“When I saw Julia Roberts, I knew they were going to get her”

What a beast does Valeria Golino feel? “A hawk, because it can fly without moving its wings.” In the Tuesday 26 November episode of the Rai2 program, the director and actress talks about herself: “I can be a liar a bit like all actors. And I’m touchy.” And on the rumors about his bad temper: “I have the feeling that I am capable of anything, but in reality I am much better than I think.” Among the strongest statements, the memory of the final audition for Pretty Woman with Julia Roberts: “We were both dressed the same, it was a nightmare. But when I saw her, I immediately knew they were going to get her.”

An extraordinary career

Valeria Golino has had an extraordinary career, “the most Hollywood of our actresses” Francesca Fagnani points out: “Do I feel like a diva? I’d like to say yes. Little tantrums? I certainly have had them. Every day I do them without realizing it. Being a diva means being distant and not being found, not letting anyone know what you do. In in this sense, I am that diva there. I try to be, in fact, not present all the time.” Lina Wertmüller told him all sorts of things:

She was a very tough director. At the time, things could be said and done that would not be possible today. Censorship on creative ways in our work is not always a good thing, but you can do things within the scope of things you wouldn’t do in the normal world. He called me a bitch, but I was a bitch. I didn’t know how to act.

Valeria Golino left school and didn’t finish high school and is a little ashamed of it: “I could have continued school, I didn’t finish high school and I’m a bit ashamed. I should have and could have done it. I think it went very well for me.” In fact, at the age of twenty he won the Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival.

The success with Rain Man and the relationship with Tom Cruise

With Rain Man he becomes an international star. She arrives at the audition with Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise and there she realizes she was taken: “When I was young, I took success for granted. I was a bit of a slob, I forgot my lines. Then I learned discipline. The joints? After a while, I no longer did them on set precisely because I understood.” Are Tom Cruise: “We have remained on friendly terms but we are not friends. I know he has been looking for me recently because he would like us to meet up with the cast again.”

Valeria Golino and Julia Roberts: the Pretty Woman audition

A piece of cinema history that few know: Valeria Golinoan internationally renowned Italian actress and director, was one of the finalists for the title role in Pretty Woman. The actress looked back on that iconic moment, recalling the last audition alongside Julia Robertswho would later become the unforgettable Vivian Ward. With great elegance and sincerity, Golino recounted the confrontation with Julia, describing her awareness in the face of the overwhelming energy of her American colleague. What could have been a regret was transformed into a recognition of those who, in that role, left an indelible mark in the history of cinema: “There were two of us left and on the day of the last audition we were both in the same place, both dressed the same. A nightmare. But when I saw her arrive, she had an all-American vitality. I was more melancholy. In that moment, I understood that they would have taken her. I never said that I could have won the best for that role.”

Riccardo Scamarcio, the biggest disappointment of his life

Riccardo Scamarcio was the biggest disappointment of his life, and he confirms it to Belve:

I’m not going to tell you all the mechanisms, because it’s dangerous, but I said this because I thought he was really the man of my life. I truly felt at home, in the right place. When everything went differently for you, it’s clear that I was in for a shock. “With Valeria Golino, love never ends?”, did he say? He’s an actor. And he’s really good. He brings his emotions where he wants, at the right time. That’s a nice thing to say and I thank him.

“I tried many drugs, but never twice in a row”

Valeria Golino explained that she had tried many drugs, but never twice in a row: “I haven’t tried stupid drugs, dangerous ones like heroin or cocaine. Psychedelic drugs have, because those aren’t stupid drugs. I find them very interesting, but now at my age I wouldn’t do it anymore. When he tried them I saw ? Lots of good things. I think there are some very interesting drugs, some are just bullshit to do and not go near.