This April saw the release of feature film You, Me & Tuscany in cinemas worldwide, in which Stella Pecollo plays Francesca alongside RegĂ©-Jean Page (Michael), Halle Bailey (Anna) and Lorenzo de Moor (Matteo), with the romantic comedy directed by Kat Coiro. In the upcoming short film Iterus, Stella plays Anna, and she had a guest role in Sconfort Zone playing Claire. Further screen projects for Stella have seen her play Antonella in the Italian feature film Deadalus, play Passenger #6 across all episodes of the Sky Original series Unwanted in 2023, and she co-wrote and starred as Sofia in the TV movie The Secret Life of Actors. After being asked to write a book by Gruppo Mondadori – one of Italy’s biggest publication companies – she released her 2020 memoir Lo Sono Bella, which translates to I Am Beautiful. We recently chatted to Stella about playing Francesca in April’s release of You, Me & Tuscany, her time as Passenger #6 in the Sky Original series Unwanted and starring as Sofia in The Secret Life of Actors (which she co-wrote).
You are in the cast of the romantic comedy feature film You, Me & Tuscany, which was released in cinemas worldwide on 10th April; what do you hope viewers will take from the film and who do you think it will appeal to?
This is a romantic comedy, and both comedy and romance are very relatable themes – every single person on the planet has loved and laughed, right? And we need it now more than ever. I really hope that viewers will take from this film a sense of family, a sense of belonging, and tons of fun!
What was it like on the set of You, Me & Tuscany and what did you enjoy most about being involved with the project?
The set was so much fun, and I think you can tell by watching the movie that we truly enjoyed our time filming. Such a vibrant cast and crew, with the best captain – our director, Kat Coiro – who allowed us to be ourselves and to give our personal flavour to our characters. What I enjoyed the most was being able to improvise and add some physical comedy.
Can you tell us about the film and your character Francesca?
The film is a story of love, discovery, freedom and romance. My character Francesca is the sassy and passionate sister of Matteo. She is the big sister who has a special bond with both Matteo and Michael, and who wants to become Anna’s new BFF – in fact, she hilariously shares all her and the family’s secrets on the first day of meeting Anna!
What was it like meeting and filming with Regé-Jean Page (Michael), Halle Bailey (Anna), Lorenzo de Moor (Matteo) and the rest of the cast?
I was so excited, and a little nervous, but as soon as I met them and started working with them, I realised that they were all very generous artists, both on and off the set. Halle is such a warm presence on set, always smiling and positive, and I really enjoyed working with Regé, who was focused, professional, and open to improvising and following my lead in the comedic scenes.
It was such a pleasure and honour to also work with Italian legends such as Stefania Casini, Isabella Ferrari, and Paolo Sassanelli – actors whom I have admired on screen as a proud Italian. The long times we had on set allowed us to also bond in real life. I am so happy and honoured to be able to now call them friends.
How was it working on the short film Iterus as Anna?
I loved working on it because it challenged me with a dramatic role. I cannot say more because the film is not out yet, but I can’t wait for everyone to see it. It’s very emotional – it touches the themes of freedom and relationships in a very poetic way.
What was Claire like to play in Sconfort Zone and how was it having a guest role in the series?
Maccio Capatonda, the creator and lead of the show, is one of my comedy idols. Working with him was so much fun! He is an Italian comedic genius, and I really hope to work with him again!
In the Italian feature film Dedalus, you can be seen as Antonella; what was Dedalus like to film and was there anything that drew you to the character?
Dedalus is a thriller/horror film, and it was quite emotionally challenging. Also, some of the locations were dark and creepy, so it was exciting for me because I love to try new things. I will always be grateful to the director, Gianluca Manzetti, who allowed me to show my full vulnerability in such a warm and empathic way.
How did you find the experience playing Passenger #6 across every episode of the Sky Original series Unwanted in 2023?
Working with an Oscar-nominated director such as Oliver Hirschbiegel was a very exciting experience. It was even more rewarding when he came to me at the end of the last day of filming and asked me to extend my scenes; I said yes and came back the day after to keep filming on the project. It does not always happen, but when it does, it’s so rewarding. What I loved about this TV series is that it’s inspired by a true story about a group of refugees.
Can you tell us about the TV movie The Secret Life of Actors, which you co-wrote and starred in as Sofia?
I wrote this project in 2018 because I did not get much acting work, so I decided to build it myself. I have always wanted to tell the true stories of artists – specifically theatre actors – with their struggles and their crazy “side jobs”. Now that there are TV shows like The Studio being received well by audiences, I believe The Secret Life of Actors could get revived and hopefully be green-lit by a big studio!
How did you get into acting and writing and did you always know you wanted to do both?
My very first passion has always been singing. I discovered acting a little bit later, thanks to my first acting teacher Ilva Fontana. She made me discover my inner acting talents, and from that point on I never stopped!
In regard to writing, I have always loved writing, ever since I was very little, and the older I got, the more I wanted it to become a profession. When I was asked to write a book by Gruppo Mondadori, one of Italy’s biggest publishing companies, I could not believe it. I proudly wrote my first book Io sono Bella, which translates to I Am Beautiful. I plan to translate the book to English and bring it to the United States market soon. I also love screenwriting, as it’s something I have enjoyed doing over the past few years.
What do you find most rewarding about being part of the acting industry?
To have a platform that can share important, positive messages to large audiences. To tell stories that mean something and to change the world. To give hope and joy to people, one project at a time. That’s what I try to do by speaking on body positivity. I want to share an empowering message for women and, hopefully, spread some laughter to people who might need it.
What are some of your favourite films and TV shows to watch?
The Office will always be my number one show – my dream is to work on a show like that one day. I also love shows like Sex and the City, Family Guy, Orange Is the New Black, Matlock, and many more!
How do you like to spend your free time?
By being in nature with my dog. I especially love being by the seaside and doing long walks. I also obviously enjoy going to the theatre and movie theatre, but that’s part of my job! Travelling is also a huge passion of mine.
Do you have any projects coming up that you can tell us about, and what are you hoping this year brings for your career?
Something is boiling, but it’s still top secret! I really hope that with You, Me & Tuscany I will be able to work in more amazing international projects. A goal of mine is also to work in musical movies like La La Land – I would love to sing on screen.
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