With a career that defies borders and genres, Antonella Salvucci stands as a luminous figure in international cinema. From her roots in Italy to her work in Hollywood, Australia, and India, Salvucci’s artistic journey is as diverse as it is inspiring. In this Arab Times exclusive, she shares candid insights into her creative motivations, the lessons learned from both triumph and rejection, her passionate advocacy for women, and her dreams for the future. Her story is not just one of personal success, but of using her platform to inspire and empower others

Born and raised in Italy, Antonella Salvucci first caught the public’s attention as a fashion model, gracing the covers of leading magazines in Italy and France. Yet, as she explains, it was her passion for storytelling and her curiosity about the world that soon drew her to acting—a field in which she has found both challenge and fulfillment. “I really like the globalization of art,” Salvucci told Arab Times. “I believe that each of us, based on our own background, origins, and experiences, is a kaleidoscope of cultures, languages, and new messages to be transferred. That’s why I never stop in the discovery and human evolution that I try in my own way to impress also on the different characters that I go to interpret as an actress!” Her artistic wanderlust has been a defining force in her life. “As a good Sagittarius, I am always traveling and with my suitcase ready. Since I was about twenty years old, I go especially to America to lock myself in theaters and in international acting masterclasses to feel at one with other artists from different countries, learn from them, compare myself with other methods, and also bring my enthusiasm and my Italian personality. I believe that you have to open your mind also to feel like a more complete human being.” This openness to learning and adaptation has shaped Salvucci’s career. She immersed herself in acting workshops with legends like Lino Damiani, Anna Strasberg, and Ivana Chubbuck, and further honed her craft in Los Angeles under renowned coach Bernard Hiller and at the Actors Studio with Oscar-winner Martin Landau.

Salvucci’s journey has not been without obstacles. She credits both her mentors and her detractors for fueling her growth. “I thank one by one every single person I have met, especially those who closed the door in my face, who did not believe in me or who said no to me: those are the best teachings to not let you relax, to lower your guard, but they are the engine to make you get up with determination and bring out your talent!” She is quick to express gratitude for her family’s support: “I have wonderful parents who are always my best teachers to teach me the harmony of life.” Professionally, she has learned from some of the greatest names in cinema: “From Martin Landau, who I had the privilege of following in his lessons at the Actors Studio, to Bernard Hiller my acting coach, to Paolo Sorrentino who directed me in ‘The Family Friend,’ to Peter Chelsom (‘Serendipity,’ ‘Shall We Dance’) with whom I worked in the film ‘A Sudden Case of Christmas,’ to the masters of Italian cinema like Pupi Avati.” Her resilience in the face of rejection has become a driving force, pushing her to continually evolve and excel.

Salvucci’s versatility and commitment have led to a filmography that reads like a tour of world cinema. After establishing herself on Italian television in dramas such as “The Marshal Rocca” and “Carabinieri,” her breakout came with the role of a complex noblewoman in Aurelio Grimaldi’s “L’educazione sentimentale di Eugènie.” This performance caught the eye of Paolo Sorrentino and led to further high-profile roles. Her credits include collaborations with directors like Lamberto Bava (“The Torturer”), Giacomo K. Cimini (“Red Riding Hood”), Alessandro Perrella (“The Night of the Sinner” with Robert Englund), and Marco Carlucci (“Il punto rosso”). She has also worked in American productions filmed in Italy, such as “The Voice & the Diva” (Michael Oblowitz), “The American Connection” (Jeff Espanol), and “The Mission Possible” with John Savage (Brett Roberts). Salvucci’s artistic curiosity has taken her to India for commercials and film projects, and she has starred in stage comedies, musicals, and the hit Italian TV show “I Delitti del Barlume 9.” Her recent credits include “Lamborghini – The Legend” with Oscar-winner Bobby Moresco and a cameo in “Kid Santa” alongside Alec Baldwin.

For Salvucci, acting is more than a profession—it’s a platform for change. She is deeply involved in women’s empowerment and anti-violence initiatives, seeing her advocacy as inseparable from her creative work. “I think that every artist has almost a moral duty to commit to humanitarian causes and against violence against women—to use their visibility and influence in favor of important social issues, giving a voice to those who often don’t have one and helping to raise public awareness,” she explains. She draws inspiration from actresses like Angelina Jolie, who have become ambassadors for international organizations. “This is also a bit of my life goal — to unite the light side of the entertainment world with a more solid and structured substratum such as commitment and support for important issues.” Salvucci’s advocacy is hands-on: she leads panels at major film festivals, works with the No Violence Project, and participates in global awareness events. “The commitment for me as an actress and as a woman in these causes comes from the desire to make a concrete difference in the name of popularity to promote justice, solidarity, and social change.”

Salvucci’s range as an actress is remarkable, from noblewomen to action heroines. Yet she remains hungry for new challenges. “I love to continually change and explore different lives—that’s why I like acting. It’s like living more lives at the same time and going back to being a child with amazement in your eyes and that constant sense of wonder! There are many roles that I would like to play, certainly strong women with a certain personality and charisma, real women who have suffered but who fight with the strength of their smile and who have the ability to inspire and enchant.”

Recently, Salvucci filmed with Danny DeVito and his daughter Lucy, describing the experience as “magical.” “I have a beautiful memory of the set with Danny DeVito and his daughter Lucy DeVito—loving and simple people who love Italy and this job without ever complaining even in the most difficult scenes with the horses, in the rain, in the middle of the ravines.” Her appearance on “The Bold & the Beautiful” was another milestone: “The honor of having been on an iconic set that I dreamed of since I was a child will remain in my heart for a long time, next to actors with enormous sensitivity and generosity immediately ready to welcome new ones without stardom or competition. Now I understand why the series has maintained this great success with the public intact for almost forty years of programming!” Looking ahead, Salvucci is on the set of a new Italian film and preparing to shoot a television series that will take her away from Rome for several months. Yet she remains eager to expand her horizons even further: “I hope with all my heart to be able to shoot a project in the Middle East and be influenced by that sense of happiness, belonging, elegance that you have always communicated to me!”

A beacon for the next generation

Antonella Salvucci’s journey is one of relentless curiosity, artistic integrity, and social commitment. As her career continues to flourish, she remains a beacon of inspiration—an artist who uses her craft not just to entertain, but to empower and uplift.

By Marlon Aquino Malinao

An Arab Times exclusive