INTERVIEW
SARA
GRANATO
“I just said to myself — stop complaining, do your job and do better next time.”
Sara Granato is an Italian actress and dancer working in Italy and the UK. She started dancing at the age of 5 and acting at the age of 18. Sara finished Communication and Marketing degree at the University of Bologna, Italy and worked for a while as a radio speaker. At the beginning of 2019, she moved to London and focused on screen acting. At the moment she is represented by John Doe Management and works in feature films, TV series, independent shorts, student projects, music videos and as a voice-over artist.
Thank you so much for interviewing with us! Can you share your story on how did you get started in the film industry?
There are many parts of my personality, things that I like and things that I do not, that make me feel every day that this is what I want to do in my life. The very first reason why I started is that I wanted to meet Ben Barnes (English actor and singer). That is silly, I know! I remember that our English teacher in my last year of high school made us see many movies to let us practice with the listening and one day we watched ‘Dorian Gray’ (Ealing Studios, dir. Oliver Parker, 2009). There are a lot of hot scenes in there! I remember thinking how lucky those actresses were to be able to be with him on set (teenage things, you know!). I thought about it for a while, and my head was spinning with ‘Why can’t it be me? Why do I have to spend time thinking about other people getting lucky when I can be the lucky one?’. The only challenge that came to my mind was ‘Because society says that a girl from a small Italian seaside town can’t become a Hollywood star’. Well, I am not a Hollywood star (yet!), but I will never let anyone say I dream too big, so yeah… Here I am!
Awesome! So who are you grateful towards your success and can you share a story about that?
My parents have set me free even if they maybe would have preferred me to have a “normal” career. They just want me to be happy and this is the most important thing for me. So yes, family and friends are those I have to thank the most.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
I was in a theatre company back in Italy and often performed adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays. One afternoon we were rehearsing Othello. I was Desdemona in the scene in which Othello wants to kill me. We were in a room in the basement of a building, nothing that looked like a theatre and there was me screaming, seeking help. We started to hear voices from the outside, but we didn’t care that much until four policemen entered the room thinking something terrible was happening, because someone called them. We still laugh every time we remember it.
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What has been the biggest challenge in your career so far? How did you overcome it?
To stop having doubts and believing in me and what I was doing. Understanding that not getting a role didn’t necessarily mean I sucked. This has been the most difficult part. I just said to myself — stop complaining, do your job and do better next time. It helped me to focus on my art rather than my insecurities.
What are your ‘‘5 things I do to prepare for the role”?
First, I read the script. Seems an obvious thing, but I need to read it without analysing it, just getting the vibes and what it suggests me instantly. Then I think about the relations that my character has with the other characters and who in my life could portray that role and how I would react to it if it were me. Third I learn the lines, cause I don’t want them to be an obstacle for me during the creative process. And when I’m ready, I do a break and start listening to music that makes me feel like the character can feel. For example, the other day, I had to portray a very cheeky character, so I started listening to CardiB, M.I.A., Nicky Minaj, etc. It’s incredible how much it helps me! Then I think again about the character‘s feelings in the scene and start recording if it’s for a self-tape.
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What methods or techniques do you use to find truth in your character’s behaviour?
I studied Meisner, the Chubbuck technique and others, but I don’t follow one specific method, what I said before usually happens quite instinctively. I like feeling free and feeling that what I am as a person can be a parachute for my character.
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What are your top 3 tips for actors that are starting out?
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NEVER listen to those who tell you that you can’t do it or laugh at you. It will only distract you from your goal.
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ALWAYS trust your instinct and never question yourself. If you want to question someone, question people who think they know everything. They never do.
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There are no faster ways to do that. Just be consistent, do your job and good things will come if you really want them. Be passionate about it!
What has been inspiring you lately?
I attended a webinar with the casting director Sarah Leung recently. She was asked about what makes an actor stand out in her opinion. And she said ‘I love when actors are just themselves without feeling that they have to be what they think we want them to be’. I find that very inspiring as it helps me be a better actress.
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What movie would you recommend watching and why?
‘Gran Torino’ (Matten Productions, dir. Clint Eastwood, 2008) and ‘Vicky Cristina Barcellona’ (The Weinstein Company, dir. Woody Allen, 2008). Amazing! I personally learned a lot from them. Or the first season of ‘Fargo’ series (MGM Television, cr Noah Hawley, 2014)! Lit.
What is one message you would give to your fans?
Thank you mum, you make me feel that I’m on the right path.
