Mario Di Leva in Sanremo and the Napoli shirt: «Today De Laurentiis invited me to the stadium, how exciting!»

Mario Di Leva, ten years old, born in San Giovanni a Teduccio, Naples, conquered the country yesterday on the Sanremo stage with his verve and above all for the naturalness with which he bickered with Amadeus in football. He arrived at the Ariston as the protagonist of the fiction in eight episodes “Stay with me”, on Rai 1, from next February 19th. Mario conquered the scene with Francesco Arca, carrying his totem in his hands, the Napoli shirt, his favorite team «which is experiencing a magical moment», he says. The scene is already cult on social media because when the artistic director of Sanremo receives it he specifies: «I support Inter eh. And we’re the only ones who beat you.” But Mario doesn’t get upset: «It’s cold, eh at -13?».

Mario, did the joke come from the heart or was it a bit prepared?
«Not at all prepared, it came out as you heard it. Amadeus tried to make fun of me with Inter’s victory, so sorry, what should I do? I just made things right.”

You play football, are you a full back?
«Yes, I belong to the Atletico Portici football school, I like it a lot. But if I had to choose between acting and the soccer field there would be no match: vI want to be an actor because I was born in the theater».

Tells.
«I am ten years old, exactly as old as the Nest theater in San Giovanni a Teduccio. My father, along with a group of friends and colleagues, founded it the same year I was born. I grew up among curtains, armchairs and sets thanks to him, Francesco Di Leva (face of “Il Sindaco del Rione Sanità” and “Nostalgia” just to mention only the two films by Mario Martone in which he was the protagonist, also making the debut little Mario who also starred in Sergio Rubini’s film “The De Filippo brothers” and in “Come prima”, “A breath of air”, “Never again as before”, ed)”.

And how’s school going? What grade are you in?
«It’s fine thanks to the help of the principal and the professors who didn’t hinder my desire to act. When I’m on set, I do my homework between takes, I always have books with me so I can’t fall behind. I repeat the lesson and then turn around».

Do you like school?
«Like all children my age, it’s not that I love her so much, it’s normal. But I know that it is very important, I know that it is a path that must be taken seriously and I am very committed».

Favorite subject?
“History. I’m very curious to find out about my past.”

Classmates? Are you an actor, do you feel different from them?
“Not at all, they are very similar to me. I’m one of them, we also share the passion for this great Naples».

bedroom. Are posters still being used? What do you have on the walls? “I have a picture of me playing football and one of Cristiano Ronaldo. Yes, I’m a fan, she even has his book. Obviously I have the workstation with the play station and I play it willingly».

Favourite actor?
“Can I say my father or can’t you?”

Yes you can.
«So my father, but also Joaquin Phonix and I love Robert De Niro».

The great De Niro: why?
«I’ve seen all his films, from “Raging Bull” to “Once Upon a Time in America” ​​and I fell in love with him: I like everything, how he acts, how he speaks, how he looks…».

The women in your family.
«I have a sister, Morena: she too had started acting, but then she didn’t get as passionate as me. And my mother, Carmela Esposito: I can never thank her enough for the support she gives me, for everything she does ».

And so from February 19 you will be even more famous, you have an important role in «Stay with me». What is your role in Rai1 fiction?
«I am Diego Russo, a child who lives in a complicated family situation. It’s a series about adoption and you’ll discover that Diego is a very strong, very emotional boy. At first I didn’t even know how to give him a voice, then I felt his story firsthand».

The Corriere del Mezzogiorno newsletter

If you want to stay updated on the news of Campania, subscribe for free to the Corriere del Mezzogiorno newsletter. Arrives daily straight to your inbox at 12 noon. Just click here.