Interviewing actress Nina Vito

1-. How was your childhood?

I was born in the heart of the world Belgrade, Serbia. My childhood was a combination of a comedy and tragedy with lots of love. I always preferred comedy. I was first-born child in a family and I had all eyes on me. I was the one and only for 8 years. The favorite. Since I was born in a war, my family had lots of struggles financially since the day one. They said it was hard but they did everything to keep my big smile. They used to collect money in the family to buy me a pair of shoes. Sometimes they could afford only one apple to buy for me to keep me healthy. It was hard we were poor but when surrounded with lots of love and good people not even real bomb and life danger can bring you down. So I learned since young age that everything is in our head and I started imagining a better life.

2. - From what age did you decide to be an actress and how did you know you had the skills to go on TV?

Since the age of 5 I was singing, dancing, entertaining my family at home and my mom saw the potential in me. She then took me to audition to a child theater and I pass it right away. I started acting in a theater amongst other children and big actors at that time in Belgrade, Serbia and I fell in love with the energy of creative work. Later on another war happened in Serbia and theater was my dreamland and escape space from harsh reality. The place where we used to sing and dance and act, most of the shows were musicals, I’ve always wanted to do that forever. My first appearance on a TV was when I was 8 years old on CNN as we were singing a song “Prayer for war to end”.

3. - Did your parents support you in the decision you made to be an actress?

My parents loved seeing me acting when I was a child. It was my mom’s idea to start acting since the young age and I am forever thankful for that. She did a great job putting me to work in a theater and focusing on staying a child during the hard times of the war and poor in Serbia. My dad was taking me to the shows and after that taking me to McDonalds for Big Mac meal and presents. Later on I developed big love for art so I moved to the main child choir in the city, then I became a part of the travelling theater in a high school, then moved to sing in city choir for adults. When it came to studying professionally acting my family wasn’t very supportive of me doing it since the financial struggle. I had to study something sustainable as they said. So I studied economy. On my final year of college I figured that is not what I want to do. So I decided to find my way to Hollywood and make my dreams come true.

4. - What was your first appearance on the screens?

My first appearance on a screen was at the age of 8 I was with my friends from theater “Puz Theatre” Children’s theater in Belgrade by Branko Kockica .We were singing a song as a prayer for a war to stop. Music video was filmed in Belgrade and it was on CNN so the entire world can see it.

5. - What was the role you liked the most?

When I was in Children’s theater my favorite role was Gold Fish in the same name of musical we were playing. Later on I played in a comedy show “People’s Deputy” by Branislav Nusic and I had a very interesting role where I got an award for perfect diction. Many years later in Los Angeles I really loved playing in Beverly Hills Playhouse that was my favorite place to be. My first role in a movie was a Jumanji parody I was the girl who opened the box I loved it.

6.- What do you think led you to fame?

I don’t think I am famous. But if I ever become it will probably be because of my endless positive energy, sense of humor and ability to see the best in others and bring the child in every person I came across. I think being famous is being appreciated by people, admired and loved. Maybe I am famous then. I am not quite sure about that. Others should say that I think, not me. As every actress I am insecure too. I just act well I guess.

7-. What types of characters you would like to interpret?

I have really deep range of emotions. Within that I think I can interpret lots of different characters cause I can feel it all. Do I like feeling it all? Not really. So I prefer comedy the most. I like to laugh and make people laugh, that’s the best medicine for a soul. But I would definitely like to play different characters. I can be very happy, also very sad. I can be very humorous and also very devastated. I can feel like a hero but I also go to zero. I think that all emotions are beautiful melodies of a soul so I would like to do them all. Teach people how each emotion matters and it is all good as long as you can feel it – you are alive.

8-. What actresses and actors do you feel comfortable working with?

I admire lots of actors especially in Hollywood and I would love to have a chance to work with some for sure. In a meantime there’s so much to learn so I am enjoying the process. I feel comfortable working with people who feel comfortable within themselves and who are able to open their heart to art. Meryl Streep amuses me, Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts and many other actresses including new generation I think they are all amazing and unique. From actors I really like Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks and of course I am forever in love with Leonardo DiCaprio’s looks and work.. There is many of successful actors I would be honored to get a chance to be part of the group.

9-. In what other genres of art would you like to participate? (Works of theater, music, among others)

I really like playing in theater that’s my first love before even singing and being on a big screen. I like it all. I really love being on a stage as well as being on camera. It is very different and yet interesting work so I would like to do a combination for sure. Being on a stage is a live show so the energy level can’t compare to nothing, on the other side making a movie it is very exciting just starting from a place and surrounding which is often not studio is different level of excitement. As well as genres I would love to do comedy, action, sci-fi, fantasy, romance, I would definitely love to play one day Madonna I think she is the biggest music icon. I grew up with her music so that would be something very exciting. I really love singing a lot.

10.- Do you have any anecdotes that have marked you in your life and as a person?

Oh God. Many. I’ve been a rebel since the young age and often grounded but I would always find a way to escape home prison and make my life exciting again. I fall from a tree while making an escape home from my parents, I was stealing bubble gums as a kid so we had a bubble competition with other kids “Who can make the biggest bubble”, I organized a group of delinquents in elementary school to steal tests so everyone can pass physics. Teacher was supper strict we needed to get things done. Entire life was something many anecdotes I always liked having fun and wanted to make others happy and laugh. Many things happened in Hollywood that’s entire movie od my life but I liked it all!

11.- What has been your greatest achievement?

I think is staying humble and keeping my big smile and pure heart no matter what. Many things happened to me since my entire life, from war, to poor, to living my dreams in Hollywood to completely losing it all. I think the biggest accomplishment is not losing myself. Knowing that no matter what happens around me, especially unexpected things I couldn’t control, I learned how to control myself, stay calm and always be close to God. Be good. Be kind. Then everything is possible.

12.- What projects will you make next and which ones do you have in mind?

I would love to get booked and have my big breakthrough so I can finally say I do live from acting. So far I was investing, learning, studying, enjoying and doing it but I’ve never came to that point where I can say I am living it completely cause I had to do side job all this time. So I would love more than anything to become a working actress and maintain my life with it. I don’t need much just enough so I don’t have to do anything else. For me beside acting no job is exciting. Some are interesting from time to time, more or less intelligent and good or not that good paid but only acting makes me feel alive. Everything else is just a job to me. Acting is something that makes me excited. Alive. Worthy of living the life with full heart.

13.- Would you like to make a movie in Spain?

Definitely! I love Spanish language, people and food! I was in Spain and it is so beautiful I think that’s the only place in Europe where I could potentially life beside Serbia. Even though my favorite city in the world is Los Angeles. Spain in so alive and movies are great I used to watch as a little lots of Pedro Almodovar’s movie he is amazing! I was taking Spanish dance classes when young so I learned Salsa, Tango and Waltz.

14.- you like spanish cinema?

I love Spanish cinema and I love sisters Cruz I grew up watching “Un Paso Pdelante” , “Los Seranos”, and recently I fall in love during Covid time with “La Casa De Papel”. I would love to have a chance to act on Spanih one day and be part of Spanish cinema. Spanish people have an amazing drive for life, sense of humor and the languare is very interesting to me it is the most interesting when I speak Spanish it is not just a talk it is like some song and show together with so much passion. I simply love it!