Lucia Grillo

Began her theatre studies at the age of fifteen, attending the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in New York for seven years. Received her B.F.A. in Acting from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where she also minored in cinema studies and Italian literature. Upon graduating NYU, she was granted an Assistant Fellowship in medieval Italian poetry at NYU's Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò. Acted in her first play at the age of six and has since worked in theatre, cinema and television. Appeared alongside Christy Turlington in an Amercian Lung Assoication anti-smoking PSA for MTV. Was cast as the infamous Italian cousin Chiara in "Summer of Sam," opposite Mira Sorvino and John Leguizamo, directed by Spike Lee, who would subsequently direct her in a European Finlandia Vodka commercial. Founded her own production company, Calabrisella Films. Her directorial debut, the short film, "A pena do pana (The Cost of Bread)," stars internationally acclaimed actor, Vincent Schiavelli, and premiered at AFI Fest in Hollywood. It has been in over 20 international film festivals, won Best Digital Short Film at the Rome Independent Film Festival, and aired nationally on Italy's La 7 channel.