Born in 92, Neapolitan by origin, Antonio Buono lends his face to Mimi, an affiliate of the Villa clan, in the successful and highly anticipated prequel “Gomorrah – The Origins”, proving to be a discovery and a promise in the Italian acting scene.
The series, directed by Marco D'Amore and Francesco Ghiaccio, launched exclusively on January 9th on Sky and streaming on the Now platform, It is set in Naples in the 70s and tells the story of the rise to criminal power of Don Pietro Savastano., a key face of “Gomorrah – The series”, based on the book of the same name by Roberto Saviano.
The Neapolitan actor told our pages how the opportunity to take part in the series came about, how the casting took place and how he reacted when he received the official news that he had been hired in the artistic cast.I was still a student at the academy when I was called to participate in the casting for Gomorrah: The Origins. On that occasion, I also met Alessia Foraggio, Davide Zurolo's casting assistant. I'd like to start by saying that Davide, Alessia, and Egidio Giordano did a phenomenal job: without them, I wouldn't be here telling you all this. has explained – Alessia told me to show up in front of the camera and asked me to recite a monologue in Neapolitan.
In a certain sense, it was a surprise, because no one knew I had to recite a passage; everyone thought it was just a video presentation. But since I'm a study maniac, I had fortunately prepared two monologues, one in Italian and one in Neapolitan dialect. Apparently, I did well, because a month later I was called back for a callback, and from that moment on, my audition process began. From July to December 2024, I auditioned for 7 or 8 times.
It was a really intense period, full of emotions, I still struggle to explain everything I felt: I only know that it was wonderful – and continued “They called me in for a meeting, telling me it would be yet another costume fitting, and when I walked into the office, there were, I think, more than ten people sitting at a table: the two directors, the assistant directors, the casting directors, and some of the production staff. Then they confirmed I'd been chosen: it was the best moment of my entire life. I cried like a baby in the dressing room for the costume fitting. I remember Francesco Pellegrino coming into the dressing room and we hugged each other so tightly. I felt a mix of emotions that I still can't explain today.”
He then let it slip some background information on the preparation of his character, explaining how he worked off the cuff with the directors and how he approached the experience on set with his colleagues: “My character required a lot of preparation and a lot of introspective work.
I worked a lot in the lab with Marco D'Amore, but also a lot outside of it. I asked myself so many questions about the reason behind every gesture, every behavior, every action of Mimì's: I study a lot, and for me it was a constant discovery. I reread the script countless times to make sure I found the right path, and clearly Marco was instrumental in this journey.
When you play a character like this, there are many challenges, especially when your character, in scenes, performs actions and behaviors that are completely out of character. Mimì is the opposite of Antonio; they probably only have the good side, the human side, in common. Marco D'Amore and Francesco Ghiaccio mean so much to me; I respect them immensely. They're not just my mentors, but above all, friends. They've taught me so much. I feel truly fortunate to have had the privilege of working with two such brilliant minds.
The work we did was long, intense, and tiring, but it's thanks to them that everything came naturally. They accompanied me on this journey and gave me the opportunity to meet wonderful people, both crew and cast. My colleagues became my greatest friends; working with all these people was the greatest joy I could have ever experienced.
Together with Francesco Pellegrino, Ciro Burzo, Luigi Cardone, and Renato Russo, I had a divine experience, and they continue to be a part of my life, thank goodness. Luca Lubrano, Mattia Cozzolino, Junior Rodriguez, Antonio Del Duca, and Antonio Incalza are the younger brothers I never had; they brought immense joy to the set, in addition to being very young actors with extraordinary talent. Anna, Noemi, Onorina, Fabiola, Tullia, and Carmen are extraordinary actresses and people.”
He paid particular attention to the costume department: “I think we did an impeccable job. The costume department, like all departments, paid super attention to every little detail. And those costumes were so magnetic that just putting them on made you feel like you were in another era.”
The series, for the historical, social, and cultural context in which it is set, as well as for the skill and authenticity of the costumes, is also confirmed to be period. For this reason, Antonio Buono explained how he approached a screenplay focused on the Camorra dynamics emerging in the 70s, artistically interspersing himself with a character coming from that context“Immersing myself in the 70s was magical for me, obviously I haven't lived in them for years and thanks to “Gomorra – Le Origini” I was able to breathe in that time – said – I did a lot of research before arriving on set for my first day. I needed to study people's behavior, lifestyle, and how they spoke.
I've read a lot and watched many documentaries about that historical period. Entering a criminal context, however, was very complex. We hear so many stories about crime on television, the internet, and social media, but the reality is much more complex. This experience has allowed me to see with my own eyes that, unfortunately, there are people who act that way and who truly live that kind of life, and I, who am sensitive and feel everything intensely, feel great sadness. It truly breaks my heart.
Hooking on to these last words, He sent a social message to those who, not in fiction but in real life, follow Mimì's dangerous path: “Life is a wonderful gift, don't waste it! You can always choose, choose the good. This world needs love, especially in these somewhat dark times.”
A human and professional experience that leaves behind a suitcase full of experience and precious teachings: “I understood that you must never stop, you must continuously study to always be up to par, always keeping your feet on the ground, but dreaming big.” Being resilient, persevering, and dreaming turns out to be the key to success, especially in the darkest periods of one's life, when practical needs call and dreams seem distant and unattainable.
Antonio knows this well: he emigrated abroad to seek his fortune, working hard to realize his ambitions, despite daily life's challenges. Based on his experience, he offers this advice to young people aspiring to an acting career: “Dream, dream big! You have to believe in yourself because nothing is impossible. We are all made of flesh, blood, and bone.”
Now his dream has come true, but Antonio himself says it: you have to dream big and never stop, which is why he revealed his wishes for his professional future: “My dream is to be able to work overseas, I'm studying English for this very reason and I hope to get there one day.
As my father always says, the world is made one stone at a time. Working with Nolan or maybe Tarantino would definitely be a dream for me that I wouldn't want to wake up from for anything in the world – and concluded – I am attracted to characters with complex psychological characteristics, roles that allow me to step outside myself, exploring new inner worlds.”
Rome – Loyalties put to the test, dreams shattered by the reality of the street, and a destiny seemingly written in blood. Tomorrow, Friday, February 6th, the curtain falls on Gomorrah - The Origins, the Sky Original series produced by Sky Studios and Cattleya that recounts the genesis of the criminal legend created…
È "Gomorrah - The Origins" the prequel series that is convincing and winning over Sky viewers, episode after episode, increasing its share and reaching a catchment area of 660 thousand viewers.
A clear sign that, after years, the public has shown curiosity in knowing the origins of the iconic characters of "Gomorrah - The Series", based on the novel of the same name by Roberto Saviano.
Naples – It all began in a city plagued by smuggling, at a time when organized crime was on the verge of a resurgence. On January 9th, Gomorrah – The Origins, the highly anticipated prequel to the crime saga that has conquered over 190 territories worldwide, will debut on Sky and stream on Now. Returning to Naples in 1977…
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Comments (1)
The article is very interesting and tells Antonio Buono's story well, but there are some parts that are unclear. For example, it's unclear how he prepared his character and what challenges he faced. However, I enjoy seeing young talent emerge in this industry.