Sergio Castellitto

Birthday: 18 August 1953, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Height: 178 cm

Sergio Castellitto was born in Rome in 1953. After graduating from the Silvio D'Amico National Academy of Dramatic Art in 1978, he began his theatrical career in Italian public theater with "Shakespeare's Measure for Measure" at the Teatro di Roma and with roles in other plays such as "La Madre by Brecht", "Merchant of Venice", and "Candelaio" by Giordano Bruno. At the Teatro di Genova he starred in the roles of Tuzenbach in "Chekhov's Three Sisters" and "Jean in Strindberg's Miss Julie", both under the direction of Otomar Krejka. In the coming years, he also starred in such theatrical productions as "L'infelicità senza desideri" and "Piccoli equivoci" at the Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoleto. He also appeared in "Barefoot in the Park" by Neil Simon. During his years in the theatre, he worked alongside many famous actors, including Luigi Squarzina, Aldo Trionfo, and Enzo Muzii. Castellitto began his film career in 1983 beside Marcello Mastroianni and Michel Piccoli in "The General of the Dead Army" by Luciano Tovoli. He interpreted many films like "Sembra morto...ma è solo svenuto" directed by Felice Farina, "Piccoli equivoci" by Ricky Tognazzi and "Stasera a casa di Alice" by Carlo Verdone. He became more famous with the films "The Great Pumpkin" by Francesca Archibugi and "The Star Maker" by Giuseppe Tornatore. In the late 1980s, Castellitto appeared in several Italian television miniseries, including "Un siciliano in Sicilia" (1987), "Cinque storie inquietanti" (1987), "Piazza Navona" (1988), "Cinéma" (1988), and "Come stanno bene insieme" (1989). He also appeared in the miniseries "Victoire, ou la douleur des femmes" (2000). Success arrived with the films "La famiglia", "L'ultimo bacio", "Caterina in the Big City", "My Mother's Smile", "Mostly Martha", and especially with "Don't Move", written by his wife Margaret Mazzantini. Other films that he interpreted include "Il regista di matrimoni" by Marco Bellocchio and La stella che non c'è by Gianni Amelio. In France Castellitto played the male lead opposite Jeanne Balibar in Jacques Rivette's Va savoir (2001). His most recent accomplishment as actor has been in his role as "Padre Pio: Miracle Man", arguably the defining role of his career. The first film that he directed is "Libero Burro", followed by "Don't Move". He played the role of the antagonist, King Miraz, in the film "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian". His most recent film as director was "Twice Born", which played at the Toronto Film Festival (2012), where it was not well received by much of the English speaking press. Most recently, Castellitto appeared in the television series "In Treatment" in the role of Giovanni. Castellitto is married to Margaret Mazzantini with four children. Hide

Wonderful. She wrote the book over five years and I had the chance of reading the book as the pages Show more Wonderful. She wrote the book over five years and I had the chance of reading the book as the pages came by. But when we decided it would be a film and we started talking about the script Margaret left me on my own for the first draft. She felt I had to make my own decisions as a director. She came on board with the following drafts. - On what it was like co-writing the screenplay for 'Don't Move' with his wife?. Hide

Objectively speaking, the crisis is only too real. We are all tragic optimists. Europe is not united Show more Objectively speaking, the crisis is only too real. We are all tragic optimists. Europe is not united by its economy but rather by its culture, its diversity and culture. But times have changed and we are having problems relaunching cinema as a popular art. However we have seen a number of positive signs and personally, I welcomed the success of a film like that by Marco Bellocchio as an exceptional event. - Speaking about the problems of European Cinema at European Film Awards 2002. Hide

Well, actually I started directing in theatre a few years ago, and I always appreciated my job as an Show more Well, actually I started directing in theatre a few years ago, and I always appreciated my job as an actor, as a craftsman, it seemed to me quite natural to "build" a film altogether. - On what led you to make the giant leap from actor to director?. Hide

Yes, in the beginning, that was very important to me to understand the meaning and psychological mea Show more Yes, in the beginning, that was very important to me to understand the meaning and psychological meaning, but we also studied about accents. I think Andrew wanted a Mediterranean accent, Spanish, Italian, Greek, North-African, French a Telmarine's accent. It's quite easy for me to do a good accent. - On whether his 'The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian' script was translated into Italian to help him learn his lines. Hide

I wondered whether I'd succeed, not just in telling the novel's story, but also in filling it with t Show more I wondered whether I'd succeed, not just in telling the novel's story, but also in filling it with the same moral density. Could I film the thin line that divides good from evil, justice from iniquity? Could I film the overpowering of a woman without adding outrage? Could I film a man's criminal selfishness without condemning him? - On being filled with doubts preparing to film 'Don't Move.'. Hide

Sergio Castellitto's FILMOGRAPHY

All as Actor (13) as Director (1) as Creator (1)

Dont Move (Non ti muovere)

Ferrari

Paris I Love You (Paris, je t'aime) [Sub: Eng]

The Big Blue

Natale in casa Cupiello [Audio: Italy]

Arthur and the Invisibles

Il talento del calabrone

Non ti pago [Audio: Italian]

Marx può aspettare

Mostly Martha (Bella Martha)

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

Twice Born

Mafia Inc

Sergio Castellitto'S roles

King Miraz