Italian actress Monica Bellucci about her role in the thriller Flashback, old age, and being overweight.
In the new action-thriller Flashback, Monica Bellucci plays one of the main roles along with Liam Neeson. In a similar role, fans of the Italian star have not yet seen.
The heroine of Belucci – Davana Silman – is a successful businesswoman. She is actively involved in charity work and has an impeccable reputation. But in fact, she is involved in one of the most despicable types of criminal activity. Davana is confronted by Liam Neeson’s hero, Alex Lewis. A hired killer who, unlike Silman, has his own moral code.
In this interview, Bellucci explains that her role as the sociopath Silman in Martin Campbell’s film helped her break the mold and step out of the role she has played throughout her long and successful career. The 57-year-old actress also talks about how she decided to gain weight for this project, and how age has opened her access to more interesting roles in films and on stage. And in general, read it yourself.
Monica, you played a very curious character in the movie Flashback. From Davan’s side, Silman seems to be a respected person, a philanthropist, and a businesswoman. But along the way, we learn that this is not the case at all.
Yes, and I couldn’t wait to play it. I rarely get the role of an antagonist. She seems to have two lives: the life of a worthy person and the life of a monster. This dualism intrigued me. For a long time, I wanted to break the mold, and get out of the role in which I was seen for most of my career. I put on weight for the role. Makeup and some lighting nuances also helped to create a new look.
Davana is obsessed with the idea of fighting old age. How do you feel about age?
Positively. Age gave me new opportunities, and access to diverse roles. The role of Davana Silman in Flashback is like a key to a new door for me. I also, for example, play the title role in the play “Maria Callas: Letters and Memoirs.” An interesting moment: even such heroines as Maria Callas, I could not play in my youth. To understand such a woman, life experience is needed. She is a diva, the owner of a huge talent, but at the same time a simple-hearted woman. In fact, she died of boredom.
Why do you think Davana is obsessed with the idea of fighting old age?
She wants to rule everything. Even the time and duration of one’s own life. But time is not under our control. Davana wants to control all aspects of life, but everyone knows that this is impossible.
Davana discusses the possibility of living to 135 with her doctor. Would you like to live that long?
Not! (Laughs) Control freaks often want to live forever. But this is impossible. Not everything can be solved with money.
Another interesting facet of your heroine from Flashback is the relationship with her son. He does disgusting things, but she covers for him. As a mother, what do you think of this? Do you understand why Davana protects her son, despite all his atrocities?
I think she’s insane. And her son is crazy too. But by protecting him, she is also protecting herself. For the whole world, her reputation is clean. And she knows that if the truth comes out, she will suffer too. So she takes care of herself too. Not only son.
Flashback is directed by Martin Campbell and your co-star is Liam Neeson. Tell us how it was for you to work with them.
I came to this project because I wanted to work with Martin. I respect him very much. He is one of those directors who, standing behind the camera, knows exactly how to captivate the viewer. I also wanted to work with Liam. He is great both as an actor and as a person. He was so sweet and kind to me. We had many interesting conversations. I respect him very much.
Can you tell me more about these conversations? What did you find interesting about Liam?
He is an incredibly deep and emotional person. Why didn’t we just discuss it! He is very human, sensitive, and delicate. I liked talking to him.
It’s curious because Liam plays an assassin, but the audience still sympathizes with him. He has played many different roles throughout his career, but his sensibility has come through in every single one of them.
Yes. It is wonderful when warm human relations develop with colleagues. I love working with people I respect. And I certainly respect Liam. My next project is called Mafia Mamma. There I am filming with Katherine Hardwicke and Toni Collette. It’s a completely hilarious comedy. I don’t do comedies that often, but this one is amazing. I admire Katherine’s performance, Toni is also a great actress.
Your heroine is involved in one of the most dramatic and violent scenes in the film. Can you tell us what it was like filming it?
Davana deserved everything that happens in that scene. She considered herself untouchable. That scene proves that events are sometimes unpredictable and a person cannot keep everything under control. She thought she could, but she was wrong.
Was that scene fun to shoot or, on the contrary, scary?
God, it’s a little scary. (Smiles.) But everything looks great on the screen. The scene produces the desired effect.
What was it like returning to film and stage after the pandemic-related hiatus?
It was very important for me to return as soon as possible. We must work and create interesting works because now the world really needs beauty, art, poetry…