May 174 min read

FROM ITALY WITH LOVE

Chiara Basile Fasolo Shares the Beauty of Historic Villas and Castles With International Audiences

Chiara Basile Fasolo is a talented Italian woman who has been working in the industry for over 15 years. Throughout this time, she has had the opportunity to act on many successful TV shows, to work as a voice actress for cartoons, to host TV shows, and, in recent years, to also become a producer and director. She is known for her work on Italian Dream - Villas & Castles, an aesthetically delightful series streaming on Amazon Prime.

Chiara has written a travel photography book as well as an illustrated book for children. She loves travelling, painting, and Italian cooking. She is a free spirit who believes in her dreams and in the beauty of life.

Photo Credit: Courtesy Chiara Basile Fasolo

You are an Italian woman who spends a lot of time in Los Angeles. How did that come to happen?

Los Angeles is very far, on the other side of the world. It’s about 6,000 miles from my home. Yet I can say that Los Angeles is a very vibrant, youthful city, full of opportunities. An artist can meet many other artists, share ideas, and create new projects.

Most of my time I live in Italy, but I stay in Los Angeles during the most glamorous times of the year, such as the Academy Awards season.

What inspired you to produce ‘Italian Dream - Villas & Castles’?

Italian Dream actually came to life when I was only 13 years old. I already dreamed of doing this job; it was my wish to make a TV series about Italian villas and castles.

During the pandemic, when everything seemed to be coming to an end, I thought it was the right time to bring it to life. I had already learned all of the necessary skills such as dubbing, hosting, and acting. This time I challenged myself by additionally becoming a producer and director, putting together my own technical staff, and taking care of every single detail, including wardrobe, makeup, hair, and locations. In addition to directing, I give instructions to my editor during post-production.

When I was a teenager, I didn’t know that not only would I be able to create this show, but that I would also be able to distribute it in many parts of the world with great success.

How would you describe the show?

I am dressed like a princess, in period dresses from the 1800s. Each episode is about 20 minutes long and is dedicated to an Italian villa or castle. I take the viewer on a journey between past and present. Following a dynamic, modern rhythm, I show these fairy tale-style historic mansions, still inhabited by the descendants of the families that originally lived there, even after 500 years. In fact, these places boast decades or centuries of incredible stories and artistic or architectural peculiarities, things you have never seen, along with excellent Italian wine and food. Each episode is different from the others. I must say that getting to know these places was amazing.

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How is the experience of working as an actress in Italy different from the experience of working in entertainment in the United States?

To be an actor, you need to be flexible. Both two countries are different, and their approaches are different. Show business is a far smaller industry in Italy than in the United States. In the U.S., many special effects are used in post-production. In Italy, we produce many TV series and feature films about family stories or detective stories, and we shoot them in our own Italian cities. Having different experiences is always important for an actor. I believe both counties have strengths and weaknesses when it comes to entertainment.

What is the career highlight that you consider most memorable?

I have the chance to play numerous roles, from comedic to dramatic ones. My memorable role was when I played a very young mother carrying a sick child in Braccialetti Rossi 3, a successful TV series on RAI, the Italian national public broadcasting company. It was hard to play this role because I’m not a mother and because it was a really dramatic role. It was a wonderful opportunity that I was given, especially since I was very young.

You are quite the world traveler. Besides Italy, what are some of your favorite places and why?

I have traveled to more than 35 countries around the world and speak five languages, Italian, Spanish, English, French, and Arabic. I know a little German and now I’m studying Chinese. I have always loved learning about new places and people. Their cultures fill my soul with wonderful experiences and teachings. I recently traveled to was Kenya. I was on a five-day safari. I was able to connect with nature, with the wilderness, and it was unforgettable.

What are you working on right now?

I am in the pre-production phase of the third season of my TV series Italian Dream – Villas & Castles, streaming on Prime Video. The first and second seasons were translated into multiple languages and are having great success in many countries around the world.

For this upcoming season, I am currently choosing new locations. Therefore, I am traveling around Italy. I love seeing the villas and castles personally and talking to the descendants of the noble families that once lived in them.

What advice would you give to a young person who arrives in Hollywood and hopes to become an actor?

Be yourself, shine a light on your unique characteristics, and study. Experiment with what you love and always believe in it. But, above all, have a lot of patience, because the best things take time.

CONNECT WITH CHIARA

IG: https://www.instagram.com/chiarabasilefasolo/

IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5359028/

WS: https://www.chiarabasilefasolo.com

Italian Dream on Prime Video: https://shorturl.at/aIJM4