'Another Simple Favor': Blake Lively gave this advice to Michele Morrone
'Another Simple Favor': Blake Lively gave this advice to Michele Morrone
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Blake Lively appears at 'Another Simple Favor' premiere amid lawsuits
Blake Lively made a public appearance at SXSW as she and "It Ends With Us" director Justin Baldoni litigate alleged on-set misconduct in court.
There's a new player in Emily Nelson and Stephanie Smothers' game of catwalk couture and mouse: Michele Morrone.
'Another Simple Favor' director Paul Feig recruited the Italian actor, who broke through as a kidnapper hoping to seduce his captive in the erotic thriller '365 Days,' for the 'A Simple Favor' sequel (streaming now on Prime Video).
Morrone, 34, plays Emily's (Blake Lively) wealthy, Mafioso fiancé Dante Versano, who is instrumental in helping free his bride-to-be from prison. In the original 2018 movie, Emily was arrested after Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) secretly livestreamed Emily copping to faking her own death, which she tried to pin on her flailing husband Sean (Henry Golding). In the new installment, Emily taps Stephanie to be her maid of honor at a dreamy destination wedding in Capri.
'I read the script, it was incredible,' Morrone says.
Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox
He admits with a laugh that '365,' is 'not the best film ever,' but he reprised the role for two sequels. Morrone has also portrayed a husband who regretfully begins an affair with a robot in 'Subservience,' and recently wrapped 'The Housemaid' (also directed by Feig). He's filming 'Maserati: The Brothers' with Anthony Hopkins, Andy Garcia and Jessica Alba, as well as another project, which he has to keep under wraps. What Morrone can say is, 'It's going to be so fun.'
He can speak more freely about his role of Dante, which is 'nothing like it seems,' Morrone says. 'He wants to feel powerful, but he's not. He doesn't really care about being a Mafia boss.'
Morrone reveals the important lesson Lively taught him on the set of 'Another Simple Favor' and the importance of being original.
(This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.)
'Another Simple Favor': Why director Paul Feig 'tried to kill' the sequel
Question: What made the experience of 'Another Simple Favor' so enjoyable?
Michele Morrone: People were kind and fine and funny and super-inspiring, even (more than) the acting. I've learned so much. Blake is in the industry 20 years, and I'm just new. So I had the chance to learn the American acting method.
How does the American method of acting differ from Italian acting?
In Italy, it seems like you just need to be in front of a camera to be an actor. I believe that actors in America take the job much more serious than Italians. The movie industry in America is one of the first industries. So they take it very, very serious, and I like that. We're working, and we need to make a good project.
The American people on set, they're so, so polite, even positive. When you work on an Italian set, they make you feel like you don't know (anything). You just have to do the job. Americans are very open to listening to you. I was so surprised that Paul Feig was there to listen to my ideas. We had an exchange of ideas, and we gave life to the character together.
Is there a specific piece of advice you received about American acting on set?
I was trying so, so hard to speak in the American slang, but then Blake was like, 'Why are you doing that?' I was like, 'Because I want to at least try to speak like you.' She was like, 'No, you're cool because you have an Italian accent. If you were an American actor, you would be just like everybody else.' It was so refreshing for me. And I really want to thank Blake for that because that was actually right. What matters is the acting, the work, the passion you have for this job, how serious you take a film and a script.
Is there someone whose career you would like to emulate?
No, everybody should find their own way to become original. Because if you try to emulate someone, you're just bringing a weird copy of someone else and people won't be so interested in you because it exists already.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have cozy date night in Florida amid singer's rumored fallout with Blake Lively
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce had a low-key date night in Florida amid the singer's rumored friendship fallout with Blake Lively. The pair was spotted having dinner at Harry's restaurant in West Palm Beach on Friday night. MMA fighter Jose Andres Cortes shared a photo on his Instagram Story of the couple looking cozy while sitting side-by-side in a booth and enjoying some drinks before having their entrees. Another snap posted by singer Mark Morrison caught the Grammy winner making an excited facial expression while seated at the table. A source told TMZ that the lovebirds, both 35, entered the restaurant holding hands before Swift walked ahead of Kelce. The 'Cruel Summer' songstress wore a floral off-the-shoulder sundress for the romantic outing and styled her hair in a loose bun. The NFL star, on the other hand, wore a printed black-and-white button-down shirt with tan pants. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end has been renting a $20 million mansion in Boca Raton, Fla., while training in the offseason. The outing comes after it was reported that Swift is further distancing herself from her longtime pal Lively after being subpoenaed in the 'Gossip Girl' alum's ongoing legal feud with Justin Baldoni. 'Right now, if Taylor had one wish, it would be that she never met Blake,' an insider claimed to the Daily Mail Thursday.'Although there have been good times during their relationship, the issues now concerning the Baldoni case have outweighed them.' 'When Taylor looks back at their friendship, she realizes it wasn't worth all the stress Blake put her through. She can now see all the red flags that should have been a warning to her,' the source further alleged. Kelce is said to be supporting his girlfriend in the drama — even unfollowing Ryan Reynolds, Lively's husband, on Instagram. Baldoni's lawyers originally subpoenaed Swift on the belief that she played a role in Lively's alleged attempts to take control of 'It Ends With Us.' In Baldoni's $400 million countersuit against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, the 'Jane the Virgin' alum claimed the 'Another Simple Favor' star name-dropped Swift to push her script rewrites. Baldoni's attorney Bryan Freedman went on to allege in a written affidavit to the court that Lively's lawyer threatened to release Swift's private texts if she did not publicly support the actress. She also allegedly demanded that Swift delete their messages. Baldoni and his legal team dropped Swift's subpoena earlier this week after reportedly getting the information they wanted. A source told Page Six of the situation: 'When information is voluntarily received, there is no need for subpoenas.' Lively's rep commented on the matter in a statement to Deadline, saying, 'We are pleased that Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties have withdrawn their harassing subpoenas to Taylor Swift and her law firm. Lively and Baldoni are expected to face off in court in March 2026.
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Taylor Swift Is Living in ‘Fear' of Alleged Stalker, Files Restraining Order
Taylor Swift took legal action against an alleged stalker, getting a restraining order after living in 'fear' of possible danger. On June 6, the pop singer filed for a temporary restraining order against a man who repeatedly visited her home over the year and insisted they share a personal connection. The Los Angeles Superior Court granted Swift the protective order on Monday. USA Today reviewed the court documents, which revealed the individual to be Brian Jason Wagner from Colorado. In the filings, she also raised concerns about her safety. USA Today shared key details from Taylor Swift's restraining order filing against her alleged stalker. Reportedly, the individual in question, Brian Jason Wagner, visited her house several times over a year, with the first instance dating back to July 9, 2024. He then returned twice that same month. More recently, Wagner made two consecutive appearances on May 21 and May 22, and asked to see Swift 'personally' after 'stating that he was there checking on a friend (again, this is entirely untrue).' In her petition to the court, the Grammy winner revealed that she had been living in 'a fear of imminent harm.' She alleged that Wagner repeatedly visited her house and engaged in 'concerning and threatening' conversations with her staff, prompting her to file for the protective order. Swift further mentioned that she has never 'publicly' revealed the location of her Los Angeles home or address. Therefore, Wagner's repeated visits, refusal to leave, and claims of needing access make her 'fear for my safety and the safety of my family.' Taylor Swift's alleged stalker also made false claims about sharing a personal relationship and a son with her. Moreover, the restraining order filings stated that Wagner made disturbing statements during his visits. These falsified comments included claims about 'living' at her LA property, sharing a 'relationship' with her, and 'believing' she was his son's mother. Swift called these 'untrue and disconnected from reality.' Her claims also mentioned the staff receiving hundreds of emails from him. Swift's restraining order ensures her safety and prohibits Wagner from 'harassing, stalking, assaulting, or disturbing' her. Additionally, it prevents him from communicating or coming within 100 yards of the pop star, her home, her vehicle, and her workplace. The order will remain effective through the court hearing on June 30. The post Taylor Swift Is Living in 'Fear' of Alleged Stalker, Files Restraining Order appeared first on Reality Tea.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Sebastian Maniscalco's kids are his world. But he's not their friend.
For Sebastian Maniscalco, few sounds are sweeter than an audience's laughter. Though validation from other parents also ranks pretty high. 'Once you start hearing that what you're doing at the house is working outside the house, it's incredible,' says the 51-year-old comedian, who is dad to Serafina, 8, and Caruso, nearly 6. The son of Italian immigrants, Maniscalco regularly riffs on his childhood in his routines. His experiences growing up in an old-school Italian family have become a hallmark of his comedy style — and his parenting style too. He'll be the first to admit he's the disciplinarian in the household. 'I pride myself on teaching my kids manners,' he says. 'I don't want my kid growing up like some entitled brat who just expects everything to be handed to them. I'm not my kids' friend. I'll say no and be firm with it and not cave in.' But Maniscalco and his wife, Lana, balance each other well. 'She has a lot more patience,' he tells Yahoo Life. He refers to her as the gentle parent, but he draws the line at gentle parenting. 'That takes it to a new level where the kid is basically running the house,' he says. That's certainly not the case at the Maniscalco abode, where the kids make their beds, clean their plates and handle other chores. Never one to shy away from a teachable moment, the comedian will call out bad behavior in public: 'If I see it and my kids see it with me, I'll pull them aside and go, 'You see the way that kid behaved? We don't do that in our family.'' Maniscalco had some time to figure out his approach to parenting: He became a father in his 40s. That wasn't on purpose, he says — he just spent his earlier years building his career. And he wouldn't have it any other way. 'The wisdom and the maturity have benefited me as a father in ways that I never could imagine,' says Maniscalco, whose acting credits include Bookie, The Irishman and About My Father. 'I have lessons that I could pass down to my kids because I've lived a bit more of a life than a man who has kids in his 20s or early 30s.' He's had to find ways to juggle fatherhood with his career, and likes to build his schedule in spurts: a few days on, a few days off. A week on the road, a week at home. 'I love to work, but I also love my family,' he says. 'It's nice to go on the road for three days, do what I love to do and then come back.' That's because being a present dad is a nonnegotiable for him. When he's home, he's a mainstay at his son's Little League games and takes his daughter to gymnastics, calling their car rides 'some of the best times we've ever had' because it's just the two of them, distraction-free. As a family, they recently took in their first baseball game together and love hitting farmers markets. They're also big travelers and are headed to France and Italy this summer. Importantly, Maniscalco gets that parenting doesn't come with a script, so he's happy to pivot when needed and defer to Lana when he's been away. 'There are no egos here when it comes to getting stuff done around the house,' he says. 'It's not like, 'That's not my job' [or] 'I don't do that.' It's very much, 'What do you need?' [It's] very active.' He often jokes about his family, but Maniscalco, who is currently on his 'It Ain't Right' tour, isn't out to put his family on blast. 'I'm just looking to share stories that I find humorous,' he says. 'I feel like whatever I find funny is the type of humor that people are going to enjoy, and that my kids, if they ever look back on it, are not going to be embarrassed [by].' He also stays relatable by sharing too-real parenting moments on his socials, like the time his wife had to sit in their impossible-to-uninstall car seat (don't worry, it was in the back seat), or the realities of having two dogs (a house that 'smells like beef jerky and wet tennis balls.'). Alas, his kids may be some of his biggest inspirations, but they're also some of his toughest critics. Case in point: In December, Caruso fell asleep at one of his dad's shows. Still, Maniscalco wasn't offended. 'I don't blame him,' he says with a laugh.
