Sergio Assisi: “Enough Capri, ask me more questions!! ”

DActor and director Sergio Assisi recently posted a clear and direct message on his Instagram Stories: he is tired of receiving questions about his performance in the series Capri and invites fans to "turn the page", proposing different topics of conversation.

This episode highlights a common phenomenon among actors who, tied for years to a highly successful character, risk being permanently identified with that role, to the detriment of their artistic versatility. The most famous case in Italy is that of Luca Zingaretti, whose image as Salvo Montalbano remains so strong that it obscures any other interpretation of his in the eyes of the public.

The episode on Instagram

On the evening of June 28, 2025, through a series of Stories on his official profile, @sergioassisi, the actor expressed evident annoyance at the constant questions about his experience in Capri, the Rai fiction in which he starred between 2006 and 2008. In a short video, Assisi declared:

"I understand the affection and curiosity for Capri, but the years pass, I have made many other projects. Please, let's change the subject: ask me something else!" (Instagram.com)

Immediately after, he invited followers to ask him questions about films, theatre, future projects or personal passions, loudly asking to “turn the page” and look beyond the character of Umberto del Galiano.

The connection with Capri

The television series Capri, produced by Rai Fiction and broadcast on Rai Uno, was a huge success thanks to its cast – including Sergio Assisi in the role of Umberto del Galiano – and the splendid scenery of the Campania island. However, the notoriety it acquired generated a strong bond between the actor and his character, so much so that, years later, many fans continue to identify Assisi solely with that role.

The Effect of “Typecasting”

The phenomenon of an actor being constrained in the collective imagination to a single type of role is known as “typecasting.” While it can guarantee notoriety and similar job offers, it often limits creative opportunities and forces artists to struggle to prove their abilities in other contexts.

Long-term consequences

• Overexposure of a single character: any subsequent project is judged in light of the most famous role.
• Difficulty of renewal: changes in register or experiments may be greeted with skepticism by the public.
• Forced professional image: Casting directors may offer roles that are too similar, reducing the variety of offerings.

The Case of Luca Zingaretti

An emblematic example of this mechanism is Luca Zingaretti, whose face has become inextricably linked to that of Inspector Montalbano since 1999.

In several interviews, Zingaretti himself confessed to feeling "trapped" by the image of the character and having to continually underline his identity as an actor outside of the famous fiction.

The ironic invitation by Sergio Assisi to his fans to “turn the page” is an important reminder about the balance between television success and artistic growth. Overcoming the prejudice of typecasting means recognizing the versatility of actors and appreciating them not only for the role that made them famous, but also for all the facets of their career, from theater to cinema, from directing to writing.