dw72EEAGQHrKgCD8AcnjJVeJx5Fq)
Is it the same all over the world?
Yes, of course. In every situation – it can be cinema, it can be fashion, it can be in an everyday office. It’s what happens when you give power to people, and it’s about personalities.
You can use your power in a good way or a bad way. It’s just about dealing with power. Those people use their power to cover their own sickness.
What’s the most difficult film you’ve ever been involved in?
Irréversible … it was difficult but very enriching. And to work with Gaspar Noé was so interesting because he’s such a talented director. It caused quite a scandal when it was released in 2002.
Yes, a scandal, but today it’s a cult movie. They study this movie in schools of cinema. The way it was made is so special.
Did it change the kind of role that you were being offered?
It’s more what kind of roles I [started] looking for. As an actor, the opportunities [are beyond your control], but at the same time your freedom lies in your choice. If you [choose a certain role] it’s because maybe you’re looking for something or there is a part of you – a darkness, maybe – that needs to come out.
Do you have a favourite of your own films?
I don’t know; it’s so difficult to say. Maybe L’Appartement, [which] gave me so much. It was my first French movie, it won a BAFTA, and through that film I had the chance to make my first American film, with Morgan Freeman and Gene Hackman, called Under Suspicion.
And through [Under Suspicion] I could go to Cannes for the first time. It’s incredible how life is strange, and how a mix of coincidences brings you someplace that isn’t [down to] you.
Which director would you most like to work with?
Too many. [Laughs] When I say that, I realise how happy I am – I still have a lot of passion for my work, and I still have so much to learn. This makes me feel excited and happy – I feel I want to be in this business.
And I’m so happy I can lead my life through my work. You’ve defended airbrushing or “retouching” in the past.
Don’t you think it contributes to unrealistic images of women?
Of course, when there’s too much it’s not beautiful any more. But things are changing right now … they all understand when retouching is too much. It’s like sometimes when you see publicity from 15 years ago, you see how now it’s completely different.
The picture looks so old when it’s too retouched. Everybody understands that too much retouching takes the life out of the picture. You can’t recognise the faces any more.
You’ve said in the past, “Pour moi, tout est politique.”
What do you mean by this?
It’s about choices. When you choose to have children, it’s because you’re positive about life. You believe that things can change, that even though things are terrible sometimes you have faith in humanity.
It’s a beautiful choice that you make as a woman. Well – beautiful or not, it’s a choice of faith.
What do you make of Emmanuel Macron?
People like him very much. I don’t vote in France, but I like him. I think he’s bringing something new, a new energy, and so young.
Do you vote in Italy?
I vote in Italy … I have different bases – Rome, France, Portugal – but this is the way I’ve always lived. It’s even the way I’ve approached my work – different countries, different directors … if I wanted to make an international career, that’s the only way I [could]. But it’s so interesting for me.
When I’m with Emir Kusturica, I speak Serbian, when I’m with Bahman Ghobadi I speak Farsi – but of course I don’t speak those languages in real life. It’s just for the movies. But [languages are] so interesting.
What do you make of Italian politics right now?
Those in power are somewhat older than Macron – Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, President Sergio Mattarella.
Where do you feel you stand politically?
Things right now in Italy are going better. Economically the situation is better right now. We call Italy “il bel paese”, and maybe there is a reason for that.
And I have to say, when I go around the world, I smile when I say I’m Italian … even though there are so many problems in our country, the attitude of Italian people is beautiful. The theme of this issue of Glass is Timeless.
What’s the most timeless film you’ve starred in?
[Thinks for a while] Hmm … Malèna, by Giuseppe Tornatore. It’s about a woman during the Second World War.
What was it, 2000?
18 years old already. It doesn’t get old. The film is still very beautiful.
In your opinion, what makes something timeless?
It’s difficult to say. Maybe a subject that is the basis of humanity … something that is not about fashion, or the [zeitgeist]. When you see something that is timeless, it touches the soul.
Consider the Pyramids. They’re timeless, like a film, a book or a painting. They touch your soul.
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Comments (2)
I just wanna say, that Monica is the best ever female celebrity, I know. Wish you a very Happy and successful life. And the reason that makes me feel a really proud fan of "Monica", is that I have the same date of birth as my Superstar ❤️
Without any doubt, Monica is the best ever celebrity and offcourse the best female superstar for me. Its my wish to you Mam, that may you be blessed with all the success and happiness in your personal as well as the professional life, and be protected from the evil eye forever. The one major reason that made me a proud fan of you is that, I have the same date of birth as my Super Hero "Monica" Lots of love and respect to Signora Monica <3