Fiammetta Cavatorta was born to an Italian father and Filipino mother. However she was primarily raised in Hong Kong, “Hong Kong is where I was born. It’s where my roots are. I spent my summers in Italy and almost every Christmas in the Philippines. I grew up with that elusive concept of ‘where is home?’ That sense of belonging everywhere and nowhere. I tend to still feel that way. I quite like being nomadic” Her diverse look and exotic background are a breath of fresh air in an industry of “Long Blondes”. Her gaze may be angelic but underneath is a woman who has been fighting for a dream since the age of nine.
Her first break came when she was cast in a local theater company’s musical production of “Alice In Wonderland” as the lead, ‘Alice’. “I was a drama geek; I never fell into acting. I was obsessed with performing from a really young age, especially Musical Theater. I wore a Les Misérables T-shirt around for years!” After graduating High School she continued to work professionally on musical productions landing a starring role in Hong Kong’s “High School Musical On Stage”. Later while studying abroad in Bristol she participated in a touring production of Oscar Winner Bob Bakers “Watership Down”. The musical based on a popular children’s book premiered at the Wales Millennium Theatre in Cardiff, and went on to tour all over England’s Southwest.
For such a young performer Fiammetta has already made quite a splash all over the world; a testament to her tenacity, uniqueness and talent. She has since garnered some amazing and lucrative roles. As she continues to trail blaze in the United States there is no doubt Hollywood will be wanting more and more of this determined performer.
You can currently see Fiammetta in the Fantasy Feature Film “Neshima” as Mirabai the young huntress. Directed by Tommy Friedman the film tells the story of a tribe who’s Princess takes on the role of a warrior to save her people. Submitted to both Sundance and the Berlin Film festival.
A brief sit down with Fiammetta Cavatorta.
Why did you move to Bristol?
I initially moved to Bristol to study Musical Theater. There are some great drama schools in the UK. Luckily my parents have always been really supportive and encouraged me to seek out the best training possible. I studied at the Southwest Academy of Dramatic Arts for a year. And later got involved in a number of productions that showcased at the Bristol Old Vic. Moving to Bristol was very important for me. As much as I love Musical Theater, I was realistic about my capabilities and eventually learnt that I was never going to be a strong enough dancer and singer to have a career doing musicals. Which was fine! It was through that experience that I discovered what I was capable of as an actress.
How did you transition from Musical Theater to Acting?
After graduating from the academy in Bristol, I moved back to Hong Kong for the year and got a job teaching drama to kids from kindergarten through to elementary school. Once I had saved up a little bit of money, moving to Hollywood became an option. I have always believed training to be essential for any artist, so once acting became my focus; I applied and auditioned for various acting schools in Los Angeles. And eventually ended up at the Lee Strasberg Institute in West Hollywood.
What’s one of your favorite Films?
That’s hard to say. There are so many! "Scarface" was one of the first movies I remember really loving. I love to watch Al Pacino. My father’s partly responsible for that. And Brando, I have the biggest crush on young Marlon Brando [laughs]. His work in [the film] ‘On the Waterfront’ will always be one of my favorites.
You are so young, is there a reason why you prefer these older gangster films?
My father- He was obsessed. I was brought up watching gangster films [laughs]. But it’s not that I prefer them. It’s just that some of my favorite performances are in those films.
What’s your perspective on the Industry today?
I haven’t been doing this long enough, in this country to have enough perspective. But I’m inspired to do things differently; to do things right and to always put my work first. Everyone talks about the importance of networking and how it’s a big part of the job. But I’d prefer to blow someone away with my talent. Actors need to be in those audition rooms, they don’t need to be schmoozing at parties, in my opinion.
What do you want to accomplish in the next five years?
I definitely see myself here. I’m not confident in a lot of things, but I am confident that there is a place for me in this industry today. The opportunities in this country are endless and I’m excited to work.
Do you have a dream role?
For me it’s all about the characters. I just want to play the most interesting parts. I actually think it’s incredibly rare to get an interesting young female character that is the lead in a film. Usually the character parts are so much more interesting to play.
Do you have a preference between film and theater?
I have always said I prefer theater. One of the things I love about the theater is that no one can tell you to stop. Once you’re on stage, it’s three hours, and whether you’re completely off or just horrendous, you've got to find a way to leave an impression. There’s not that terrible thing that you get when you've been working on film, and you get in your car at the end of the day knowing that something you’re not proud of was immortalized on film, and you can’t fix it because they won’t re-shoot it.
What have you loved most about being in Los Angeles?
I have fallen in love with the work. It’s such a blessing to get to be an actor, especially in this city. For me, the great thing about L.A. is being a part of such a creative community. Most of the people that live here [Los Angeles], specifically actors, are big dreamers. They are a particular breed of people, filled with optimism, spontaneity and an ability to imagine greatness. They believe that in Los Angeles just about anything is possible. And they’re right! If there is one truth about Los Angeles beyond all the hype, it is that anything and everything can happen, and does all the time.
Fiammetta currently resides in Los Angeles with her 3 cats, boyfriend and Penny Lane, her dog.
You can connect and learn more about Fiammetta through her Imdb and personal Website page. (listed below)
www.facebook.com/FiammettaCavatorta
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm5127168/
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