Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Diletta Guglielmi. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Diletta, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

This past year, I had the incredible opportunity to work on several truly special projects. One of my absolute favorites was the short film “Salvation is Within You!”, directed by the talented duo of Luke Simboli and Dylan Springer, and produced by Jake Metzger, Ohia Morrison, and once again, Luke Simboli. Luke truly poured his heart and soul into this film.
The project was honored with the prestigious Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum grant, chosen from over 500 applicants, thanks to the support of AGBO Films LLC and the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA).
“Salvation Is Within You!” is a narrative historical thriller set in the tense days leading up to the infamous arrests of Sacco and Vanzetti in 1920s Massachusetts. The film follows Salieri, a widowed cobbler, and his two sons, Renzi and Matteo, as they struggle under brutal labor conditions and an indifferent trade union. Lured by radical ideology, the brothers become involved with a local anarchist cell, setting them on a dangerous path toward violence. As they plot to set off a bomb during crucial labor negotiations, federal agents tighten their grip on the Italian American immigrant community, leading to a collision that could have devastating consequences.
I played Elena, a young Italian immigrant fiercely devoted to her grandfather. When faced with an impossible choice between protecting him and revealing dangerous truths, she is torn by fear, love, and survival. While some may view her as selfish or greedy, beneath that exterior lies a desperate, conflicted heart, one that is willing to do anything for her family.
Portraying Elena was both challenging and deeply rewarding. I wanted to bring humanity to her, capturing her vulnerability, internal turmoil, and the weight of the decisions she’s forced to make. I hope audiences can see beyond her flaws and understand the love and impossible choices that drive her actions.
As a young Italian actress, portraying a character who represents the struggles, hopes, and resilience of early 1900s immigrants was incredibly meaningful to me. It was a journey into the past, a way to connect with the sacrifices and dreams of those who paved the way for future generations. Telling this story allowed me to honor my heritage and the countless untold stories of courage and determination.
On a lighter note, I had an absolute blast on set! Period pieces have always been a passion of mine, and getting to dress up and film in such incredible, vintage locations was a dream come true. Huge shoutout to the amazing wardrobe, hair, and makeup team (Jolene Marie Richardson, Olivia Rivera, and Jackie Hughes) who truly worked their magic. They made me feel completely transformed and fully immersed in the early 1900s (see the pictures).
Most of the film takes place at The Shore Line Trolley Museum in East Haven, Connecticut, a fully operational electric trolley museum preserving two miles of original track. Founded in 1945, it restores and operates historic trolleys and allowed us to film on-site with a restored 1920s-era trolley and crane. Its vintage cars and setting have appeared in a number of high profile films and series, including “Ragtime”, “Spider-Man 2”, “Russian Doll”, “Joker”, and “Megalopolis”.
As a great admirer of the Russo Brothers, being part of a project linked to them is incredibly exciting. Their commitment to supporting emerging filmmakers makes this opportunity even more meaningful and inspiring.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi CanvasRebel readers! I’m Diletta, my friends call me Dilly, I am an Italian actress based in New York City. I was born and raised in a small town in northern Italy, Crema, where Luca Guadagnino’s beautiful film “Call Me By Your Name” was filmed! The movie makes it seem like a little heaven, but really, not much is going on over there.
I fell in love with acting when I was 16, studying under the incredible acting coach Michael Rodgers in Milan. At first, his strong and confident presence intimidated me, and at times I was downright terrified of him! He pushed his students really hard to bring the best out of them, he would not settle for mediocrity. He taught me discipline, hard work, and, most importantly, an immense passion for the craft. He expected us to show up early, fully prepared, not just having our lines memorized, but truly understanding our characters inside and out. That deep, meticulous character study, building their backstories, uncovering small details about their lives, is what made me fall in love with acting in the first place.

I moved to New York City almost four years ago to pursue acting full-time, and since then, I’ve worked both on screen and on stage. Some of my most exciting projects include the award-winning film “Through The Modern Looking Glass”, which was accepted and showcased at over 35 film festivals across the US and Europe and won 14 awards, including Best Short Film, Best African American Filmmaker, Best Screenplay, Best Director and Best Ensemble Cast among others. It also screened at the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood!

I also starred in the short film “Doopsy” alongside the amazing Stef Dawson (“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay part 1 and part 2”) and Ruben Rabasa (“I Think You Should Leave” with Tim Robinson).
More recently, I worked on the horror feature film “City Wide Fever”, featuring an incredible cast, including Rutanya Alda (“The Deer Hunter”), Carolyn Farina (“The Age of Innocence”, “Metropolitan”), Larry Fessenden (“Killers of the Flower Moon”), Onur Tukel (“Catfight”, “Applesauce”), and director Douglas Buck. Other projects include the feature film “The Red Queen”, the music video “Mezzo Secondo” by the famous Italian indie artist Gazzelle, and “Salvation Is Within You!”, which I have already mentioned earlier.

Outside of acting, I love to travel. When I was 18, I took a gap year to explore Australia, which was one of the best experiences of my life. Since moving to NYC I love getting lost in the city, wandering through Central Park, discovering cute cafés, and drinking overpriced oat lattes. I love live music, eating great food, going to the movies and criticizing videos of multi million dollar real estate properties I can’t afford (yet).

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I think this is something I’m still figuring out. At its core, my creative journey starts with the pure joy of storytelling and collaborating with amazing artists. I hope that through my performances, I can evoke emotional reactions and inspire empathy, which I think is one of the most powerful and important human emotions. My goal is for audiences to connect with my characters, see themselves in them, and maybe even feel a little less alone. I strive to find the humanity in every role I play.
While I’m not entirely sure what my ultimate goal is, I felt deeply empowered and driven when I had the opportunity to play Sylvia in the award-winning film “Through the Modern Looking Glass”, written by the lovely Christina Renee and directed by the incredible duo Kim E. Wang and Tanya Chuturkova.
The film explores how depression often hides behind a smile, showing how social media can amplify feelings of loneliness and inadequacy. The characters only know each other through their online personas, constantly comparing their real lives to carefully curated posts. From the outside, they all seem to have it all together, but in reality, each of them is struggling with their own battles. It’s a reminder that things are not always as they appear.
My character, Sylvia, is a young, pregnant woman who seems to have the perfect life, living in a beautiful, luxurious home, married to her tall, handsome husband, draped in expensive jewelry, and expecting her first child. But beneath that picture-perfect exterior lies a deeply abusive and toxic marriage. Her husband, Justin, is controlling and short-tempered, prone to violent outbursts, only to follow them up with expensive gifts as an apology. Sylvia’s journey is one of recognizing the abuse, finding the strength to leave, and protecting herself and her baby.
Portraying a woman trapped in psychological abuse, struggling to reclaim her strength and freedom, was an incredibly powerful experience. It made me realize how important it is to me to tell stories about women. Women who are oppressed, lost, vulnerable, yet resilient and ready to fight for themselves and their voices. These are the stories I’m inspired to tell.

Similar stories that recently have inspired me are Margaret Qualley’s performance in the series “Maid” and the women in the wonderful off-Broadway play “LIBERATION” by Bess Wohl and directed by Whitney White at the Roundabout theater.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Similar to my previous answer, I just want to make people feel, entertain them, make them think, laugh, cry. If I can do that, it’s incredibly rewarding and what drives me.
Another very rewarding aspect for me is the process itself and the teamwork that goes into it. So many people are involved in bringing a film or play to life, each with their own specific role, all working toward the same final goal. I love that sense of collaboration, it makes you feel deeply involved and gives you a strong sense of purpose.
Another incredibly rewarding part of this journey has been working with people I admire, people who inspire me and push me to grow. It’s not always easy to find the right creative collaborators, but when you do, it makes the entire experience so much more fulfilling and fun.
A surreal, full-circle moment for me was working on the music video “Mezzo Secondo” by Gazzelle, one of the most well-known Italian indie artists. His hopelessly romantic, melancholic songs were the soundtrack of my high school and young adult years, carrying me through every tough moment and heartbreak. If 16-year-old Diletta knew that not only would I meet him, but that I’d star in one of his music videos, she’d probably faint. My best friend Vittoria and I used to skateboard around our hometown in oversized flannels, blasting his music, just like I did in the video. It truly felt like a dream come true. High school Dilly would be SCREAMING!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dilettaguglielmi.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dillydaydreaming/
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/sKS_560AUt8?si=arxbC_wIH5AcF9bV
• Other: IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14948513/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_0_nm_8_in_0_q_diletta%2520gug

Image Credits

Liri Agami, Anthony Bush