Becoming someone else either on stage or in front of the camera it’s without any doubt the most exciting part of my work. Stretching my imagination to grasp a glimpse of a character’s persona fills me with unique vitality and keeps my brain working.

I don’t believe in happiness. May be it all stems from the fact I don’t quite like the english sound of the word itself. I believe more in “ balance “ , in “ awareness “ ,in “ acceptance “. Accepting our limits, acknowledging our flaws brings peace and helps to keep the stress away.

Definitely solitude. People are more lonely today than during my parent’s time. Solitude is around the corner, it hides behind the screen of a computer, sits next to you when you are watching Netflix. It hits you and when it does you hardly know how to handle it.

My naivety. That lack of judgement which makes me say yes when I should say no to certain people.

I admire famous actors like Marcello Mastroianni the iconic symbol of Italian style or, in the international scene, someone like Philip Seymour Hoffman and his consummate psychologic approach to a character. But I also admire the lesser known, those actors who manage to endure and stay afloat in such a competitive and unpredictable business of ours.

I am a plane watcher. Every time I hear the sound of a plane passing over my head I have to look at it and try to guess the model and it’s flag.

Lies are a dangerous weapon. In Italian we have a saying : “lies have short legs” meaning they have a short life. White lies on the other hand can be useful to protect the weaker from what could be a damaging truth and they definitely have a longer life. I have used quite a few of those in the past and they have been of great help.

Competition. Actors are in constant competition and as the saying goes “ we could kill for a role”. This might often have an effect on our normal behaviour, and affect our temperament to the point of jeopardising friendships and ruining relationships.

When I performed solo on the stage of the Rond Point in Paris in French in front of an amazing audience.

There are a few things I would like to change about myself, but if I had to choose one I would definitely start by getting rid of what people call “ my special kindness “. I wouldn’t want to give it up completely though. Being kind it’s a wonderful quality… in small doses.

I am very proud to have managed to swap careers at a later stage of my life. I used to be an art dealer in London for a number of years and one day I decided to take the jump and do what I dreamt of since the age of 5, hence I became an actor.  It has to be said that without the love and support of my long time partner and a few close friends, I am not sure I would be where I am today.

In a small town next to a forest,  preferably close to an airport. Maybe somewhere in Switzerland where my parents sent me when I was a child  for the summer holidays.  I have been living in London for 31 years. I think I have reached a point where I can’t stand any more crowds, busy streets at any time of the day, stressed people. I need peace seasoned with a bit of buzz.

A scrap book about my mother’s eccentric life in Palermo during the 70’s / 80’s . It’s an album which I made at the time with the cut outs of newspapers and magazines containing articles , interviews and photos about her “ salon “ , her incredible parties and the beautiful garden she created in Casteldaccia ( Palermo )

I am an enthusiastic type. Most of my greatest projects have moved forward  thanks to this instinctive quality which when used in the right way can move mountains.

Without any doubt Hampstead Heath. The most beautiful park in the world. It’s the perfect antidote to the everyday London’s hustle and bustle. It’s simply wonderful to get lost in it, or to sit on a bench up on Parliament Hill watching the kites flying above your head.

Scrapping the Italians restaurants, not to create jealousies, I love an Indian curry at Dishom , a Japanese lunch at Yoshino hidden  on a tiny side street of Piccadilly, a drink at my local, the wonderfully preserved Pub “ The Prince Alfred” in Maida Vale followed by a pizza at the Red Pepper in the quaint  Formosa Street.

Emilio Salgari made me dream about exotic locations and wild animals when I was a boy, Proust gently led me into my adolescence, Primo Levi talked me into the pain and suffering of the Italian jews, Jumpa Lahiri introduced me to her  wonderful world of story telling. Ian McEwan continues to surprises me.

Primo Levi, Italo Calvino, Ian McEwan, Paul Auster,

I would start with “Nel Blu dipinto di blu” and end with  “Imagine” by John Lennon

Peter Pan, Mary Poppins, Don Giovanni.

Mother Theresa, Barak Obama, Marie Curie, Sting , Madonna.

Blade Runner ( the original )…and if I can add one more : at least one movie by Stanley Kubrick ( pick your own leaving out may be Eyes wide shut )

A vital one If you think that I used to be an art dealer and over the years I must have looked at thousands of paintings and works of art. If you add that my  uncle, the Maestro Renato Tosini, was a great painter from Palermo and my wife is a curator of a private collection, even if I wanted,  I couldn’t escape exhibitions, Museums, Art fairs and I love it!

Without any doubt Danny K. A very special man to whom I will be forever devoted and grateful. He is not only a connoisseur and a passionate lover of the arts, but also an amazing collector and a dealer whom I have met during my first years in London and who has  since then been close to me with his advise and his many pep talks.

The Italian Director Saverio Costanzo, the English stage director Rupert Goold. I would also like to work with a French Director …someone like the Dardennes

Mr Sorrentino outside an audition room; have a proper conversation with my colleague Pierfrancesco Favino to whom I could only briefly say hi to during the shooting of the “Traitor” and why not … a stroll with Natalie Portman.

My first feature movie which I am developing with my friend director  Enrico Poli. A fiction based on the story of my family in Palermo.

A movie based on an episode of Oriana Fallaci’s life when she was at the beginning of her career . The short is directed by newcomer Alessandra Gonnella starring Alessandra Leone as the amazing Tuscan journalist; the sequel of my show Parole d’onore which has been touring since 2009 , currently in phase of development in collaboration with “ my journalist “ Attilio Bolzoni;

For information on my work  follow me on Fb / Instagram ( Marcogambinoactor) . You can also check my personal website www.marcogambino.com

Passion is always there ,it lingers around the corners of our lives , it’s just a question of summoning her up whenever she turns her back pretending to have abandoned you.

Giovanna Bertazzoni ( Head of Christie’s London Modern and Contemporary) , Matteo Carandini (a neuroscientist who studies the visual system) Carolina Artegiani ( Head of Development at Museum of Art & Photography (MAP) in India )