Vittorio Menozzi is one of the new faces to watch. In a short time, he has established himself as a true fashion darling, capturing the industry’s attention with an authentic and distinctive presence.Having first emerged from a reality TV context, he is now moving into acting, embarking on a path defined by discipline, research, and growing self-awareness. In this conversation, he reflects on his relationship with image, his transition into cinema, and the development of a deeply personal vision of the actor’s craft.
Today you are embarking on a career as an actor, and your image is also evolving within the fashion world. What does fashion mean to you?
Fashion was a first moment of rupture for me. It started almost by chance in 2019, at the same time as the beginning of my university journey, breaking away from a life shaped by very rigid structures and a discipline largely devoid of art.Up until then, I had developed a strong sense of rigor and a solid value system, but I was missing the feeling of truly walking a path built on personal, deeply conscious choices. That rupture became one of the first steps in my search for myself, and the first real opportunity to feel, from within, the meaning of “artistic freedom” and “professional responsibility.”
In recent months, you’ve been invited by several brands and events. How conscious is your relationship with your image today? Do you build it strategically, or do you try to keep it as spontaneous as possible?
I believe that finding your own way of communicating your image says much more about your relationship with yourself—and about how clearly you perceive your identity—than people might think.What we consciously choose to keep private, what we decide to say, “this belongs to the side of me I want people to see,” is a form of awareness that has been beneficial to me—almost therapeutic.
I don’t know how much of this is perceived from the outside, but nothing is left to chance for me. The lens through which I see—and allow others to see—the moments I choose to share is constantly evolving, yet it reflects both my personal and professional journey.
I believe this kind of coherence is something brands can perceive when collaborations begin. And, as often happens, even if it may seem counterintuitive, spontaneity is the result of a great deal of awareness and work. It’s a truth I experience every day through acting.
Looking ahead, what kind of roles do you see yourself playing as an actor? Is this something you are already building toward, or are you currently working on a set? Can you tell us more?
I currently have two projects set to be released in the coming months, both filmed last year.
Every day, I realize that I am undergoing significant changes within myself—both on a human level and in the technical process of learning this craft. While every moment invested in it feels sacred to me, I’m also aware that it requires navigating a world full of distractions and commitments that can pull you away from the level of focus needed.
It’s a constant battle, if you truly want to become the best.
If you were to imagine an international path, would you see yourself more in Europe, or are you drawn to the idea of a career in the United States, perhaps in Hollywood?
Both Spain and the United States are environments that strongly attract me. However, I remain cautious about being drawn to a specific type of career path. Among the texts I’ve read and the teachers I draw inspiration from, there is a quote by Sanford Meisner that I often think about:
“Your art will not be good until it is only yours. That’s true of music, acting, anything creative. You work until finally nobody is acting like you.” This is what truly drives me—what creates a sense of urgency within me. To find a way of acting that is genuinely my own. That is my compass, and it will ultimately guide the projects I choose and the places where I will work.
Who are your iconic characters—the ones you wish you could have played? Who are your masters, and why?
I grew up with my father, watching James Bond films together in the evenings. If I imagine myself making a film, I would definitely want to become one of them. Beyond those memories—blended with ambition and emotions I can hardly describe—I can name some actors, actresses, and directors who have deeply influenced me, both technically and emotionally. Among my favorite actors are Denzel Washington, Marcello Mastroianni, Joaquin Phoenix, and Cillian Murphy, as well as Margaret Qualley, Emma Stone, and Mia Goth. As for directors, several have shaped my imagination through the uniqueness of their storytelling, including Guillermo del Toro, Federico Fellini, David Lynch, and Quentin Tarantino.
When you’re not working, what do you enjoy doing? And if there were a “sliding doors” moment—if you hadn’t become an actor—what would you have wanted to be?
My mother, who is a pianist, has been a constant presence in my life since I was very young. Music has always been part of my growth: over the years I’ve played piano, composed electronic music, played guitar, and sung. I would probably have pursued a career in that field. My other passions are the human mind, art, and design. My inner research has always gone hand in hand with my exploration of the world around me, and I would love to help people find their own path based on their individuality. I could imagine myself as a gallerist, a spatial designer, a jewelry or fragrance designer, a psychologist, or even an entrepreneur in the field of mental health.
If you had to imagine yourself in five years, where do you truly see yourself?
I’ve made a promise to myself—and to those who believe in me—that over the next five years, my time will be entirely dedicated to acting, personal growth, and music. It will be a period of deep planting. I truly believe that the difference in results comes from focused dedication to a few key things. That said, there are two long-term dreams I can already share. The first is to develop a project focused on introducing and educating younger generations about the digital world, helping to create a new generation that feels at ease within the relationship between technology, happiness, and self-awareness. Possibly an educational program, developed in collaboration with schools, museums, and local institutions, aimed at encouraging personal expression through the conscious use of available tools. In the longer term—perhaps not in five years, but in ten or fifteen—I would like to begin collecting art more consciously and eventually create an independent gallery, perhaps starting in a hybrid format and then evolving it over time.
TALENT: VITTORIO MENOZZI @vittoriomenozzi
IMAGES: PIER COSTANTINI @pier.costantini
STYLING: ROMUALDO CORVINO @romualdocorvino
GROOMING + HAIR: GIORGIA GIOMMONI @giorgiagiommoni FASHION COORDINATOR: ISABELLA PETROCCHI @isabellapetrocchi STYLIST ASSISTANT: ALESSIO MARCO PEPE @alessiomarcopepe ROSITA BELLAVEDUTA @bellavedutarosita
PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT: PETRA CARAVAGGIO @petracaravaggio LOCATION: PORTRAIT MILANO @portraitmilano