Adam Driver defends the role of two famous Italians in House of Gucci and Ferrari: ‘It’s just that way’
- The 40-year-old actor, a native of San Diego, appeared on Jason Bateman and Will Arnett’s Smartless podcast, where he opened up about taking on these roles
- The interview comes after his performance in Ferrari was criticized by critics and moviegoers alike
- The actor and former Marine played Maurizio Gucci in 2021’s House of Gucci and then took on the role of Enzo Ferrari in the biopic Ferrari
Adam Driver talks about playing two famous Italians in his films House of Gucci and his latest film, Ferrari.
The 40-year-old actor and San Diego native appeared in Jason Bateman and Will Arnett’s Smart podcast, where he opened up about taking on these Italian roles.
The interview comes after his performance in Ferrari was criticized by critics and moviegoers alike.
The actor and former Marine played Maurizio Gucci in 2021’s House of Gucci, and then took on the role of Enzo Ferrari in the biopic Ferrari, which debuted last month.
During a conversation with Bateman and Arnett, he admitted that taking on two Italian roles was not entirely strategic on his part.
Adam Driver talks about playing two famous Italians in his films House of Gucci and his latest film, Ferrari
The actor and former Marine played Maurizio Gucci in 2021’s House of Gucci
He then took on the role of Enzo Ferrari in the biopic Ferrari, which debuted last month
He admitted that taking on those roles was “a good example of not being strategic in a way that I probably should be.”
“So many people said, ‘How many Italians –?’ I think it just worked out that way,” the actor said.
He joked that someone on his team probably should have warned him that “it’s going to come up a lot.”
“But I’m like, you know, it’s Ridley [Scott] and it’s Michael [Mann] and in my opinion they are among the best filmmakers. Who says it was two Italians back to back?’
He also joked that he’s “probably” done playing Italian roles after realizing how much he was asked about them in interviews.
‘It amazes me how much comes out. It’s like, “You have something,” and I say, “They’re two! They’re two Italians!” There’s only two,” Adam added.
He added that playing Gucci was before Ferrari: ‘less to do with Italy, although I do like it.’
He admitted, “It’s more about Ridley Scott and Michael Mann and the projects themselves. Italy is not the first thing I think of.’
Driver’s latest film Ferrari received a seven-minute and thirty-second standing ovation at its world premiere at the prestigious Venice Film Festival.
He admitted that taking on those roles was “a good example of not being strategic in a way that I probably should be.”
He joked that someone on his team probably should have warned him that “it’s going to come up a lot.”
The film has received largely positive reviews from critics with a 73% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, although some critics and many fans have trashed his Italian accent.
‘Adam Driver with an Italian accent sounds so funny I can’t take him seriously,” while another moviegoer posted, “I want whoever approved Adam Driver and Shailene Woodley’s Italian accent to be fired quickly.”
Another amused viewer wrote: ‘Adam Driver’s Italian accent in the Ferrari movie is hilarious.’
While someone else wrote: ‘It’s really funny that some of our greatest living directors look at Adam Driver and say, “I’m going to cast you as a guy with a cartoonish Italian accent.” I think he’s a bit like this generation’s Al Pacino, who was always cast as Cuban in the 1980s.’