From Sardinia to the big screen: Caterina Murino between passions and talent

Sardinian roots, international career and a new life on the way: the actress comes clean in an intimate and candid interview

She has never needed superstructures to leave her mark. Profound eyes, a calm voice, and resolute energy. Today as she is ready to start a new chapter in her life, the actress talks about herself with the urgency of those who still have a lot to tell – and give.

What is the first place you go to every time you return here?

This is my land. To me it feels like finding a piece of myself again. I have deep roots here. I have a house which is surrounded by the colours of this land which evokes memories. It gives me peace and a sense of belonging.

Sardinia: luxury or nature?

You can find both. I was here during the golden age of nightlife in Porto Cervo between discotheques and jet-setting events, but today I prefer living a different life. All it takes is to drive a little further away by car and you will find yourself in a corner of paradise, empty beaches even in the middle of August. Sardinia has never abandoned its wild nature.

Your career ranges from Bond girl to host at the Venice Film Festival. What have you learnt from this experience?

My career has not been linear at all. I encountered many obstacles, I questioned myself. It was not all red carpets and grandeur. But this job can always surprise you: sometimes you get a phone call and the whole process starts again. I was lucky to have the opportunity to choose varied and challenging roles. This is what keeps me alive. And so, today I am offered parts in films that are quite different from one another and each time it seems just like the first.

Caterina Murino, Bond Girl in Casino Royale

What about your iconic role in Casino Royale?

It was a tremendous opportunity, but perhaps I only understood its significance later. I was the first Bond girl in the Daniel Craig era, in a film which marked a change of mood in the saga. . Today, I look back at it with gratitude and realisation: not so much for the glamour surrounding it, but for the chance it gave me to build an international career.

You were the host of Attraverso i nostri occhi, an exhibition about animals that moved the audience.

That was my pet project. From 24 to 30 July 2024, I travelled across Sardinia along with my husband Édouard and photographers Alessandra Cossu and Fabrizio Pinna, recording more than 4800 animals. The material collected was then turned into a travelling photographic exhibition. We wanted to give a voice to the forgotten, abandoned and mistreated animals; unfortunately, Sardinia has a history in this regard. Ringhio, a dog left in a kennel for 15 years was a primary example: he died in December despite all our efforts to find him a family. His story will also be told through a documentary because would like the institutions to start collaborating with the associations, to change their mentality.

Do you have a dream you would like to achieve in the next years?

I feel I am living a magical moment. Soon I will become a mother and I believe we all have a huge responsibility today: raise conscious human beings