IN CONVERSATION WITH RICCARDO DE RINALDIS
interview by JANA LETONJA
Riccardo De Rinaldis Santorelli is one of the most exciting young actors to emerge from the Italian screen in recent years. After making his television debut in 2018 with Non Mentire, he quickly built an impressive résumé with standout roles in Fratelli Caputo, Don Matteo, and Luce dei tuoi occhi. His breakout came in 2023 as the lead of Vivere non è un gioco da ragazzi, followed by acclaimed performances as Italo Niccolai in La lunga notte – La caduta del Duce and the patriotic hero Goffredo Mameli in Mameli. With leading roles in both Italian and international productions, and a new Rai series, Tutto l’amore che resta, arriving in September 2026, Riccardo is entering an exciting new chapter in his career.
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Looking back, what first sparked your passion for acting, and when did you realize it could become your career?
I didn’t know I wanted to act. I always had dreams of doing something that could move and excite people. I knew how to be on set because I grew up doing commercials, but I sensed the spark just after my first real acting gig. In that moment, I fell in love with what I was doing and knew I was on the right path.
You made your TV debut immediately after high school. How overwhelming was that transition?
I was young and focused on doing well and not messing things up. I wasn’t really thinking of how big everything was becoming. Now that it’s almost an eight-year career and I look back on little Riccardo, I can see how lucky I was, but it always feels “right”, how it’s meant to be, and not overwhelming at all.
You chose to continue training with acting coach Anna Redi even after landing professional roles. Why has continuous learning been so important to you?
Anna was, I think, my first ever guide on this path, and after her, I decided to change and try new things. I love learning, and being a student is the fate of an artist. It’s really exciting to have the opportunity to give a face and a body to a character, studying them and bringing them to life with personal and non-personal experiences. Changing and transforming is what really makes me feel alive, so I think I chose well in this lifetime.
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Every role teaches something new. Which character has changed you the most as a person?
I want to say “the next one,” but if I have to choose one, it would definitely be Goffredo Mameli. So young, but at the same time so powerful as to change minds with just a poem and then a song. That’s what we, as the new generation, must understand. We can change things if we really want to. We’re the future.
Vivere non è un gioco da ragazzi was a major turning point in your career. What did that project mean to you?
It was my first project where I was the lead. It taught me a lot of things, such as not taking myself so seriously, letting go, and being more natural. In the beginning, during rehearsal, I had a constant feeling of needing to perform perfectly. And the more I pushed myself, the more I was losing focus. So I let go, and then everything came naturally. I will always be grateful to Rolando, my director, and it's a project that will always have a special place in my heart.
You’ve worked across contemporary dramas, historical productions, and now international projects. Which genre do you feel most at home in?
As I said, I really love my job. Everything is a lesson, and everything will always teach me new things. Comedy is something that surprised me. It’s a genre that gave me the opportunity to show a side of myself that few people get to see. It’s fun and light, and considering what the world is going through right now, fun and light doesn’t sound so bad, does it?
suit CORNELIANI
jewellery SWAROVSKI
You’re now working on international productions. How different is the experience compared to Italian sets?
I didn’t see a lot of differences. It’s always a big family, a team, that comes together and wants to create something great and entertaining.
As a young actor, how do you deal with expectations and the growing visibility that comes with success?
Honestly, I never thought about it. I just want to have fun doing my job. I don’t really care about what people’s expectations are. That doesn’t mean that I don’t care about people's constructive opinions. I just don’t give power to people or opinions that can distract me from doing what I do. And as for the growing visibility, it really depends on how centered you are and using it to do good and being grateful for it.
Is there a role or type of character you’ve always dreamed of playing but haven’t had the opportunity to yet?
Yes. I've always loved Jackie Chan, so maybe something with kung fu or an action movie could be really fun to do. Fantasy, too. Fantasy romance, maybe?
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Are there any actors or directors, Italian or international, you would love to collaborate with in the future?I talked about comedy before, and acting-wise, I’m a huge fan of Olivia Colman. Collaborating with her would really be a dream. Also, Steven Spielberg is one of my favorite directors. The worlds and “other worlds” that he has created have always had a big impact on my life.
What excites you most about joining Tutto l’amore che resta, and what can you share with us about this film?
When I got the job, I was really excited because the story talks about the coming of age of a lot of young people. Different stories that merge together. My character is a young fella who's been in jail and now has to redeem himself by working in the school where the other kids are. Something that I can spoil a little is that there is a lot of running.
When you’re not working, what helps you disconnect and recharge?
Mostly family and friends. But lately, meditation really centers me, makes me feel lighter, and makes me see the world with more joy.
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TEAM CREDITS:
talent RICCARDO DE RINALDIS
photography SIMONE PACCINI
styling GARIGLIANO
grooming LUCIA ORAZI
stylist assistant MABROUK SAYAH
photo retouch GILES MIREK STUDIO
publicist MPUNTO COMUNICAZIONE
