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.
The fiction, set in Naples in the 70s, not only portrays the youth of the well-known serial characters but also offers some new ones, just like Rosalba 'the Chinese, played by Carmen Signoriello, a young Neapolitan actress who is making her debut, and who told us how her passion for acting was born and how she was selected for the role: “Since I was a child I have had a passion for cinema and acting.
I discovered it thanks to my uncle Ciro, who, sadly, is no longer with us. He lived with me at home and made me watch lots of films: arthouse films, Nanni Noy's "Scugnizzi," fantasy films, action films, and even Tim Burton films," he explained. "I took my first steps in 2022 with my first year of theater for the "Arrevuoto" project, a theater and pedagogy project I'm particularly fond of because that's where it all began.
While studying theater, I discovered the auditions held at the Nest for the series. I had absolutely no idea it was Gomorrah. I passed the first round of auditions and then met Marco D'Amore. I was scared but also excited, as I was working for the first time with a professional I'd only seen on screen. I auditioned for five more, and then I was officially chosen.
When I was told, I didn't have the courage to cry in front of Marco and the casting director. I held firm, and once I left, I burst into tears of joy downstairs. I called my father and brothers and cried all the way home, I couldn't control myself. It's an important memory for me, because I felt trusted with such a big project."
Given the series' fame and longevity, it was inevitable for Carmen to become a spectator before becoming an actress. For this very reason, she explained the emotion with which she made this transition: I was a fan of the series, I watched it, but not obsessively. It was such a distant project for me that I absolutely didn't believe I could be a part of it: for this very reason, I treated this experience like a dream. I couldn't believe I'd be part of such an ambitious project, coming from a public housing project and a working-class neighborhood like Milan..
Below, he revealed the sensations he felt on set, delving into the way he worked in synergy with Marco D'Amore and Francesco Ghiaccio, the two directors: “I christened the set! My scene was on the first day of filming, and I was so excited, but Marco D'Amore immediately reassured me and gave me complete confidence to shoot the scene. I remember the day I started very well.
My relationship with Marco D'Amore was almost like a father-daughter relationship. On set, he treated me like his own: he often said, "My daughter, please, let's have fun today, don't worry." I also remember a very significant episode: I suffer from type 1 diabetes, and when I was supposed to shoot the dessert scene, Marco called me because he was worried about the sugar issue. This episode gives you a clear idea of what Marco was and was like on set: a truly wonderful person.
I never would have imagined that a working-class girl from Milan could interact with such masters and, more importantly, develop such a friendship with Marco D'Amore. If ten years ago someone had said to me, "Bet me 20 euros that in ten years you'll be making Gomorrah?", I wouldn't have bet a cent. And yet, here I am today.
The relationship with my colleagues was wonderful: I immediately bonded with all the actors on set, and after screening the first two episodes, I even bonded with those I'd never worked with before. This was also thanks to the character, who is very likeable.
It was also wonderful working with Francesco Ghiaccio. If I had to tell you about a scene that was particularly difficult for me, I can share an anecdote: I couldn't say a simple "no." On that occasion, Marco took me aside and asked me if I was nervous or if something was wrong. I was actually calm: I just couldn't say that line. In the end, Marco told me to cut it.
Going into the character's pectore, she identified the traits that she has in common with her character, explaining in depth how she interspersed herself with a young woman from the 70s and how she approached the costume department: My character, 'A Cinese, and I have many things in common: cunning, shrewdness, and a love for people. Carmen, like 'A Cinese, is someone who places great importance on love and friendship; these elements helped me right away. I saw a lot of myself in this character and loved it, without ever experiencing any kind of conflict in portraying it on stage.
I actually used that trick often as a child: because of my diabetes, I ate in secret and didn't want to be caught. It's a very "Chinese" thing. The work of adaptation and documentation required to bring to life a girl who grew up in the poverty and complexity of 1970s Naples was also very interesting. I loved the '70s, even though those of us who didn't live through that era have mostly musical references and handed down stories. Precisely for this reason, I loved them even more. By listening to my father tell me about the difficulties of that period, I truly understood what it meant to live in those conditions.
He often spoke to me about the hunger there was: for example, he told me that when he went to buy Nutella, he bought it loose. The lady at the delicatessen would take the bread wrapper and smear it with Nutella, maybe for 100 or 200 lire, and she told me that at home they ended up eating the wrapper too. This gives a good idea of the conditions at the time.
As for the costumes, however, everything was fantastic: I loved the colors of those years and especially the music. I'm a huge fan of '70s and '80s music, bands like Funkadelic, Pink Floyd, and The Who, which I listen to often thanks to my brother, who constantly bombards me with music. The work done by the set and costume designers was masterful: recreating that era and seeing it represented was truly exciting. I often talk to my father, and he also confirms how accurate the level of detail in the setting is."
For those who intend to pursue a career in acting, professional life often collides with personal life, and acting and reality merge. Characters invade, interpenetrate, complement, teach, and challenge, bringing actors face to face with themselves, revealing their most sensitive, touching, and hidden aspects.
Carmen knows this well and, therefore, she decided to share an extremely precious and emotional memory from the set: “The most beautiful and emotional moment was when I finished shooting my scenes and said goodbye to the set. I burst into tears, while everyone in the room applauded me, and I kept asking myself, ‘What did I do that was so special to deserve all this?’ At that moment I thanked my mother, who is no longer with us, and my uncle, who introduced me to the world of cinema when I was little. I will never stop thanking them. It’s a real shame that today they can’t share and enjoy my joys.”
For such a young and promising girl, taking part in such a project represents a great opportunity, not only professionally but also personally and communicatively. “Gomorrah – The Origins” It clearly illustrates the criminal rise of very young boys, often abandoned to their difficulties and their contexts.
To the kids who in real life risk falling into this risky vortex, Carmen openly suggested: I come from a working-class background, as I've already said, and so I know these dynamics very well. To the young people who choose to embark on a difficult path, I want to say: would you really want to spend five, six, ten years in prison, unable to enjoy the simple joys of life? A sunset, a dip in the sea, the happiness of being with your parents during the holidays. Think about what it means to make a parent suffer, knowing they're in prison or, even worse, in prison.
If you were parents, how would you feel? I hope young people never lose their determination for life. There's so much strength in them, but sometimes it gets diverted in the wrong direction. Be curious, don't become anyone's pawn, because those who choose that life end up being just pawns in the service of a system much bigger than themselves.
“This experience taught me a lot, because I was bullied at school for years", confessed the Neapolitan actress. Now she's reaping the rewards of this success and the public's support, but her gaze is set on the future: “I'd like to continue doing this job. I'd like to play any type of character as long as it teaches me and leaves me with something – and concluded I'm currently having a brief film experience with Valerio Mastandrea, another master of Italian cinema, with whom I had the privilege and honor of shooting a small project. I hope to achieve a lot and give a lot; cinema and acting are my whole life.
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…
He had escaped from house arrest and was hiding in Varcaturo, where he was caught in possession of drugs and an illegal weapon. For this reason, the State Police arrested Simone Sacchettino, a 32-year-old Neapolitan resident in the province of Foggia. He is the brother of Vincenzo Sacchettino, the actor best known for playing…
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 promising talent 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.
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Comments (1)
The article is interesting and well-written, but there are many things that don't add up for me, such as the character choices and the young actress's performance. Perhaps I would have preferred a greater focus on the plot rather than Carmen's emotions.