Like many of us in lockdown, Lorenza Izzo has become "this very popular functional drunk overnight."
(OK, maybe we don't relate to the 'popular' part – our Zoom calls tend to be missed. C'mon, mum!)
Izzo has learned the importances of being "IN the damn moment", something that lockdown offers ample opportunity to try.
The Chilean actress shares plenty such insights in this generous and very funny interview, which covers everything from inspirational women to Tiger King.
Her new show Penny Dreadful: City of Angels premieres April 26 and promises to be essential escapism.
Izzo pitches it as: "Natalie Dormer plays a devilish shape-shifting goddess who preys on the human race... I play her sister, Santa Muerte, a less evil goddess."
Yeah, we're sold.
What upcoming project(s) are you most excited about?
“Penny Dreadful: City of Angels.” It’s a whole new show under the original favourite name that takes place in 1930s Los Angeles. A story in which our amazing lead, Natalie Dormer (Magda) plays a devilish shape-shifting goddess who preys on the human race to show just how evil we are. I play her sister, Santa Muerte, a less evil goddess loosely based on the original Mexican version.
This was a brand new experience for me as an actress. On one hand, balancing the expected judgment of taking on a very well-known figure in history and making it my own, and on the other hand, it was my first time working with prosthetics, contact lenses, an incredibly intricate wardrobe and make up. It required over three hours of effects daily, which I actually really enjoyed!
You pair that with the masterful writing of John Logan and well, it was one of the best experiences and I feel truly special to get to talk about it.
What is your proudest professional accomplishment?
This is a tough one. Besides breathing the same air as Brad Pitt? (like I was WITH him, breathing the SAME air, for many hours).
OK but if I’m really honest, which I’d like to be, I feel more inclined to say I’ve had a few proud accomplishment moments and they’ve all been the same or about the same thing. Let me explain…
I feel like the job of an actor is quite strange, and it can go from being very dry and nothing happening, (and wanting to quit every other day) to everything happening all at once and then back to nothing again. There’s very little stability so getting that rare (in my case) call for a role is a huge moment, yet very fleeting.
SO, for me, it’s the moments when I’m on set or in an audition, and I feel stuck and in my head BUT I manage to get out, and be IN the damn moment, be free. When I can truly and honestly tune everything out and just be there. I get real proud.
If you could change one thing about your career, what would it be?
I mean, so much and nothing at all. So much in that I would’ve liked to beat myself up less (a lot less) and trust myself a lot more.
I’ve learned that the industry is tough enough, but then again that’s the process – for the same reason, I wouldn’t change a thing.
What do you hope to achieve that you haven’t yet?
JEEZ, no pressure. I’m very superstitious and kind of have a passive manifestation thing going on. I like to stay quiet about things until they’re REALLY happening and I’m actually on set and it’s getting filmed. I do this because I’ve learned the hard way (I’m stubborn), to be humble and just do my own thing (this is an ongoing process).
I’ve had a lot of failures, and I mean A LOT. I’ve learned so much more from my failures – in fact I’ve learned everything from them – which has inevitably put things in perspective for me. I stopped trying to achieve a specific thing, my achievements became a less tangible thing and a more “in the moment feeling.”
All this to say – I want to do good things you know? Great things too, but mainly just me.
