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Giovanni Maini: “Now I want to become good”

This article, in an abridged version, is published in number 16 of Vanity Fair on newsstands until April 20, 2021

It is not easy to interview her. Do you know why?
«Because I have done few things. And I have already told myself a little … ».

The “few things” he refers to Giovanni Maini are the eight episodes of the successful first season of Summertime, a Netflix series that tells the sentimental deeds of a group of boys under the umbrellas of the Romagna beaches, in which he plays Edoardo.

For the moment, that’s where we saw it. But let’s say admired. And if it seems too much to have to wait for June to find him in the second season, in the meantime we can find out in the new role he plays for the series Nudes, from 20 April on Rai Play, which investigates the – unfortunately topical – theme of revenge porn.

Then you understand me. The interview is in his hands. Biographical notes: born in 2000 in Bologna.
“Born and raised, yes. I’m fine there, even if maybe it’s not the right city for the job I’ve decided to do. I wanted to go to Rome to attend an Academy, but then the pandemic… I want to study, anyway. I want to prepare myself well ».

Often young people after the first success feel they have already arrived.
“I started with the best I could do as a beginner: a series on a worldwide platform, with a nice character. And a sufficient level of acting ».

It seems too modest to me.
“Nobody complained, let’s say.”

Let’s just say they liked it a lot.
“Yes, but now is the time to enable myself to do things right, with awareness.”

Because they took it for Summertime, in your opinion?
“Did they see anything?” In the 10 auditions I did, they guessed the room for improvement that was in me, perhaps ».

I read that it was her mom who pushed her to do her first audition, though I wanted to hide. Which, however, did not go well.
“It was a bit fictional. He didn’t push me, he just knew I like cinema, he read on facebook that they were auditioning and he told me. That’s all”.

You have to thank her a little, right?
“I would thank you anyway, regardless of the auditions.”

Is it a typical Bolognese?
“I don’t know what that means.”

He’s right. You know, it is said that the Bolognese know how to have fun.
«But yes, I’m calm. I like to do balotta. Bologna is the perfect size for a young person ».

He spent his summers on the Riviera, as in Summertime?
“Enough, I know that world. And then I have my grandparents from Romagna: one from Ravenna and one from Cesena, where I was studying Biomedical Engineering ».

Was he studying?
“I think it’s not my way, you know? I decided to let it go. I’d like to pay my rent and dinner by being an actor. ‘

Actors earn even more, I think.
“That would be enough at the moment.”

With the pandemic, he hasn’t really enjoyed the success of Summertime.
«What arrived was enough for me: people are starting to recognize me around, they ask for photos…».

She likes?
“I don’t mind, but I don’t live off that. I like being an actor more than being one ».

What ambitions does he have, really?
“After the TV series, now I would like to make a film.”

One would expect more swagger from a 20-year-old.
“I’m very humble at work. I think it’s a question of education, it’s not something you take off. And then there is my life, which is something else ».

Here, let’s talk about it. How is?
“Funny. I have a lot of friends. Now we are creating a sort of collective of artists, an association, between painters, cartoonists, sculptors, tattoo artists ».

On Instagram it is called Amolamiadonna.
“There is always a woman to love in life. The mother, the sister… ».

When he joined Instagram who was the woman in question?
“Neither mother nor sister.”

In his photos on instagram there are never captions. It says, but it does not say.
“I don’t like exposing myself too much, giving myself too much.”

How did you experience this year of lockdown?
“I’m a bit of a nomad by nature, I don’t like being at home very much. I’m staying with my girlfriend now. ‘

Are you already living at the age of twenty?
«We have known each other for a long time…».

Do you take care of the things of the house?
“Just as much as you need.”

In an instagram photo she wears a long skirt. For young people of your generation, is the issue of gender fluid so important?
“In reverse. But let me explain: gender fluidity is experienced as a normal thing, of which there is really no need to talk, it is so natural and obvious. The previous generation perhaps talks a lot about it because they still have something to clarify about it ».

Something troubling has become normal: how did it happen?
“I think people have finally realized that ways of thinking that have always been the same as themselves, weren’t necessarily right.”

Maybe I was prejudiced, but do you know it’s not what one would expect?
«A role, an instagram profile, an article, are not enough to understand who a person really is. It’s normal”.

If you asked your girlfriend what Giovanni is like, what would she answer?
“I do not know. Let’s not ask him ».

How do you see it 10 years from now?
«In the meantime, better than now. In 10, I will be 31: you have to do things before turning 31! “.

For example?
“Anything that can be done. A movie. A short film. Maybe going to live in Milan. I hate planning ».
If it had been me, what would he have asked himself?
A very long silence.
“And then you ask me?”

I may not even ask him.
Another silence, even longer.

Do you see it then? It is not easy to interview her.

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