Matteo Santorum has an Italian flavor and disarming depth.
Born in Riva del Garda, Matteo is a young actor on the rise in the Italian cinema scene. Native English speaker, Matteo boasts of his academic training in the prestigious Royal Drama Academy (RADA) in London.
After some experiences which saw him as a protagonist in the theaters, he landed on television and became well known public playing Jacopo Leone in the Rai fiction Un posto al sole. He continues his television journey in Piazza Fontana: Io ricordo, on Rai1, directed by Francesco Miccichè and in Erasmus plus stories on Rai2.
In 2021 he made his cinema debut in the film Non Tutto è Perduto directed by Francesco Bellomo, where he plays the role of Olmo. Last autumn we finally saw him in the Libera series, directed by Gianluca Mazzella in a co-protagonist role.
We met him to discuss life and past and future projects.
Hi Matteo! You grow up in a small town in the Trentino Alto Adige countryside.
When did you realize that you wanted to be an actor and how difficult it was (if it was) to pursue an artistic career?
There is no precise moment—it just happened, like magic. I was young, and I would say that my passion for acting was something inherent, something that began with play and gradually evolved into the awareness of a vocation—a calling, if you will.
Like any deep passion, pursuing this dream demands determination, patience, sacrifice, and even moments of struggle before it can truly become yours.
American director Orson Welles once said: “The enemy of art is the absence of limitations”. – do you agree with this statement?
Just like when, as a child, out of necessity, all it took was a stick found in the woods to become a brave knight and dive into new, unknown worlds, everything was, at the same time, a limitation and a potential for something more. Therefore, I agree with Welles in the sense that limitations tease, provoke, and spark the imagination of the artist. Limitations call your genius into play.
I remember when, during afternoon breaks in middle school, to escape the soccer games organized in the courtyard, I gathered a few kids, mostly girls, who, like me, dreaded the idea of spending that time just watching others play. So, I put together a play with students (who had never actually shown interest in acting) and with me, an 11-year-old passionate wannabe actor. I wrote a story, created a set with whatever I could find in the basement, made do with what I had, and tried to convey to them the desire to bring those written words to life.
And this reminds me that when the will and the desire are strong enough, no obstacle is truly an obstacle but rather an opportunity. Obstacles will be shaped, used, and absorbed into the flow of creative passion.
Having said that, I’d like to leave you with a personal thought—that we must remember, once we become adults, to rediscover that childlike, unstoppable drive. I wish this for myself and for anyone willing to listen to their inner voice.
In this regard, it must be mentioned that you attended the prestigious Royal Drama Academy in London.
How much did that help you in your career path and what are the substantial differences between acting in the UK and in Italy?
London was my salvation. Not only did attending an institution like RADA shape me artistically — a true gift, especially at the age I was — but it also allowed me, on a personal level, to let go of my former identity and truly find myself. For an actor, there is nothing more precious and noble than being granted the freedom to be who you are. For that, I will be forever grateful.
Furthermore, I believe that the difference between acting in Italian and in English lies primarily in the approach to work, study, and research found abroad.
This is VTEEN perhaps one of the main reasons why I still entrust my training to international coaches, and whenever possible, I try to go to the United Kingdom or America — even though it’s not always easy.
That said, I deeply admire the artistic and cultural richness of Italian theater and cinema, which have given the world some of the greatest actors and directors in history. Italy has a unique emotional intensity in its storytelling, and I feel fortunate to be able to draw from both traditions.
If you hadn’t been an actor?
Acting is not just something I do; it’s my very essence. Without it, I wouldn’t be myself.
After participating in some television series for RAI (Un posto al sole, Piazza Fontana: Io ricordo, Erasmus plus stories) you were chosen for the role of co-star by the director Gianluca Mazzella for the series Libera in 2024.
What did that moment represent? Who is Elia?
Every professional milestone is an opportunity to infuse a project with a piece of myself, my story—hoping it reaches people’s hearts and sparks something within them. It’s about taking risks, questioning myself. It’s an extension, a constant search.
I see art as something salvific—not just for me, but for those who find themselves in it. I never see it as a destination, but as a sign that I’m on the right path.
Elia is my fragility (as, in the end, all my roles are and will be — it’s an ongoing battle of mine to have fragility recognized as a strength, breaking away from the singular patriarchal representation).
He is my adolescence, my gentleness, my care, my ability to listen and embrace. He is the act of making oneself small in order to truly welcome the other.
Could you tell us something about your next project L’appartamento Sold Out directed by Giulio Manfredonia and Francesco Apolloni?
Unfortunately, I can’t reveal much. However, I can say that it’s a series that will surely resonate with audiences for its delicacy, irony, and the relevance of its storytelling.
Lorenzo, my character, is a tribute to the uniqueness of being and to love itself.
It should be released soon, by the end of 2025.
And favorite singer and song?
I love Italian singer-songwriters like Lucio Dalla, Riccardo Cocciante (lately, I’ve been obsessed with Celeste Nostalgia), Patty Pravo, Mina, Luigi Tenco, and Roberto Vecchioni.
That said, my playlist also includes artists like Troye Sivan, Benson Boone, and Fred Again. I don’t have a favorite song — it changes every day, depending on my mood. And. trust me, I have plenty!
A letter to your future self.
Dear Me,
To you,
Who have fought,
And have always remained faithful,
For the child you were and the human being you wish to become.
You, who seek beauty in the world, you, who care for others, for humanity.
May your curiosity and determination always push you further,
May no HUMAN goal ever halt your search.
May the scars, hidden beneath the dimples of your smiles,
Frame the achievements you have longed for, dreamed of, and worked hard for.
May your artistic vision remain ever faithful to your values.
Nurture them, share them.
Redemption.
With heart.
And may these words find you in the moment and place for which you rise each morning and step into the world with the same energy and strength, always.
CREDITS
Talent: Matteo Santorum
Agent: Davide Musto
Photography: Riccardo Albanese
All Looks: ALCHETIPO by Andrea Alchieri
Fashion Editor: Corinna Fusco