Madior Fall | BELLO Style

A Journey into Acting: Passion, Persistence, and Aspirations

Madior Fall @mxdior
Photography Gabriele Di Martino @gabrieledimartino
Styling Simona Sacchitella @simonasacchitella
Video Federica Paola Muscella @Federicapaola_muscella
Shot on Location in Milan, Italy.

You’ve taken on some intriguing roles in your career so far. What initially drew you to acting?

Acting was always something that piqued my interest, especially as a child, I was really curious about the behind the scenes of movies, what was happening in the actor’s brain during the scene, I always found it fascinating. But to be honest it happened by accident for me, in 2019 when a friend suggested that I participate in an open casting call for a Netflix series, and I ended up getting the job. so I was thrown into a huge movie set with little to no experience, alongside talented and experienced actors from which I learned a lot.

What was the defining moment when you realized acting was your true calling?

The first time I walked on set for Zero, it was love at first sight. The energy, the combined effort from each person on set, everybody is collaborating to reach one end goal, one creative result. I was instantly hooked. But also further in my journey once I started studying alongside great teachers like Michael Rodgers or Milton Justice, I really got to understand what the creative process is for an actor and how much more there is for me to learn. And I love every single moment of it.

How do you choose your projects? Is there a particular story or genre that excites you?

Since I’ve only worked in Italy for now, I don’t think I have the privilege to choose all of my roles. The reason is simple, there aren’t many roles for actors of African descent in the Italian peninsula. However I would say I’m more drawn to roles that allow for depth in performance, real stories. Stories that come from pain, driven characters that could kill for their objective.

Who has been your biggest inspiration in your career, and why?

My father is my biggest inspiration. He grew up in Italy in the 60s/70s in Italy as a black man, went to the military, got a degree and a master degree and now works as a manager in the fashion industry. His story in that time period is something unheard of. He’s the one who always pushed me towards my goals while making me aware of the hard work that is required to achieve them.

Do you have any pre-shoot or pre-performance rituals that help you get into character?

I’m still in the process of figuring out what I like to do before I get on set, but I know that when I get there and cameras are about to roll, I want to be open and present in the moment. So usually I don’t eat heavy foods before, and I go through my relaxation mantra, to relax my muscles and my voice.

Acting can sometimes blur the lines between reality and fiction. How do you separate yourself from your characters when the camera stops rolling?

I have to say that you learn something new about yourself with every character. I don’t think I’ve ever had a hard time separating myself from the characters in my day to day life. I think that’s the beauty of acting, that it allows you to act like a total maniac free from any judgement, because you’re “in character” and when you’re done, you go back to your normal existence. However it can happen that I have sudden surges of character behavior, especially when I’m preparing for a role, but it usually is in a controlled way.

If you could play any role, whether in film, theater, or TV, what would it be and why?

I like to challenge myself so I would like to play something far from my persona, not the usual middle class black boy in his 20s living in the 2020s. A historical figure, someone that really existed. It would be a huge responsibility to represent a real character’s life and beliefs. I would love to take on that challenge. But I would lie if I’d say that I wouldn’t like to be the next Spiderman.

Outside of acting, what are your passions? How do they influence your work as an artist?

Sport is definitely something that I’ve been doing my whole life and I’ll never stop doing. I used to play basketball and now I moved on to Muay Thai. One of my first acting coaches once said: “I think every actor should treat their work as if it was a sport”. And I totally agree, sport gives you the mental strength and the work ethic you need if you wanna succeed in any creative field.

What do you think the future holds for the entertainment industry, and how do you see yourself evolving with it?

I just recently moved to New York, so I’m finding myself in a new “market” which is very exciting but at the same time very scary. I think the movie industry has a lot to offer here, especially for minorities. Where I come from it is a privilege if I get one audition per month. I know true artists still exist, filmmakers that care about telling stories, not just complying to what the public wants. I would like to collaborate with those kind of people.

If you weren’t an actor, what do you think you’d be doing today?

I’d probably be an engineer, that’s what I was majoring in before my career started. Then I had to put it on hold for obvious reasons. However I plan on getting my degree in the next few years. So maybe I can still become one!

Who is one director or actor you dream of working with, and what kind of project would you like to collaborate on?

It sounds cliché but I’m a big Martin Scorsese fan and working with him would be a delight. I love how he approaches storytelling and I love the fact that he is very specific with each and every one of his characters. They are all very detailed and specific, which brings depth to his movies.