Tai Gooden – Nov 18, 2018
HBO is diving into the foreign-language original series realm with My Brilliant Friend, a coming of age story about two girls growing up in 1950s Naples. The show is based on Italian novelist Elena Ferrante’s book of the same name, which is the first quarter of her famed Neapolitan novels. The mini-series, premiering on Nov 18, will only have eight episodes, but fans of the book series are very excited to see Lila & Elena’s story come to life. So, it’s no surprise that people want to know more about the My Brilliant Friend cast, especially the four young girls portraying the primary characters at different points during their childhood and teen years.
According to IMBD, 12-year-old Ludovica Nasti will take on the role of younger Lila. This series is her only acting credit on the website but, according to a Vulture cast interview, only one of the four actors had any experience at all. Director Saverio Constanzo and Ferrante wanted the girls to be from the Neapolitan region and as authentic as possible.
Nasti gives a peek into her world as a rising acting star on Instagram with plenty of posts on set and rocking stylish designer gear, which might indicate a modeling career.
Their names and faces are probably unfamiliar to most American fans, but My Brilliant Friend‘s haunting trailer definitely builds some additional intrigue. Lila’s untamed brilliance, Elena’s poised and polished nature, and their keen awareness of the patriarchal and violent world around them are instantly evident, so that’s a good sign. With that being said, here’s everything you need to know about the actors taking on these pivotal roles.