Italian-born actor Victor Alfieri is a true success story. At the age of 18, a photographer invited him to do an advertising shoot and soon he graced the covers of several Italian magazines and his career was born. Tragically, a brutal encounter with three muggers left his face scarred thus putting a premature end to his modeling career. In 1991, Alfieri joined the Italian Police Force but he quit after two years to pursue his dream of Hollywood stardom. The move seems to have paid off. Alfieri has had two contract roles on two soap operas, NBC’s Days of our Lives and CBS’ The Bold & the Beautiful. In 2011, he landed a recurring role on the TNT drama Southland and recently was asked back to reprise the role. But, Alfieri’s talents haven’t been limited to the small screen, he’s starred in 2007’s My Sexiest Year, with Oscar nominated actor Harvey Keitel and in 2009’s Angels & Demons, which starred Hollywood heavyweight and two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks. TheCelebrityCafe.com’s Sari N. Kent had the chance to speak with Victor about his time as a police officer in Italy, what made him come to this country to pursue acting, his career and his current projects.
SNK: You recently reprised your role as ‘Victor Cufuentes’ on the TNT drama Southland. What was it like coming back to the show?
VA: It was a great experience. I was really excited when they called me back, I love the show and I was very very happy.
SNK: You recently starred in a feature called A Secret Promise, which also starred Ione Skye and Talia Shire. What was that experience like?
VA: That was a dream come true. I read for the movie in Los Angeles. I was really interested in the script, it was extremely well written. When I met with the director, producer and the writer, I was hoping to get the movie. The movie was written for an American character not an Italian character and when I got the call, they flew me to New York and the writer and director decided to change the character to an Italian character. It was my first lead role in an American feature film. It was produced by the same people who produced the movie Crash.
SNK: Your publicist mentioned that before you became an actor, you were a member of the Italian police force in Rome for 4 years where you were a special unit driver. How did you go from that into acting?
VA: Well, I was actually in the police from 1991 to ‘94. When I moved to Los Angeles, I discovered that I had a talent and could express myself through acting. I didn’t know that back then. I just happened to be an actor because I was actually discovered while I was on vacation. I hardly spoke any English and my friend who was with me pushed me to do it and they introduced me to an agent. So, I thought I’d give it a shot. So, I went for the meeting and I explained to them that I had never acted. So, I went down and I saw the competition and auditioned and they said you’d be perfect for it, why don’t you give it a try. So, I did and I booked the job. My very first commercial was for Miller beer. So, I fell into acting and I’m not embarrassed to say I fell into it. It’s a good paycheck because being a cop in Italy you don’t make that much money. So, after 20 years, I’m still an actor and a writer and I never stop working even though I’m a naturalized American I still have an accent and really love this country because they welcomed me in.
SNK: Your publicist also mentioned that you are an avid boxer and in September 2011, you fought a friendly match with Ricky “Showtime” Quilles, the four time world champion. How did you become involved with boxing and what was that fight like?
VA: I got involved in boxing through my uncle. I entered the boxing world when I was 13 years old. I like competing. I, unfortunately, had a little accident so I had to put on hold a lot of dreams. So, basically, I had a little accident so I had to put everything on hold, including boxing and then I became a cop. Boxing is something I love to do, to compete, it’s not about rage, it’s not about violence, it is a noble art. I use it as a sport, a way to keep in shape. I got involved with that celebrity match because of Knock Out addiction, which is a charity. I never done drugs in my life but I know people who have and it’s a really good cause. The match was a friendly match so he didn’t kill me *giggle* and I’m glad because prior to the match a lot of people don’t know, one of my lower discs gave and it gave me a lot of trouble. I couldn’t move so people were like, ‘What are you going to do? You can’t move.’ I didn’t want to announce it because it’s the worst thing you could do is as a boxer. So, I did it and I still like to compete and challenge myself once a year.
SNK: You’ve had contract roles on two daytime soap operas, NBC’s Days of our Lives and CBS’ The Bold & the Beautiful. What were those experiences like?
VA: It was great. Days of our Lives was in ’95. A character named José, who was a fisherman, who helped Kate escape after she was kidnapped. Fran Bascom, who was the casting director back then and my longtime friend, she’s the one who really discovered me because she got me that job and she thought I had talent. Then, she brought me back for the bigger contract [the role of Franco Kelly, which lasted from 1995-2000]. She was like, ‘What about the guy who played the fisherman?’ They liked the idea, I passed the selection, and I couldn’t believe it because they had like 250 actors lined up. It was a two-year contract and Days of our Lives was huge back then, it still is. So, basically, I passed the selection, then they tested me. There were about 10 other actors then. Then, I got the role, I was so excited because I changed my career and my life.
SNK: In 2009, you starred in Angels & Demons, which starred Tom Hanks. Did you find any notable differences between acting on television and acting in the movies? If so, what were they?
VA: Yeah, the really big stars. *giggle* You know if you’re an actor, you have to do your job, no matter where you are. In my opinion, you have to try to do your best, whether it’s on a soap opera or whatever. The only difference is what you do with it. Tom Hanks being of a different caliber, no matter what, you have to do your best.
SNK: Your Internet Movie database profile says you are one of the voices in the 2013 animated film titled Nephilim. How did you like voiceover work versus in-person acting?
VA: It’s challenging because you’re in a studio, you’re in a booth. You really don’t need to act with a person, you play opposite a screen. So, it’s a challenge but it’s still acting. It’s actually more difficult because you really need to go deep down and create the action.