Rome-born supernova Lorenzo Zurzolo is a sensation like no other. The actor has previously spoken to us from the pages of VMAN43  about everything from growing up in the center of Italian capital to finding fame in Netflix’s teen drama Baby. Now that the movie sets are off-limits, Lorenzo is spending much of his time indoors — and taking advantage of these unique circumstances by reflecting on his personal and professional life.

On finding life’s essential values, making sacrifices, watching Italian cinema classics and more — read in the interview below:

VMAN How did the onset of this year’s public health crisis change your outlook on life and/or work?

Lorenzo Zurzolo It was a totally unexpected world crisis. We thought it was short-lived and at the beginning, I had underestimated the situation. All these lockdown measures could also appear as a diversion, a break from the daily routine. Then, however, the number of victims that increased made us become aware of this tragedy. Became a life without those simple little things we did every day, it made us remain alone, with our worries and our reflections, but it made us better understand the important and essential values. Surely we will come out changed, nothing will be as before. You have to take advantage of all this time available to grow and to commit to improve your activities, to study.

Will this crisis change our profession? Certainly, the crisis has also hit the cinema sector hard, but ours is an area that will never die. Our world will adapt with more spaces to TV series, series and films on-demand whose production level is now increasingly similar to that of cinema.

VM What do you think people can learn while practicing social distancing?

LZ It is difficult for everyone to stay indoors and we young people also have to make small sacrifices. But it is important not to waste time and take advantage of this situation to deepen your interests and also discover something new. In times like this, you realize how fundamental art is: books, music and films keep us company and help pass the time. I am passionate and I am practicing a lot on the guitar. Thanks to the internet you can learn anything. I’m also using this time to spend it with my family, it’s been a long time since we spent so much time together, and we didn’t talk so much.

VM Many people are reevaluating travel plans… If you were to be in one place for most of the summer, where would that be?
LZ 5 months ago “Baby” was honored in Santo Domingo at the Canadorada Film Festival, I went with the director and producers of the show. I was staying in a small seaside resort and we spent six days in this paradise, we never wanted to go back. I live in Rome, which is a very chaotic and crowded city, if I had to choose a place for the whole summer it would be that. Perfect for relaxing without worries.

VM The public health climate has shaped many people’s reading and viewing habits — what are some of the reading/viewing material you have sought out at this time?
LZ In this period I am taking advantage of the opportunity to see a lot of old films, both Netflix and Amazon have inserted cult films of Italian cinema such as Troisi, Scola, Monicelli, it is nice to be able to see films this type of film on these platforms.

VM How have you ‘given back’ in light of the public health crisis?

LZ In times of difficulty, our country huddles around the weakest people. Italy has a big heart. In my small way, with my family we made ourselves available to do the shopping for the elderly people who live in our building, My condominium is inhabited by many elderly people, alone, and, on Easter day we attached to their door home an envelope with a small pastiera and a greeting card. The thanks received from the condominiums have been moving, especially by the lady over the age of ninety on the fifth floor, old but always in great shape.

VM How are you planning to spend your summer?

LZ We still don’t know what the government’s provisions will be. I can’t wait to go out, to meet people, to eat with friends, simple things. I would like freedom… And go back to the set.