The interview with Simona Tabasco, the revelation actress of the series "The White Lotus"
Made famous with the HBO series “The White Lotus”, where she plays a luxury escort, Simona Tabasco has just been included in the Forbes “30 Under 30 Europe” list, won a Golden Globe - “The White Lotus” was awarded as best mini-series 2023 -, received the SAG Awards. And now it is a face, with the inseparable Beatrice Grannò, after the Valentine's Day campaign by Skims, also by Tiffanny & Co.
Photography DAVIDE MUSTO
Styling FERNANDO ECHEVERRÍA
Dark brown hair, deep eyes and Mediterranean confidence, the actress Simona Tabasco , born in 1994, born in Naples, wanted to be a fashion stylist. But they offer her an audition while she's on holiday with her family in a resort and at 18 she begins studying at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome. After "Doc - Nelle tue mani", she is chosen with Sabrina Impacciatore and Beatrice Grannò by director Mike White for the second chapter of his very acid social satire set in Taormina, the phenomenon series "The White Lotus" . Together we talked about love, freedom and a haircut he just can't get rid of.
Scroll down to read the interview with Simona Tabasco, the revelation actress of "The White Lotus".
L'OFFICIEL ITALIA: If you had to describe “your” “The White Lotus”, what would you say?
SIMONA TABASCO: Big, beautiful, a multiverse of things I've never done before. We honestly knew the series was going to resonate after the success of the first season, but it was all unexpected for me. From Mike White, a genius with incredible humanity: you know Valentina's joke about Peppa Pig out of script? That was the level of improvisation allowed on set, pure magic! And then my character, the most difficult I've ever played. When I read the script I was really enthusiastic, then fear came: Lucia is an uncomfortable character, I was afraid the audience would dislike her.
LOI: But he conquered everyone. Did you expect this success?
ST: I thought Lucia would go unnoticed. Over time I understood what I like about her: she carries with her that pinch of naive humanity, she's not perfect, not even physically.
LOI: And do you like imperfection?
ST: It involves, it makes us feel less alone. It's easier to find yourself in imperfection than in perfection.
LOI: Lucia in “The White Lotus” has its own evolution.
ST: All the characters in the series evolve, mutate, get worse or better. The apparent balances crumble until they reveal themselves for what they are: fragile. I believe that for Lucia the central theme is the hunger for life. It does everything it does, after all, for itself. In the end, she amazes everyone by doing what no one would have imagined: she goes back to where she came from.
LUCIA chooses to DO WITH HER body what she wants. IF MEN DO IT NO ONE SAYS ANYTHING. IF WOMEN DO IT, ALL THEY ARGUE THEIR RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO SAY THEIR OWN.
LOI: In this perspective, how do you judge it?
ST: For me the point is this: acting according to oneself is not wrong, but one cannot live only for oneself. And then Lucia chooses to do what she wants with her body, how could I not be close to her regardless? If men do it, no one says anything, if women do it, everyone assumes the right to have their say.
LOI: Let's talk about Lucia's very short bob with upturned ends… Do you think a haircut can define the character?
ST: Definitely yes! That cut is Lucia and Lucia is that cut. Ironic, awkward... like the clothes he wears, exaggeratedly colored. My favorite part of building a character is when the look, make-up and costumes are decided together with the director. And for the moment I won't change the haircut!
LOI: White Lotus is also a subtle critique of privilege. Do you think it's important to make social satire today?
ST: I think the series challenges the audience by delivering a distorted picture in which we all see ourselves and are forced to deal with: this is also the reason for its success. With black humour and murder movie twists, the director teases us. To return to the satire question, I think it is sacrosanct.
LOI: Are you optimistic?
ST: We have to be.
LOI: What is your connection with Naples?
ST: I am Neapolitan, even before being Italian. Cazzimma, irony, clumsiness I carry them inside.
LOI: Lucia has concrete desires: money and clothes. For Simona, are there Serie A and Serie B desires?
ST: I state: I believe that Lucia's true desire was to discover a little humanity. And then, dreams can't be measured, they're dreams and that's it!
HAIR & MAKE UP : Fulvia Tellone @ SIMONE BELLI AGENCY
PRODUCER : Cecilia Corsetti
PHOTO ASSISTANTS : Valentina Ciampaglia and Davide Simonelli