When it comes to careers born from vocation, Giorgio Pasotti's is almost an exception. There was no childhood dream of the stage, nor a linear path to cinema. On the contrary, it all began in a geographical and human elsewhere, far removed from the spotlight.
Let's start from the beginning: how did it all begin?
"Completely by chance. When I was young, I wanted to become a doctor, specifically a sports medicine doctor. I studied traditional Chinese medicine applied to sports in Beijing in the early 90s. My plan was clear: to return to Italy and continue my studies. But fate led me to change course. A producer from Hong Kong was looking for a Westerner for a film. They offered me an audition, and more out of curiosity than conviction, I accepted. It was the beginning of a new life."
A radical change, without regrets?
"No one. Medicine was an important step, but it clearly wasn't my path. When I discovered acting, I fell in love with it. It was also a self-taught journey, made of trial and error and personal study. The real turning point came when director Daniele Lucchetti involved me in the film The little masters. Then I realized it could become a profession. From that moment on, a journey began that has never stopped."
Over the years, you've built a career that spans genres and geographies, working extensively abroad as well. What kind of experience has that been?
"Very formative. I've filmed in the United States, Eastern Europe, and international productions. In the past, co-productions were common, and this allowed me to work in English and explore different realities. A wealth of knowledge that goes beyond technical skill. Every experience abroad forces you to step outside yourself. It's a cultural growth, even before a professional one."
And what about genres? Do you have any preferences?
I like to branch out. Comedy and drama are two different but complementary worlds. The privilege of this profession is being able to experience so many lives: playing people far away from you is profoundly enriching. In recent years, the Italian production system has experienced a new vitality, thanks in part to the arrival of foreign productions. The production conditions make Italy very attractive for major international productions. This creates opportunities for everyone: actors, technicians, directors. It's an important opening towards a more global dimension.
If cinema was your first professional love, theater today represents the center of your artistic identity. What does the stage mean to you?
The theater is the actor's home. It's where you really test yourself. I came to it late, taking the opposite path than many of my colleagues, but today I couldn't do without it. The difference with cinema is clear. The audience present every night changes everything. It's a direct confrontation, without mediation. If you don't do theater, in my opinion, you can't truly call yourself an actor. Among my dearest projects, directing Othello, which he continues to tour. It's a work I care deeply about, and it will continue to tour the great theaters."
Between cinema, television and directing, what are your plans for the future?
«A movie will be released soon, I won't leave you alone, and a comedy on Rai 1. Then I'm working on my third film as a director, Whose turn is it?, and other projects I hope to complete soon. Alongside my artistic work, I also have institutional commitment. I continue my work with the Teatro Stabile d'Abruzzo, an organization I am very attached to."
Your career path also includes a strong connection with Switzerland, particularly Ticino. What's your relationship with these places?
«I shot a film based on Tolstoy in Lugano, What love, with Vanessa Incontrada. It was a wonderful experience. The lake has a dual soul: it can be reassuring but also disturbing, and it's perfect for certain narrative atmospheres. Switzerland is a region that fascinates me on a personal level too. I love the mountains and those landscapes. They convey serenity, energy, an intimate dimension. They are places where I can find myself again.
Would you like to return to work in Ticino?
Absolutely. There's a cultural similarity with Italy, but at the same time a difference that makes everything interesting. It's a unique balance.
