Camilla Ciraolo: Pupi Avati’s new star

Meet the young actor who caught the attention of italian film director Pupi Avati

“I used to work in a bar, where the fans came after the match had finished.
Just by looking at them I understood the result.”

Camilla Ciraolo is a young actor who spent her formative years in Como and the latest muse of Italian film director, producer and screenwriter, Pupi Avati. Most famous to horror fans for his two masterpieces, The House with Laughing Windows (1976) and Zedar (1983), Pupi cast her in “La quattordicesima domenica del tempo ordinario” which was partly shot in Como’s very own Villa Olmo.

Making her film debut, Camilla plays the younger version of the protagonist, Sara, who is played in her more mature years in the film by Edwige Fenech: “I met Pupi while studying at the the CS Cinema in Milan. He saw in me a strong resemblance to Edwige and wanted me to play the younger version of her in the play. This is how my career began.”

On taking the path of becoming an actor Camilla told Blu: “After trying several universities, I asked myself: ’What do I want to do?’ Growing up I wanted to be a psychologist, a veterinarian, a doctor, so many things but in the end, the answer was ‘an actress’. Why? Because an actress can be whoever she wants to be. I signed up for an audition for Rapunzel in America and I haven’t stopped since.

“Through acting I can express my emotions, but I have discovered that it is also a job like any other. Life on set is beautiful: waking up early in the morning, training to free myself of any emotions I may have that day, because the emptier you are, the better you can fill yourself with the character.”

Como and the lake remind her of her childhood, shopping with friends, running along the lake, walking downtown, because “walking and taking in the surroundings in Como is beautiful.” And then… there is Villa Olmo where she shot the film: “My favorite place. It is available to the public and that alone is a credit to the city and municipality. A brave choice to leave it open, it empowers those who visit it.” And the lake? “It inspires me personally. The perfect place to stay, live and reflect.”

Como is also Como 1907: “I used to work in a bar, where the fans came after the match had finished. Just by looking at them I understood the result. And the Sinigaglia stadium is so unique, it is beautiful, with the lake just a few steps away it is a perfect film set. Someone should shoot a nice film there”.

You can watch the full interview with Camilla on Como TV at tv.comofootball.com, where you can explore Como and all it has to offer.