Giorgia Surina: “If at 40 you want to have a child alone”

Giorgia Surina: everyone is looking for it, everyone wants it. The former MTV veejay historian (you remember her in the days of TRL with Marco Maccarini?), today a film and TV actress and radio speaker, has just published her first book (published by Giunti). She is entitled It will be easier for two to stay awake and thinks about the theme of motherhood, in particular turning the spotlight on the practice of medically assisted procreation, still considered a taboo in our country and not accessible to single women. The protagonists of the novel are two friends in their forties (Giorgia Surina is 47) who, after bitter disappointments in love, understand that they longing for a child and perhaps not wanting to wait in vain for the famous prince charming in fairy tales. Hence the beginning of the path with the pma. We called Giorgia Surina, very busy with the live presentations in the bookstore and enthusiastic since her first time as a writer.

When and how was the inspiration for this novel born?
“About 3 years ago, chatting with a dear friend. She told me that if on the threshold of 40 she had not found a partner she would have tried to have a child alone. Those words stuck in my head. I asked myself: if it happened to two friends to have this desire at the same time, what would happen? Hence the start of the novel ».

How much autobiographical is there in this book?
«There are no episodes that really happened, but I can say that many of the moods and fears of the protagonists are also mine, today and yesterday. It is useless to go around it: at a certain age we women ask ourselves questions, it is natural for them to surface. Many readers confirmed it to me, writing to me on social networks how much they had identified with the events, but above all in the emotions of the protagonists “.

How did you work on writing this book, since it is your first time as a writer?
«I have always been guided by instinct and I have never followed a routine or a fixed pattern. I have always visualized the scenes as the images of a film, crystallizing them in the writing and proceeding according to the inspiration, in an autonomous and enthralling way. How many times have I been unable to sleep because I imagined a scene with my eyes open. And then I would get up, take some “belly” notes and in the morning I would start writing pages. Consider that the book was born during the lockdown, so with a lot of time to think “.

How would you describe your current state of mind?
«Undoubtedly of great enthusiasm. You must know that I like to take on new challenges and building something of my own, from A to Z, is an exciting first vote. For me, who have done bungee jumping, the feeling is more or less that of jumping into the void: you don’t know what awaits you, but you are sure it will be super adrenaline and unforgettable. If it is true that in the course of my career I have faced very important arenas in front of crowds of people, I have always been directed by someone else, necessarily having to follow directions. With this book I give a part of myself to the readers. And, above all, I am thrilled to know that I was able to spark a debate ».

Was it his intention to do so?
«I would say that it was a priority objective for me. The story is made up and I hope you like it of course, but I wanted the book to have a social utility as well. Law 40 on assisted procreation is very tranchant and there are too many women in our country who miss an opportunity for motherhood, wanting it very much “.

Female friendship is undoubtedly another main theme of the book. What role do friends play in her life?
“I didn’t have a sister and part of me would have wanted her so badly. I grew up with a brother and for a number of events I have always had male friends. That’s why the very few friends I have are the most precious to me. I cultivate these relationships, because only a friend can reflect you like a mirror, bringing out the truth of who you are. Female friendship celebrates a true elective affinity and makes you grow ».

Her career began when she was very young. Do you regret any of your past career choices?
«It seems strange to say, but when I started with MTV on the one hand I didn’t realize what was happening, so much so it happened in an unexpected way, like a wonderful gift of fate. On the other hand, despite being very young, I was fully aware of the power and exceptional nature of my career. I have absolutely no regrets about the past, I only have a moment at the sliding doors. At one point in my life, while I was living in London, I was made an incredible offer by MTV, with the TRL program in Piazza Duomo in Milan with Marco Maccarini. I loved London very much – it is the city of my heart – but I knew I had to seize the opportunity and I returned to Italy. Sometimes I ask myself: what if I stayed in my beloved London? Which then went well, but life is also made up of “but ifs” ».

What do you have in common with the protagonists of your novel?
«Let’s say that with my riding bipolarism (bursts out laughing * ed), I put something of myself in both the protagonists of the story, who in fact represent my two ways of living. There is Gaia who like me is very anchored to the past, to memories, to what she no longer has. And then there is Bea who is fast, active, projected into the future. They are the two different personalities that coexist in me ».

On social media we see that his parents are an example of a long-lived and happy couple. What is the biggest lesson they have taught you?
«They are masters: a life of lessons, the one with them. Dad has a worse temper than mine, Mum is tough and sweet at the same time, a supporting column, very solid on the outside, tender on the inside. My father taught me the values ​​of responsibility, fairness and truth. My mother the ability to appreciate life and to move forward with enthusiasm and resilience even in difficult moments ».

An indelible memory with them?
«For some time now, the only gifts I’ve given my parents have been travel, experiences to be enjoyed together. And I have this image in my mind, which is a photograph I took: my father and my mother in New York with their noses up, looking at the skyscrapers, hand in hand, as they always do, even if they may have just had a fight. 10 minutes earlier. I grew up in a modest family, ours was a council house in a very normal neighborhood of Corsico, just outside Milan. But thanks to the values ​​and warmth of my parents, I never lacked for anything. Indeed, I have had the most beautiful gifts to grow up happy and safe ».

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