Italy has always been a top destination for Americans, especially New Yorkers, and after last fall’s premiere of HBO’s The White Lotus 2, bookings soared to record levels for 2023. Venice, Rome, and Naples are all reporting sold-out hotels and tours through the year, but no place has seen as dramatic a surge as Sicily, for which the popular cable hit show can take at least partial credit. White Lotus 2 revealed the beauty of Sicily with its breathtaking shots of the Mediterranean, gorgeous landscapes, and that luxury hotel (The Four Seasons, San Domenico Palace), all providing the perfect setting for creator Mike White’s popular anthology comedy/drama series
Among the ensemble cast is Italian actor Federico Scribani, who played lounge pianist Guiseppe, memorably seduced and drugged by a pretty girl aspiring to take his job at the hotel. Scribani is a veteran actor in Italian stage, film, and television work, with The White Lotus 2 becoming his first opportunity to work with an American production team. “It was an amazing experience for all of us, especially the Italian actors,” says Scribani. “For us, it is not easy to be cast in American productions, especially if an actor does not speak English. In Italy, the budgets are not as large as in Hollywood, and the production schedule is much shorter, as sometimes an entire film can be shot in four weeks.”
A DEFINITE DREAM
The series is set during summer, with costumes created to reflect the season. Still, when it came time to shoot in March 2022, Sicily was unseasonably cold, as was the cast in the exterior shots, which included the chilly waters of the Mediterranean. Despite the cold temperatures, the atmosphere on the set was one of camaraderie and teamwork. “We all stayed at the hotel, and the cast and crew who were not working would get together for lunch or dinner. It felt cohesive, like a real family. And the people of Sicily were incredibly kind to all of us, treating us very well wherever we went, in the true style of Southern Italian hospitality.”
White Lotus 2 has already won the Screen Actors Guild award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. In contrast, fellow actor Jennifer Coolidge won an award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor. So how was she to work with? Scribani says, “Jennifer is just like you see her on television. She is bubbly and kind; she was a joy to be around and professional.” Season 2 had much to live up to, considering its premier season’s critical and ratings success. This second installment surpassed all expectations, garnering lavish praise from critics and beating the ratings of its predecessor.
Having now been a part of a series as acclaimed as The White Lotus, Scribani is open to working with more American productions in the future. He has roles upcoming in Italy and wants to spread his wings internationally. He is an actor who speaks Italian, French, and English, with acting credentials from the prestigious National School of Cinema in Rome. Scribani has a wealth of experience to draw upon for his characters. He says, “American production standards are exceedingly high. They create incredible works and characters with stories worth telling. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work with so many talented actors on this project. Director Mike White told me, ‘You are a great actor,’ and for me, that was incredibly validating.”
For more information on Federico Scribani, follow him Instagram @fedrico_scribani