Kasia Smutniak: “A woman prime minister? Yes, if she is inclusive”

Kasia Smutniak, star of the film The Hummingbird

The story of the film revolves around the life of a doctor, Marco Carrera (has the face of Pierfrancesco Favino), who stoically endures the low blows of life and is macerated in the obsession of a love never consummated for a friend of youth. Marina is his wife. “The hummingbird” puts all its energy into remaining still, it is told in the book and in the film.

«I was almost afraid to face this character so as not to spoil the imaginary idea that I had made while reading the book. But then Francesca wanted to give a more tragic dimension to her character and it seemed interesting to me to give her shape »says the 43-year-old actress of Polish origin, star of successful films such as Perfect strangers. And serial like Dominate in which she plays the Empress Livia Drusilla (is filming the new season for Sky, the first one is now unencrypted on A7).

Married to the producer Domenico Procacci, Kasia Smutniak has two children, 18-year-old Sophie, born from her relationship with actor Pietro Taricone, and Leone, 8.

“I’m an atheist, but I feel spiritual”

How is she in life?
I’m the exact opposite (smiles). In reality, the film is almost spiritual, even if, of course, everyone sees what they want in it. Standing still, motionless, as I learned from Buddhist monks (the actress has built a school in Nepal with Pietro Taricone onlus, ed), does not mean not being present, but on the contrary having the ability to perceive and perceive. Without having to prove anything.

Do you feel spiritual?
I’m an atheist, but if you mean a researcher, yes, I am. Spirituality is self-improvement, it is understanding the world around us. Returning to her character, Marina is perhaps the only one who divests herself of the narration of pre-established destiny. But then she seems to run away from herself too. She has a complex personality. I was inspired by a person I know. Maybe a few years ago I wouldn’t have been able to deal with it. We actors also change and respond differently to a role. It always depends on the moment of life we ​​are going through.

Do you put a lot of your inner experience into the films?
Sometimes yes, sometimes the bare minimum, sometimes I think I could have given more or it wasn’t worth it. Those who watch a film, however, are not always able to understand it.

«Emma Bonino has lost, but her values ​​remain valid»

Another theme of the film is euthanasia: is it for or against?
I am in favor. However, it is unthinkable to imagine what we would do if it happened to us: in life, pain is unpredictable. In the film, however, there is also redemption, the dream of a better world represented by Marco Carrera’s niece, Miraijin, which in Japanese means the new man. She is very active on Instagram with 460,000 followers.

Before the elections, he defended the right to abortion with an endorsement to Emma Bonino. Her party has not reached the minimum threshold of 3 percent.
Everything changes, but not what I believe. I expose myself on issues that interest me, I have the opportunity to be heard. My posts are thought out and I feel responsible for it.

How do you see a female prime minister at the helm of the government?
I don’t make it a gender issue. I don’t care and it seems to me an almost childish simplification in the general debate. Of course, from a woman I expect greater awareness of already acquired rights such as, for example, that of abortion, from a woman I expect “a defense” of the children, women and men who have been dying every day in the Mediterranean Sea for years now, I I look forward to a vision of a united and inclusive world that leaves no one behind. So the answer is yes, I’d like to see a female prime minister who has this strength and this courage.

Kasia Smutniak: “I’m a feminist, but men should ask themselves questions too”

Would you call yourself Kasia Smutniak a feminist?
Yes, even if the question should be reversed, I think the time has come to include men in the cultural debate as well. We women have always questioned ourselves, we have analyzed ourselves. And them? Today we talk insistently about awareness, awareness, but their reflection is missing, theirs is the piece that doesn’t exist. With the risk that we deny and repeat the usual mistakes.

It is considered a symbol of body positive. She has taken a stand against the superficial judgments of social media, on vitiligo, her autoimmune disease, declaring that she feels “strong, loved, beautiful inside and out”. At 43, how do you perceive beauty?
I’m not hostile to changes in my body. I don’t see myself “aged”, but mature. Now I see more positives than negatives. Especially if I look back. I left home at 15, at 16 I was already independent. Today, at 43, I feel I’ve come a long way and don’t have to prove anything to anyone. I’ve spent most of my life needing to be smarter, stronger, better prepared. Thankfully, the company has moved on in the meantime. I can’t think of starting over. Hiding the passing of time would be like denying yourself.