Versatile and dynamic, Matteo Martari speaks with Lifestyle Mag about his career and hobbies

Art With Excellence

By Wallace Rezende

A particularly versatile, dynamic, adventurous man, who, at the click of “action,” completely changes, transforms. Lifestyle Mag had the pleasure of gathering a special team in the presidential suite of the Hotel De La Ville in Rome, and photographing exclusively the Italian actor born in Verona, the capital of the Veneto province founded by the Romans in the 1st century BC. Such heritage connected to a region so historically illustrative helped shape the DNA blended with the performing arts that, by irony of fate, would become his profession. There are countless miniseries and films with the most varied characters; Matteo Martari has gifted us with emotions in scenes from the 14th century and also takes us into the future in the blink of an eye.

With this vast experience, it could not be otherwise: Matteo Martari reveals himself today as a holistic actor with unique skills, which has led to many successful leading roles in Italy and worldwide.

However, his life is not all about work; with a deep interest in sports, martial arts, cooking, and retro culture, he also enjoys the dolce vita like a true Italian.

Lifestyle Mag: At 38, you have accumulated great experience in the film world with titles like L’Alligatore, Cuori, and Sotto Copertura. One work in particular caught our attention, and I’m sure you’ve been extensively questioned about it: The Medici (streamed on Netflix). Watching some scenes, we were simply amazed by the entire set design and costumes. What was the experience like on set in Florence?
Matteo Martari: First of all, thank you for the kind words. The Medici experience was incredible for me. As you rightly pointed out, every detail, every particularity—everything was studied to revive that era: the choice of fabrics, the buttons, the type of leather, the window curtains, even the fabric of the flags was researched down to the smallest detail. Everything was prepared so that we, as actors, could “breathe” that period which, happily or unfortunately, is distant from us.


LM: The Italian Renaissance is one of the greatest artistic references and revolutions in human history. What was it like to experience firsthand the cultural and artistic fervor of such a remarkable era?
M: Nowadays we are used to considering ourselves the creators of our own destiny, “homo faber ipsius fortunae.” However, it is during the Renaissance that this kind of thinking and the major social and cultural changes truly developed; obviously, there is still much to be done in terms of improvements in human rights. This experience was a kind of Renaissance for me as well. Placing myself in Francesco Pazzi’s shoes gave me the ability to measure (albeit artificially) the immensity of that period’s artistic evolution, an electrostatic charge that now helps me appreciate the great artistic treasure we have inherited.

LM: Italy is a culturally rich country with many dialects. What was the experience of adapting to the Tuscan language, coming from the Verona region? And by language, we mean both the tongue and the mannerisms, colloquial expressions, and so on. What is it like to dive into something so specific?
M: The biggest challenge I had to face while studying and portraying my character was starting to think like the people of that time, with no judgment, because that’s how things were back then. The mindset was very different. Regarding the dialect, accent adaptation is something that can be solved technically, with a lot of work. Fortunately, we filmed in English, so there was no problem in my opinion.


LM: In Mesa para Quatro (Netflix) you take part in a romantic comedy where the idea of soulmates is truly challenged, echoing some recent cinema trends such as 500 Days of Summer and La La Land. And this brings us to a question: how do you feel about love? Do you believe in soulmates? In classic romanticism? Or are you more inclined to this current trend of diverse loves and endless possibilities?
M: I believe in love and in respecting love, but I do not believe in the concept of one eternal soulmate. Every person we love is our soulmate; this thought is based on the fact that we are beings in constant growth and change. If we grow and change constantly, a concept as definitive and exclusive as a soulmate cannot exist. It doesn’t matter if it’s for a short or long period of time; when we deal with love, we are always speaking of soulmates. Obviously, it has to be love! However, there are different types of relationships where love is not involved, and the interests/feelings at play are quite different.

LM: What was the best advice your mother and father gave you?
M: Be kind.


LM: In your acting career, you have brought to life various characters in different historical periods and with varied professions. Which of these experiences was the most fun for you?
M: In their own way, all of them were particularly fun. This is due to all my characters being very different from me and therefore allowing me to experience new ways of living, new approaches to life, and perspectives different from my own. The fun lies in the research and discovery.


LM: Moving away from the professional field a bit, how about talking about some of your peculiarities? Well, coming from the land of gelato, I imagine you have a favorite flavor, right? Mine is Mint with Chocolate; what’s yours?
M: Pistachio and hazelnut.


LM: You live in Rome. What do you love most about the city? And what are your favorite bars and restaurants in the area?
M: Living in Rome is like living in a museum, and the quality of light always surprises me! I prefer not to promote any particular restaurant. What I will say is that I prefer taverns (osterias).


LM: Now, a question that might even sound a bit cliché, but what would life be without a little cliché, right? What are your main hobbies at the moment? What do you do to recharge after spending a long time filming a project? How do you disconnect from the character?

LM: When you are not filming or on the road, what is your routine like?
M: Training is my routine. I practice Brazilian jiu-jitsu and mountaineering. I recently started playing piano, so that is a new dimension of my routine.


LM: You, in addition to being an actor and model, have also worked in a bakery, right? What are your favorite dishes? What do you most enjoy making, what are the recipes and desserts that take you back home?
M: I am a true glutton; I eat everything and like almost everything, but if I have to choose my ‘best of,’ I would say Tagliatelle al ragù bianco. I have fun preparing appetizers, different types of pasta—carbonara, ragù, garlic and oil, and chili… the only dessert I can make is tiramisu, but I eat all of them. Being a ‘little ant,’ I prefer creams.


LM: In a past interview you gave on the program La Vita in Diretta, you mentioned that you like to step away from who you are in order to dive deeper into the experiences that acting can offer. Which verb would define this idea of who you are? To know? To explore? To study? To live?
M: Research leads you to new discoveries, not necessarily about yourself, but it certainly enriches you. ‘Research’ would be the word.


LM: Perhaps drawing a negative parallel but with the desire to better understand who Matteo Martari is. Today, what would you say is the thing that afflicts humanity the most?
M: I would say injustice and ignorance. They are among humanity’s heaviest burdens, along with disrespect.

LM: In an optimistic tone, and also looking at the positive side of the same coin: what is the greatest pleasure in the world for you?
M: It’s difficult for me to pinpoint a specific pleasure; sometimes it’s so unexpected that it becomes immeasurable. Pleasure is always there, around the corner, so let’s leave it to chance.


LM: In your world, what is your favorite place?
M: I like to answer “wherever I am.” For me, it’s more something internal than external.


LM: You, as someone close to the arts, must have good musical references. Tell us: who are your favorite singers or bands?
M: It’s impossible to mention just one; I would have to name half the discography from the ’50s to the ’80s. I really love songwriting—whether Italian, American, or British—and rock! In any case, great classics are what truly move me.


LM: We have seen a big change in media lately. Are you thinking of diving into these new forms of artistic expression? Like Instagram Reels or TikTok?
M: The beauty of art is that it is evolutionary, adaptive, and personal, so it finds expressive forms everywhere. You just have to try, take risks, and not be afraid of judgment.

LM: What drives Matteo Martari? What is your fuel?
M: Passion, both inside and out.


LM: Would you describe yourself as a person of routine or spontaneity?
M: I generally love spontaneity, both in myself and in others, but I often find myself dealing with routines, so I don’t know. I hope I’m the harmonious blend and balance of both concepts.


LM: Your connection to nature is notable on your Instagram feed. How would you best explain your bond with Mother Nature?
M: It’s not a question of “connection” between me and Mother Nature… we are all absolutely connected to her. There are people who are more or less inclined to listen to that nature. For me, this is essential to live peacefully in our current society. I need to withdraw to nature; I always look for opportunities for greater distance and contact with the forest in its most natural and wild state.


LM: We are curious about your next steps. Can you tell us what’s on your horizon? Goals, objectives, dreams – what do you want to achieve with the steps you are taking today?
M: Regarding work, I’m doing a series for Rai 1 produced by RAI and Cross Production, and soon I’ll make a film for Sky called “Imperfetti Criminali.” And after that, I don’t know, we’ll see. As for the complex unfolding of life, we can try to plan everything, but we always have to deal with third parties who are not always willing to accept or even understand our arguments. My biggest goal is to continue being who I am. For the future, I’ve drawn a kind of path, but perhaps there is another one that I will undertake. Dreams never come true when they are spoken, so I will keep them secret. But I have many.

A romantic, optimistic conclusion that really has the character of Matteo Martari, doesn’t it? If you haven’t yet seen the works of this artist, how about taking some time now to enjoy some of the series he has participated in, or some of the films he has starred in.

You can find Mesa para Quatro available right now on Netflix. We’re sure you will love it. Arrivederci!