Interview with Franco Nero

Actor Franco Nero attended Filming Italy Los Angeles 2024. We met him at the Beverly Hills Hotel. 

You've had quite a long career, almost sixty years on the screen. Very illustrious. Over that time, what were some of the more challenging roles you have had in your career?

I have had many, many challenging roles in my career. I’ve made more than two-hundred and forty movies, so there are many. When I was young, the best actor in the world was Laurence Olivier. And when he saw me, I was a young actor, and he said “you have a good physique, a good face, you could play the hero all the time, like the Americans do. But it would be very monotonous. So, why don't you just be an actor, and change roles all the time. Your career will be up and down, but in the long run, you get the fruits. So, I followed his advice. I changed roles all the time. Always a challenge. 

Do you think that led to you having a longer career, challenging yourself with the roles? 

Yes.

Were there any points where you felt like you wanted to retire, or did you always want to continue to act until you could go longer?

Well, I will retire, I said, the moment I don't have any more enthusiasm. Until that moment, I will go.

Your next upcoming film is Hand Of Dante?

Ah, yes, I did a cameo for Julian Schnabel. He wanted me. I said, I don't know. It's a very little thing, you know, but I did it, because he’s a great talent, Julian Schnabel.

You’re being awarded Filming Italy’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Tell me how that feels.

A Lifetime Achievement Award means that I have done good work during my life. So that's it, that's the achievement I believe.