Gabriella Pession stars as the antagonist in Peacock’s ‘Those About to Die.’ Keep reading to learn about how she got started in the industry, the new Peacock series, and other exciting projects she has in the works. 

Gabriella Pession is taking the industry by storm with her new role in Peacock’s “Those About To Die.” The talented Italian actress, screenwriter, and producer is giving HOLR the inside scoop about starring in the “sword-and-scandal” series that explores the dark side of the ancient Roman Gladiator Games.

During our conversation with Gabriella, below, we also dive into her beginnings in the film industry and her latest projects to date. Keep reading to learn all about Gabriella, her latest roles, and what’s next for the star.

Talk to us about your passion for the film industry and how you got started as an actress, screenwriter, and producer. 

I was actually an ice skater! When I was a kid, I spent most of my time on the ice. I was on a professional path to ice skating but then I had an accident where I broke my ankle, so I wasn’t able to continue competing. By chance, both my parents were working in the fashion industry in the 80s in Milan, which was very hot at the time. I then started to do modelling for a bit but I didn’t like it. Since that wasn’t really my dream, I started to act- by chance. I actually played a lead role straight right away, and that’s how I really started. I fell in love with acting over time and engaging with the work and material. I love finding roles that are challenging and creative because I truly love the creative aspect of acting and how it relates to the wish and capacity to build ideas.

You’re starring in Peacock’s new series Those About to Die (premiering July 18^th) and Disney+’s Tell Me Lies– what can you tell us about these exciting projects? 

I’m super super super happy to finally deliver a role into more of an international market as I have mainly acted in Italy over the past 20 years. For me to be able to land these two roles is fantastic. “Those About To Die” is a dream project for me- so it’s actually an American production that I shot entirely in Rome at my doorstep!  This has been a fairytale for me. Antonia- my character- is really the dream role for an actress because it’s so complex. It’s manipulative, it’s fiery it’s wild, it’s clever- a bit promiscuous, ambiguous, and crazy, It has all the ingredients to make an amazing role into something so fun to play and watch. It’s a fantastic mixture of characteristics and I absolutely adore this role.

I did the first season of “Tell Me Lies” when I lived in Los Angeles 3 years ago, and then after 2 years I thought it was a chapter that was over but then the showrunner asked me back as a regular with a bigger role. They wrote me an amazing role. It’s an amazing twist and was super fun to shoot. All the cast and actors are incredibly talented. It was a super fun experience for me.

What can you tell us about the television series you wrote which will be coming soon to the major Italian Channel, Rai Uno?

I always had a dream to try and find a way to live in Tuscany for half of the year. I thought of combining storytelling to apply to the broad audience, and it’s basically about the journey of a woman who works in Milan and is a successful chef. She is single and completely absorbed in her career. She has friends, but no sort of relationship.  The speed of our lives these days is so fast but something happens in her life – that I can’t spoil – but has to do with two kids. She would be obliged to leave her life in Milan and move back to Tuscany, where she grew up, as a result. She is then forced to change lifestyles against her will but then it turns out to be the best thing that ever happened to her. She finds herself in stillness, into the simple quality of Italian life, family, and human connection. It’s really a story about the little things in life that make life happy.

We also hear that you’re finishing the screenplay for your first feature film- congrats! Can you tell us more about what we can expect from this project? 

We’re a bit behind on this because I want to take the time to tell the story I want to tell. It’s a story that takes inspiration from the relationship between me and my father. It’s a love letter to my father. We had a difficult relationship throughout our life and this is a journey where I want to meet him through the script. All the things we hadn’t lived and the difficult relationships that there are sometimes between parents and their kids. It’s a little bit based on my biography with my father.

What’s next for you?