AMID HUMAN CONTRADICTIONS AND THE TREE OF LIFE’S FLAWS, GAIA WEISS PAINTS HER FAMILY PORTRAIT IN WAX
Project by
Niccolò Lapo Latini @niccololapolatini
GAIA WEISS, Paris, 18th February 2025 // At Château Voltaire, 55-57 Rue Saint-Roch, Paris 1er Arrondissement, dans La Suite Voltaire // Holding her breath, awaiting the release of the new Netflix series Storia della mia Famiglia in Italy, right in the midst of the press tour.
The victories and defeats, the imperfections of the winding path toward self-discovery as individuals in a dark growth. Help me, Mom, help me, Dad. Hold my hand, brother, caress my heart, sister. The sleepless nights, the gray ceiling full of specks like static interference, the to-do list for the next day, the New Year’s resolutions that begin again every Monday. The promises unkept, those that cost dearly, perhaps too much, but how can one back out? Blood ties, an acid trip between blackmail, guilt, and boundless, immeasurable love. Steve Carell’s line, “more than everything” in A Beautiful Boy, spoken at the airport before the boarding gate to his young son. The fear of never being enough and never finding one’s place in the world, the suspicion that perhaps it doesn’t even matter to find it in the end, the certainty that something important has been forgotten. But as my grandmother used to say, if you’ve forgotten it, it probably wasn’t really that important after all.
Photography Alex Sabot.
What does family mean to you? How would you define the concept of family in relation to your personal life and your career?
Family means a lot to me – I’m very close to mine. We do a lot for each other and try to get together at least once a week when possible. I travel a lot, and of course, there are times when things get busy, but they always eventually calm down. I’ve always managed to maintain a good work-life balance. These values are something my partner and I share, so we naturally spend a lot of time with family. Those are the happiest moments.
Over time, how has your relationship with your parents and relatives evolved? Was there ever a moment when your bond with them had a direct impact on your career or artistic journey? How has your family influenced you as a person and as an actress?
Just before turning 20, I decided to move to London. Within a month, I had left and didn’t return for seven years. While I stayed in touch with my parents, I didn’t visit often and only realized upon my return how hard it had been for them, my brother, and my closest friends. I guess when you’re young, you can be quite selfish. I had incredible opportunities that kept pulling me away, and I was so hungry for adventure that I left without looking back. My family keeps me grounded. None of them works in the entertainment industry, but I truly believe they gave me the confidence and mental stability to pursue my dreams – and ultimately, succeed at making a living from them.
Photography Alex Sabot.
Can you tell us about your role in Storia della mia Famiglia ? What attracted you to the project and how did you prepare to play this character? What was the most interesting or surprising aspect of the series, both in terms of the storyline and the character you portray?
I play Sarah in the Netflix series Storia Della Mia Famiglia – a British woman on holiday in Rome who ends up staying after falling for an Italian man, only to be swept into the whirlwind of his beautifully dysfunctional Neapolitan family. This project came as a surprise. I was in the middle of filming something else in Paris when I received the offer. I was drawn to the character of Sarah because she’s a deeply misunderstood emotional mess, she’s incredibly complex but also deeply endearing, which made her so exciting to play. One thing we share is that I’ve often been “the foreigner” in my life, so I understand the sense of isolation and loneliness that can come with cultural differences.
How does Storia della mia Famiglia explore the concept of family and emotional bonds? What kind of message do you think the series conveys to the audience?
At its heart, Storia della mia Famiglia is a celebration of human nature in all its contradictions. The characters feel very real – Everyone behaves like a jerk sometimes and demonstrates profound empathy at other times. It’s a slice-of-life story, very simple yet deeply emotional. It will move you to your core. You might even watch it and realize your own family isn’t so crazy after all. And maybe, it’ll remind you to cherish every moment with them while you can.
You starred in a very beloved film in Italy, Bianca Come Il Latte, Rossa Come Il Sangue , based on the novel by Alessandro D’Avenia. What does your connection to Italian cinema represent for you? Do you still feel a special connection to Italy and its culture?
I really enjoy coming to work in Italy. There’s a deep connection between French and Italians especially when it comes to cinema, and food.
Photography Alex Sabot.
You’ve worked in different cinematic environments, from French cinema to Italian and American. What differences have you noticed between these work settings, and how do the atmospheres on set differ?
Well, in my experience, Italian sets are beautifully chaotic – definitely more so than American or British ones. But that chaos creates space for spontaneity and accidents, and sometimes, those unexpected moments bring a whole new level of authenticity to a performance. It was actually rare for me to get my schedule in advance on this project, and there were times I had to learn big scenes in Italian overnight – even though, despite appearances, I don’t speak the language very well at all. You have to give up any sense of control. One thing I love when I work in Italy or France is that the hierarchy on set is less rigid. I tend to be much closer to the crew, and I have the best time hanging out with different departments. Understanding what everyone does on set enriches your work as an actor.
In a meeting I had with Alessandro D’Avenia when I was 18 in Florence at a conference about Luigi Pirandello and he asked me: “In life, how do you think we get rid of masks? And when do we finally show our true selves to the people we love?” Have you ever removed them with those you love and, especially, with yourself? Do you think that in the entertainment world, where people often have to play roles, there is a tendency to wear masks, both on set and in private life?
I don’t wear masks with my close friends and family, it’s my safe space to recharge and be fully myself. But in this industry, it’s important to have some form of protection when you’re out in the world. You meet so many people in this job that it’s crucial to have some form of mask to protect yourself and your energy. At the end of the day, everyone in entertainment is playing a role in some way, and people naturally have their own interests at heart – it’s just part of the game. The key is not to get lost in the illusion. What truly matters is staying connected to the essentials: spending time with your family, your close friends, and learning how to spend time with yourself.
