The actress and singer plays the role of the famous character in the musical on tour in Italy and tells us about the harmony with the protagonist
Walking along Rue Lepic, just to the left of the Moulin Rouge, at number 15 the corner opens up Café des 2 Moulinsa delightful bistro where, among neurotic tobacconists, bizarre characters and disillusioned writers, in a cross-section of humanity straight out of a melancholic fairy tale, the beautiful and dreamy Amélie peeps out, a girl capable of finding happiness in the very small things of life.
Dip your hand into a bag of legumes, break the crust of the crème brûlé with the spoon or bounce the stones on the San Martin canal; capture those details that no one will ever notice.
Amélie immerses herself in a world she invented, participating in the lives of others more than she does in her own, taking refuge in a sweet and protective solitude.
Black bob, deep and enchanted gaze and a perfect Parisian air.
This is how Giulia Ottonello will appear in the musical, based on the blockbuster film of the same name, Amélie.
Having started last October 16th in Udine, the show will pass through many cities, including Rome, Milan, Bologna, Florence, to end in May 2027 in Bari.
Giulia manages to convey the same expressiveness mixed with naivety and wonder thanks to the same big eyes as Amélie, and just like her, she opens the doors of her world to us with a spontaneous and sincere interview.
Giulia, what was your first impact with “The fabulous world of Amélie” as a spectator, even before being the protagonist of the musical?
“I remember that the first time I saw “The Fabulous World of Amélie” I suddenly felt less alone. It’s a film full of poetry and kindness. Amélie has this rare ability to give you a special permission: that of being strange, sensitive, of living in a world of your own made up of small details that others often ignore. Seeing her on the screen was like finding a kindred soul; it made me understand that that reserve and that way of looking at life were not a flaw, but an asset. It’s a film by a disarming beauty, a true refuge for the heart.”
What are Amélie’s traits that also belong to Giulia? She was able to derive joy from small daily pleasures. What is your little daily pleasure that helped you connect with the character?
“There are several aspects that I believe I have in common with the character of Amélie: I too had a childhood and adolescence of great solitude, creating a parallel internal world that was much stronger than the external one. My salvation was singing, music and wonderful films like this one from which the musical that we are starting to make known in these days is based. I am very grateful to life.
In common with Amélie I believe I have a developed sensitivity and the infinite effort and fear in truly opening myself up to the world, especially that of feelings. I overcame it with a lot of work on myself, in my case psychotherapy is helping me a lot.
My little pleasures revolve around those I love: spending time with my dog and my partner, eating good things – I’m a foodie – and going to sleep in a clean, soft bed.
At the time of the film I certainly couldn’t imagine that one day I would wear her shoes in the theater, but that first meeting with Amélie remained with me forever, becoming the root from which I then drew to bring her to the stage.”
Amélie makes secret gestures to change the lives of others for the better, such as helping her father come out of his shell by taking his garden gnome on a journey or preparing pranks at the greengrocer in defense of his poor boy. In today’s society, how revolutionary do you think it is to bring to the stage a message focused on pure kindness and altruism?
“It is an absolutely revolutionary act. We live in a hyper-connected society but often marked by individualism, haste and an underlying cynicism. Amélie reminds us that kindness, love, empathy and the beauty of everything that enriches the soul are the only things capable of saving the world.
In today’s society there should be more and more Amélie and Nino (in this case played by Mattia Baldacci).
I hope with all my heart that, on the occasion of this twenty-fifth anniversary, the film can return to theaters and on television because it is a work that we should never do without.”
On stage you are joined by thirteen other performers. Was it difficult to create the right alchemy to recreate that atmosphere suspended between reality and fantasy?
“The production and the company are wonderful; the cast created by our super director Eugenio Contenti is crazy! Eugenio Contenti and the musical maestro Fabio Serri have brought together a cast made up of impressive and humanly exceptional professionals, the “family” and the connection were born spontaneously.”
What emotion would you like the audience to take home when leaving the theater?
“I would like them to take home the feeling of having been embraced and understood. We were all expertly guided by our director to tell this story and do it in the best possible way. It is a fragile and very powerful story at the same time, which can touch the heart as only sincere hugs and caresses full of love can do.
This musical is a real treat for anyone who sees it, and our desire is to be able to convey this warmth with every performance. In our small way, we will do our best: we will work day after day to safeguard this poetry and bring it to theaters throughout Italy.”
