Massimo Boldi did not expect that «at the end of my career I would have difficulty making a film, at least the film I would like. Otherwise, I am happy: the relationship with my daughters and grandchildren is extraordinary, I have a beautiful family».
To Corriere della Sera, the comic actor and director as well as producer talks about his relationship with Christian De Sica: «We are friends, whoever says we have quarreled lies, we are on good terms, we have just embarked on different paths. We had proposed to Paolo Virzì a film titled “Dying from Laughter”, the protagonists die, but Christian and I would still make people laugh...». At the cinema then «I brought the classic show-off on the screen, Christian was my counterpart in Rome. Everything came from observing people, what they did in life. I always imitated existing characters».
Christmas Holidays turns 40, a mega party (three days) in Cortina to celebrate it
Boldi, the beginnings
Like many others, the beginnings were difficult for him. Before becoming a comedian «I did many jobs, including selling Buondì Motta. I worked for the Trappini agency that did the attempted sale, I sifted through the province of Varese, bars, restaurants, grocery stores. I would walk in and ask: “Do you need anything?” They paid in cash and we settled up in the evening».
And if he couldn't sell «it ended up that for dinner, at my house, we ate coffee milk with Buondì. We didn't have a lira, after my father's death it was me who had to provide for my mother and brothers». Before making people laugh, he did many jobs, including being a window dresser. Massimo went to school in the morning and in the afternoon he attended the school in via Duccio da Boninsegna: «I left at dawn and came home at 10pm. For the exam they had me decorate the windows of Galtrucco, the historic Milanese fabric store. It's something that stayed with me: the way to touch the fabric, to place it in a certain way».
The relationship with Pozzetto
Massimo Boldi lost his father at a young age but did not lose his desire to make people laugh, to be a lifelong yuppie. Nor did he lose his desire to play music. «I grew up in the Ticinese area in Milan, where I started with my friends to form the first musical groups, the Shadows and the Apache. We played guitar and drums». The turning point, he tells Corsera, came suddenly «Thanks to Renato Pozzetto, who is like a brother to me. Without him I would not have done this profession: we met in 1968 at the Derby Club, the temple of cabaret. In 1974 he took me to Canzonissima».
Is there someone more likable than Massimo Boldi? Yes, there is. «Silvio Berlusconi. Unreachable». Why did he betray him? «Bettino Craxi introduced us saying:“It will be your fortune”. And so it was: we immediately liked each other. In 1986 I ran away from Fininvest to do Fantastico with Adriano Celentano: they sued me, I lost and they sentenced me to pay 2 and a half billion. When I came back, Berlusconi forgave me: “You owe me 2 billion and 500 thousand laughs”».
The cult characters and actresses
The character most loved by his audience is undoubtedly Max Cipollino: «He is my mask. He was born in the 80s, when I was doing four hours of live broadcasting with Teo Teocoli at Antenna 3 Lombardia, with the lines “I know, I know ... I didn't know it but I know”. He was an adult who remained a child, people loved him for this».
And "Now she cheats on me?"? It was born «in “Christmas Holidays 1995”: in the final scene Luke Perry appears who takes my daughter Cristiana Capotondi away. They dance together, he tells her to come away... I chase them, the elevator closes in front of me and... «Now she cheats on me”».
The most beautiful woman he met on set? «I acted with Cindy Crawford and Bo Derek, but the most beautiful was Ornella Muti».
Private life
Today Massimo Boldi is a lone man «I have been a widower for 20 years and I have had some important loves. One of them cheated on me with my best friend. I always wondered why they didn't tell me. Instead I found out by stalking her: it ended badly, I caught her red-handed».
Another disappointment. The missed Ambrogino d'Oro. «I wasn't hurt, but it's like if in Rome they hadn't given a city merit to Alberto Sordi. It seems strange to me, that's all». The award ended up in the hands of Pucci. «Yes indeed. But I'm happy for him, who by the way has a veneration for me». His heir? «It's not Pucci!».
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