Alongside international stars such as Jude Law and Diane Keaton, the series The Young Pope also features Silvio Orlando, Neapolitan theatre and big screen actor, famous for his roles in several Italian films directed by Pupi Avati, Nanni Moretti, Antonello Grimaldi and Carlo Mazzacurati.
In the series written and directed by the Oscar-winning Paolo Sorrentino, Silvio Orlando plays cardinal Angelo Voiello, Holy See’s Cardinal Secretary of State, a character he describes as "not very simpatico (nice) - but empathetic."
He adds, "someone who like all dark characters has a perverse allure."
Italian actor Silvio Orlando on the set of "The Young Pope" by Paolo Sorrentino Source: Gianni Fiorito
Acting in a foreign language "requires a superior application and concentration."
In order to star in the series financed by Sky Atlantic, HBO, and Canal+, Silvio Orlando has had to perform in English, a language, which he admits to SBS Italian, he does not master very well.
However, the additional challenge of not using his mother tongue has meant he has studied harder than usual for his role. As he explains it, acting in a foreign language "requires a superior application and concentration."
He credits the extraordinary effort as helping him “to reach a result which is a bit better than the average of my performances."
At the centre of the story told by Paolo Sorrentino, is Lenny Belardo, a young American cardinal, apparently meek and with little political leverage. Left in an orphanage at a very young age, Lenny develops a difficult relationship with his faith in God. Unexpectedly he is elected pope by the College of Cardinals, whom mistakenly believe they have found in him an easy-to-manoeuvre pawn.
Paolo Sorrentino (The Young Pope - backstage) Source: The Young Pope facebook page
Once he has ascended the papal throne as Pius XIII, Lenny becomes a controversial pontiff, not at all inclined to be controlled.
Orlando has only positive words to say about the series’ star, British actor Jude Law whom he describes as "an extraordinary person and actor” with whom he shares a theatre background.
Despite the language barrier, Orlando says he “never felt judged [by Law]."
"He never acted like the super star which he is. He is very nice, a wonderful person, a very easy-going young man at the end of the day".
Nevertheless, working with such a super-star, while also under the guidance of the famously exacting Academy Award-winning director Sorrentino, certainly put a lot of pressure on Orlando - "like hell on earth" he jokes.
Jude Law Source: Screenshot - The Young Pope
He says recalls being “afraid of spoiling this ‘big toy’, so expensive, so important.”
He half-jokingly compares his character to a potential “virus in this perfect machine."
Orlando says that being up to the challenge of playing such a role "was something that took away from me several hours of sleep."
related content
The Young Pope premieres exclusively on SBS
But how did the Vatican react to a production which appears to be so critical towards the Catholic Church?
According to Orlando it "has reacted in a wonderfully effective way: it has completely ignored it, as if we had never done it!"
Orlando says that perhaps reacting to the production "is a trap in which they did not fall".
The entire season of 'The Young Pope' is streaming now at SBS On Demand:
[videocard video="915170371834"]
