Alberto Malanchino

Actor, Milan

«I would like to see black, asian, white and other actors in Italy deserving to be on stage or on the set for their skill and not because they have to interpret the cliché that their color represents».

What part of your career are you most proud of and why.

The theatrical monologue "Verso Sankara" which I performed with the music of Moussa Sanou, directed by Maurizio Schimdt, was one of the most important moments of my career. A show that was the result of a month of research in Burkina Faso. This trip was fundamental, not only because it gave me the privilege of discovering some more human aspects of Thomas Sankara, (thanks to the stories of friends and family) but also because it gave me the opportunity to reflect in a disenchanted way on the situation of the country in the last years. Returning to my mother's land was a dip in the now tarnished memories of my childhood. The satisfaction reached its peak when I was contacted by people of different origins (Italians and non-Italians) who through our story saw themselves. 

Tell us about an important lesson you have learned on your professional journey

Perhaps the most important lesson is understanding that luck does not exist, certainly not as we imagine it in the common sense. What we know as luck could be explained by the constant application in doing the things you love, coupled with the ability to seize the moment.

What would you say to your 13 year old self ?

I would tell him to study more and not to worry too much about the responsibilities of the "grown-ups". I would say to him: "Do not worry about how you appear to the rest of the world because there will always be someone who will see you differently, and in the end, if you change for the sake of pleasing them, they will find other things in you that will not please them. It's not worth getting bitter blood ... Learn to value the people who love you and hold on to those who can criticize you because they love you ". I would also tell him to eat less fast food! 

What changes do you hope to see in your sector in Italy in the next 5-10 years?

I would like to see a more inclusive television, theatrical and cinematographic system, capable of telling stories outside the stereotype and the classical schemes. Things are timidly changing but the road is long. I would like to see black, white and other actors deserving to be on stage or on the set for their skill and not because they have to interpret the cliché that their color represents. I would like to see more women in leadership and responsibility roles. I think the current system is very disproportionate on this front. How can things be changed if leadership is represented only by a certain type of sex and color?