Better known as junkie Corky Caporale from The Sopranos, and the quick-tempered chef Udo Cropa in the 2000 indie hit Dinner Rush, New York-based actor, writer and director Edoardo Ballerini has appeared in over 40 films and television series. Upcoming projects include No God, No Master, opposite David Strathairn, and HBO's Boardwalk Empire. He prefers to be known as “Italian and American” as opposed to “Italian-American,” and is convinced that if it weren’t for his Italian name he would never be called for Goodfellas-type roles. Often undertaking smaller projects that have kept him under the radar, Ballerini has still received much critical acclaim for both his on-screen and on-stage acting. He never compromises his integrity, living by the motto, “To thine own self be true,” as originally put by Polonius in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Here he explains his admirations, inspirations and dreams.
Text by Lucia Davies
Poppy de Villeneuve is a photographer and film director. She shoots regularly for the New York Times, The Telegraph, and Vogue. Her most recent film project involved five short films set in Central Park for the New York Times. In 2010, several of her works were exhibited at Colette in Paris
