Promising Gen Z actress dreams of working with Matteo Garrone, Tim Burton
From “Il ritorno di Casanova” by Gabriele Salvatores to the short film “Le Mythe Dior” by Matteo Garrone, from “Che Dio ci aiuti” to “Costanza”, and from “Doc – Nelle tue Mani” to “Cuori”, where we will see her again this fall.
Bianca Panconi, a young and promising Gen Z actress and model, brings a special grace to Giffoni, CE Report quotes ANSA.
“I have been very lucky with the roles I was chosen for and with the directors and actors I have worked with so far.”
Among her dreams, she openly admits she would love to work with Garrone again and to make a film with Tim Burton.
“I adore him. I know he will be here in Giffoni tomorrow, and I will definitely come to listen to his words for the young people.”
About her “great” experience with Salvatores, she says:
“It was wonderful because he is truly a master, and everything he said was like huge advice for me. It was extremely helpful to see the relationship he had with Fabrizio Bentivoglio since they’ve known each other for a lifetime and always work together. There was an incredible teamwork dynamic, and they were very important and essential for me in developing the character. Guided by them, I must say, it was almost easy, because you knew you could completely trust what they told you and what was happening.”
Speaking of Garrone, she explains:
“In the Dior short film, I experimented with being a tree, and not just a tree alone, but with a fellow tree. It was magical because, in my opinion, Matteo Garrone creates real magic. Yes, it felt like being inside an enchanted place.”
Among her role models, she mentions Valentina Bellè.
“She is amazing, she studies so much, and I admire her a lot. Abroad, I am a huge fan of Cate Blanchett.”
Among past icons, she says she deeply admires Raffaella Carrà, “She was amazing at moving across so many different fields, from television to cinema. She could juggle singing, dancing—you name it. She was incredible.” And also Monica Vitti: “A cinema icon. When she passed away, I still remember how I started crying. I had to go see my psychologist and walked in crying.”
Regarding the series Costanza, in which Panconi played Selvaggia di Staufen, the illegitimate daughter of Frederick II of Swabia, she says:
“It was a wonderful experience, and it came at a particular time and helped me a lot—it really distracted me. I prefer period projects over contemporary ones. The opportunity to play these historical roles allows me to imagine so many things.”
In “Che Dio ci aiuti” she recalls bonding a lot with the other young actors:
“We are still very good friends, in fact. And it was also very fun because it was my first project that was, let’s say, ‘a bit more comedic,’ touching on some comic notes, so it felt like we were playing together.”
Regarding the issues of her generation, Bianca Panconi gives a very lucid and mature analysis:
“Covid had a huge impact on young people’s mental health, but I also think it’s about this chaotic and dynamic society we live in, where everything changes so fast. If a person is a bit slower, they struggle to fit into the social, relational, or work context. Moreover, from a professional point of view, there are various problems right now in Italy, and I think this badly affects young people’s mental health, even in terms of hope. So yes, therapy works, I believe in it, and I recommend it to everyone. We are mind and body together, not just a body, not just a mind. Everything is connected.”
Finally, from Bianca Panconi, who also graduated in 2024 despite her many work commitments, comes a message to the Giffoners:
“It takes effort, but I believe it is absolutely wrong to define yourself as just one thing. Life is a beautiful gift, and if you have a passion and curiosity, it shouldn’t be limited to just one field. I have a passion for acting, art, psychology, and yoga—so why should I dedicate myself to only one thing if I can do the rest too? Yes, it takes hard work, but when personal satisfaction comes into play, it doesn’t feel like so much.”
