SEPTEMBER 2025
Wearing ZUHAIR MURAD.
PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN SINCLAIR
FASHION EDITOR ORETTA CORBELLI
INTERVIEW DANIELA HERNANDEZ
LOCATION VILLA CARLOTTA LOS ANGELES
Before the chaos of fall sets in, Sabrina Impacciatore retreated to Formentera, a small Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea, to replenish her soul. She’s been coming here for years with friends and family. On this particular (last-minute) trip, she was looking for silence, greenery, and the lapping sounds of the ocean against the sand. The night before she talked to me, she had headed out to the beach with her friends to look up at the stars. “This to me, it’s everything. It’s gasoline for years and years.” She said she needed it to prepare to face the world. She was nervous about watching herself on screen and the public's reaction.
Just after Labor Day, The Paper premieres on NBC’s Peacock streaming service. It’s a kind of reboot of The Office that brings the same “documentary” crew that captured paper company Dunder Mifflin to the fictional Toledo Truth Teller newspaper. Sabrina plays the managing editor Esmeralda Grand. It’s her second big role for American audiences. Her first was as the awkward, lonely and bossy hotel manager Valentina in HBO’s second season of The White Lotus, which earned her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Esmeralda is similarly flawed. She tries to hide her loneliness and low self-esteem at every turn, without much success. She’s a terrible boss who manages only to alienate her coworkers. Despite that, there’s a vulnerability to the way Sabrina plays Esmeralda that makes the character relatable. Perhaps, it’s because loneliness is pervasive, with a majority of Americans saying they feel lonely, according to multiple surveys. Perhaps, it’s that Esmeralda desperately wants change and we’re all striving for that, even when we don’t know how to change. Or maybe, it’s that her manipulative antics are softened by comedy, allowing us to see ourselves in Esmeralda with less judgement and fear. “Hopefully,” Sabrina says, “laughter can save us.”
Total look ZUHAIR MURAD, shoes LE SILLA, bracelet POMELLATO.
This interview has been edited for clarity and flow.
Daniela Hernandez __ What are the three most important things in life for you?
Sabrina Impacciatore __ Nature, art, and love. I live for these three things. Watching the sunset or the stars, listening to the sound of crickets, nature is soul-feeding. It puts you in contact with God, with the absolute, with the meaning of life. Art is the human way of trying to get close to God, an aspiration to the absolute. And love is the only thing that really counts. These three things are life-saving.
DH __ Do you think your character Esmeralda in The Paper also subscribes to that? I noticed in her office she has lots of star stickers on her computer, and of course, her butterfly hairpiece.
SI __ I love that you noticed these things Daniela. Allora. That happened because I was in my office [ed The Paper set] during the shooting, and I love stars. I have stars everywhere. So I found these stickers, and during the shooting I put them everywhere. Everywhere. [laughs] For Sabrina, stars are amazing. But for Esmeralda, a star is a symbol of who she is becoming. In a few years, she needs to become a star. That’s why she wants them all around her, to remind her. It’s like visualizing: “One day, I will be a star.” And the butterfly! Allora. Esmeralda is a very tough character, she’s nasty, she’s horrible, almost a monster [laughs], so I thought: they’re going to hate me. How can I make her lovable? So I had the butterfly idea, and [the show creators] Greg [Daniels] and Michael [Koman] loved it. They asked me, “Sabrina, what do you think about Esmeralda and love? She’s so manipulative. Who could she be attracted to? Someone she can control?” And I answered that to me it’s the opposite. Esmeralda is manipulative, yes, but in love she’s completely innocent, like a child. She doesn’t understand when someone is taking advantage of her. So I thought, when Esmeralda is in love, she feels butterflies in her stomach. And because she’s so obvious, like a child, she puts a butterfly in her hair. [laughs] Only me and the hairdresser knew this! She knew I wanted the butterfly hairpiece because I was “in love.” We laughed so much about this in the makeup trailer.
Total look ZIMMERMANN. ( opposite ) Total look SEBASTIAN GUNAWAN.
DH __ I also love butterflies. That’s why I noticed it. You mentioned Esmeralda’s transformation. She’s becoming somebody else, and the butterfly goes through that kind of change.
SI __ Allora. That’s a very good point. We don’t know who she’s going to become. But I had to have an objective as Esmeralda. Why does she behave like this? She’s this way because she doesn’t want to go back. Now that she’s experienced the beauty of being in the US, being a successful woman, feeling power. She cannot lose that power. Losing it would mean going back to her country, back to her previous life, and she doesn’t want that anymore. The idea of becoming a TV star one day is a possibility she doesn't want to miss. That’s also why she combs her hair the way she does. See those waves? That’s to suggest a diva from the fifties, like Gilda. That’s why I thought, “Let’s start with the hair.” Her hair must suggest the idea that one day she’s going to be someone.
DH __ Are there elements of yourself that you brought to the character?
SI __ Esmeralda is very far from my personality. I’m the opposite of a manipulative person. To be honest, I know I’m beating my drum but I think I’m very sweet. [laughs] I don’t like competition in life. I believe in sisterhood whereas Esmeralda hates other women. I always need to feel part of a team whilst she is very individualistic. What I brought to her is the Italian spirit, the creativity to adapt and find solutions. Italians are used to this, you know? Always finding a way to make things work. Esmeralda can foresee things from a distance and use manipulation as an instrument of power. I also brought some of my innocence. That’s something we have in common. And also the fact of being expressive, loud, and lively.
DH __ I like that, because office culture can be so stiff, and she definitely is not. Down to her office décor! It’s totally different.
SI __ I had a great time with Susie [Mancini], the designer. She’s Italian too. I was so proud that another Italian was part of this unbelievable, legendary American show. We collaborated a lot. They asked me, “What do you see in Esmeralda’s office?” So I said, “There are lots of plants, but they’re all dead. Esmeralda isn’t able to take care of anyone.” It’s a very lively world that she brings into the office. Even if she’s nasty, somehow she has this big energy, like a joyful nastiness. [laughs]
DH __ I noticed something that made me laugh. I watched your interview with Jimmy Kimmel a while ago, which was hilarious. I noticed you often said ‘Allora.’ You even said it here today. And when I heard Esmeralda say it on The Paper, it made me laugh again. It felt like you brought that of your Italian self into the show.
SI __ Si! Allora. Oops I just said it again. [laughs] Jimmy Kimmel was such an important show for me. That interview went viral. On TikTok there were so many videos of me saying “Allora, allora, allora.” [laughs] Then Greg [Daniels] thought, “Why not let Esmeralda say it too?” I improvise a lot in the show. Allora was just coming out naturally, and it works perfectly for Esmeralda. Saying allora is a little trick. It gives her a few seconds to think of the next crazy thing to say, you know? Like, “Allora, what bullshit can I say next?” [laughs] I’m glad you noticed, because I haven’t seen the show yet. I don’t know what they kept in the edit!
DH __ You haven’t watched it yet?! When do you get to watch it?
SI __ I don’t want to ruin my holiday watching myself [laughs], because honestly, when I watch myself, I usually don’t like it. I’ll just wait until the very last moment. I’ll watch it at the premiere. Which now that I think about it, it’s even more scary [laughs]
DH __ You made your choice so stick to it. [laughs]
SI __ Si! Exactly. Basta. We’ll see what happens at the premiere.
Total look STELLA MCCARTNEY.
Total look ZUHAIR MURAD, shoes LE SILLA, jewelry POMELLATO.
Jewelry POMELLATO.
DH __ A lot of the show is tied to nostalgia. The show takes place in the same psychological space as The Office. And you’d mentioned earlier that Esmeralda’s wavy hair was inspired by 1950s divas. Why do you think nostalgia is so present in pop culture right now?
SI __ I think nostalgia is reassuring, because when you look back at the past, especially a time you didn’t personally live through, you only see its beauty. It doesn’t belong to your own memory, so it can feel inspiring, even comforting. Nostalgia is a beautiful but also sad feeling. It roots us; it lets us hold on to pieces of beauty from before. Maybe it’s also because the present can feel depressing, even frightening. Especially now, the world feels soulless. So the past becomes a place where we project soul, warmth, and meaning. And we need that.
DH __ Earlier you mentioned how Esmeralda projects joy, even if it’s a nasty joy. But I also sensed an undercurrent of loneliness in her.
SI __ She’s so lonely. I felt that loneliness very deeply in her, the same way I did with Valentina in The White Lotus. Loneliness is universal. Each of us feels it in different situations, but actually, loneliness is the condition of human existence. Our whole lives are an effort to forget, cancel, or neutralize it. That’s why I love playing it. Because it’s real, it’s true. And with Esmeralda, can you imagine? She’s an Italian in American society, a society that’s extremely competitive, where you need skills to make it. The American dream is about talent, about achievement. And she knows she has no talent. She’s terrified of being found out. At the same time, she longs for someone she can rely on. That contradiction makes her fascinating to play. She’s a lonely woman, with a 12-year-old son. She’s in survival mode. And that loneliness is a hole she desperately tries to fill. Sometimes in business, you meet women who seem so tough, so bossy, so strong and that’s because they’re powerless in their emotional lives. They grab control at work because it’s the only area they can control. I’ve met women like that. It’s two sides of the same coin. And I thought: that’s Esmeralda.
DH __ I saw the same loneliness in the other characters too.
SI __ Si! We are all lonely dogs trying to survive in this tough world. [laughs] That’s why this show is tender. It’s harsh, it’s funny, but there is this tenderness that is about the human condition.
DH __ One character in the show said, “Print is permanent. It’s like love.” But today, many people might say neither print nor love feels permanent anymore. What do you make of that comparison between permanence and truth, in both media and love?
SI __ Allora. That’s a huge theme. Because in contemporary society, people look for love on social media, but they present an image of themselves that isn’t the truth. The first lie is always how you present yourself. You offer a facade of a life that you don’t live. People even go to places just to take a picture and post it. Everybody is retouching faces, selling an image. It’s a society of selling. So, what is the truth anymore? Real journalism is supposed to be a way to look for the truth, to express it. Luckily it still exists. But now with the way media is often owned and controlled, truth is constantly being modified to manipulate, to create an illusion, or to sell an ideal life that doesn’t exist. So yes, it’s a very interesting theme, and I love that the series talks about it in a way that people can relate to. Because when you laugh about something, you also reflect on it. And that laughter refreshes you, it reminds you that someone else sees the world as you do. Hopefully, laughter can save us.
DH __ One detail that struck me is that the newspaper is called The Toledo Truth Teller, but the website Esmeralda runs is just called TTT.com. It erases the word “truth” in a way.
SI __ [laughs] Exactly! Esmeralda is not interested in the truth. She’s interested in hiding it. For her, TTT isn’t about “truth teller” at all. She doesn’t even remember that TTT stands for Toledo Truth Teller; she just likes the sound. T-T-T, T-T-T [laughs] I imagined her with long nails, tapping T-T-T, T-T-T, T-T-T, something seductive, something catchy. It’s all about sales, announcements, gossip. Not the truth! And that’s very funny to me, but also very real. So many people love that kind of journalism [makes finger quotes]. They don’t even realize it’s all bullshit designed to sell you something. Which is crazy to me. Hopefully this comedy helps people reflect and maybe not get scammed by the media.
DH __ “Tea” also is slang for gossip. Okay, fun question. Since you’ve spent some time in LA, how would you compare Venezia in Italy to Venice in Los Angeles?
Total look ELIE SAAB, ring POMELLATO. ( opposite ) Dress ZUHAIR MURAD, jewelry POMELLATO.
Total look ADEAM, shoes LE SILLA.
SI __ [laughs] How can you compare Pluto to Mars? They’re two different planets. Venezia is unlike anywhere else in the world. To me, it feels like a subconscious city. The water, the buildings, the history, all of it speaks to the subconscious. When I’m there, especially at night when the streets are empty, I feel the energy of its spirit, its history, its humanity. It’s a spiritual experience, deeply connected to the soul. Venice Beach, on the other hand, is all about sensorial joy. More fun, the hippie vibe, the music, the little shops, the energy of freedom. It’s California style, about enjoying life in the moment. If Venezia is about the soul and what lingers after death, Venice is about being alive right now.
DH __ You spoke about spiritual experiences. Have you ever had a truly transformative moment? Something that shifted you to your core and changed the trajectory of your life in a way you didn’t expect?
SI __ Every day! I live like this, Daniela. I live every day as if it’s my first day. I don’t take anything for granted. I completely honor and celebrate each moment. People close to me tell me, “Sabrina, you’re completely surprising.” And that’s exactly how I try to live. Every day reveals something new. I’ll give you an example, guarda, look at this portrait here. [She shows a painting of a wolf] That’s a wolf. Two nights ago, this painting was in my bedroom. I couldn’t sleep. I felt something was wrong. A friend came over and said, “I think it’s the wolf.” And I thought, “She’s right!” So I moved it. Now the wolf is not in my bedroom; it’s protecting my house. She attacks whoever wants to hurt me. Someone could say, “Sabrina, are you crazy?” But this is how I live: everything is possible. Every day can be mind-changing, mind-blowing. I feel life is a game to be explored until the very last breath. I accept everything, without judgment. I remain open minded, ready to be surprised every single day. To be alive, you have to keep wondering. Like a child discovering the world; touching, tasting, exploring everything. That sense of wonder applies to everything: religion, philosophy, nature, friends, parents, love, even water on your skin. [she throws a glass of water to her face and laughs] That felt so good! Every day, I want to be surprised. Alive. Truly alive. Now you might think I am crazy.
DH __ Not at all! I’m writing a book about transformative experiences. One of the big things is exactly what you’re saying: surprise, openness, wonder. Almost like being a child again, always exploring, never rigid, always ready to be mind-blown.
SI __ Rigidity is the enemy of being alive. I’m scared of rigid people. When I meet someone rigid, I turn my back and run in the opposite direction because with rigidity there’s no possibility for connection, no possibility for transformation. Rigid people cannot move, cannot bend, cannot react. They see things, judge them to protect themselves. And for me, that’s not being truly alive. Because being alive is about being moved by emotions, by people, by vibes, by feelings. I’ll never forget a masterclass I did more than 20 years ago with one of the greatest actors in history: Al Pacino. He came to Rome to teach. He walked in and said: “I cannot teach you much. I can only remind you to keep alive your sense of wonder and your innocence.” I already was in love with him before. But after that? Ciao, ciao, ciao. I was in love with him forever.
Total look DOLCE & GABBANA. ( opposite ) Total look ZIMMERMANN, earring POMELLATO.
Photographer Kevin Sinclair, Fashion Editor Oretta Corbelli, Interviewer Daniela Hernandez, Makeup Francesca Tolot (Cloutier Remix), Hair Anh Co Tran (The Wall Group), Producer David Gargiulo, Location Villa Carlotta Los Angeles, Talent Sabrina Impacciatore (Viewpoint PR).
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