For almost twenty years her face was that of Annuccia, the little one of the Martini house.
Father of Meana Sardo, mother of Merano, today Eleonora Cadeddu is 27 years old: she hadn't even blown out the third candle when she was chosen to play the role of the third child of Lele Martini (Giulio Scarpati) , a very early debut alongside actors of the caliber by Lino Banfi, the iconic Libero grandfather, but also Milena Vukotic, Lunetta Savino, Enrico Brignano, Riccardo Garrone, Ugo Dighero. With her brother Michael, the pestiferous Ciccio Martini: at the time he was ten years old, today he is a jockey, he is the father of two children and lives in Germany.
"Mum and dad were guaranteed that the production would keep us busy for just six months," Eleonora reveals to L'Unione Sarda. And instead "A doctor in the family" has defeated all the competition: it has become one of the longest-running series in the history of TV - with 286 episodes and ten seasons aired from 1998 to 2016 - a cult phenomenon that crosses generations , like demonstrates the success of streaming also on Netflix where the first series landed.
Eleonora rarely sees herself again: "Just a little something, but my friends keep sending me videos." Each time a memory, a smile, some bitterness for the sudden end of a journey that should have been a springboard.
Eleonora, let's start with your relationship with Sardinia.
«Going forward with age it gets stronger and stronger. As a child, I didn't worry much about my roots, but the more the years go by, the more I feel attracted to the island».
Do you come back often?
“Yes, at least once a year. For me, the sea is just an excuse because I always spend a week in Meana».
How long did your father Pietro live in Sardinia?
“Until he was 14. Then he found himself faced with a decisive choice: to stay in Meana and continue in the family tradition, being a shepherd like my grandfather and my uncle. Or follow your dream. He wanted to become a professional jockey. He chose the second path, he moved to Milan».
And he met his mother, Renate.
«My maternal grandfather was a horse owner in Merano, where the races were held. It was through him that mom and dad met and fell in love. My sister Francesca was born shortly after, in Merano».
Today you are a scattered family...
«Dad lives in Milan like my sister, her husband and 4 children. My brother Michael in Germany with his wife and two children including the newborn Leonidas. Me in Rome with mum. Then there are dad's relatives in Sardinia, and mom's in Merano. But for us it has always been normal to be far away, we still find a way of not missing out on affection and closeness ».
You also stayed away during the making of A doctor in the family. How did you find yourself playing Annuccia, at just two and a half years old?
«At the time we lived in Milan, mum was a part-time secretary of an advertising agency for children. Through her my brothers began to take their first steps in the entertainment world: my sister in fashion, my brother Miki on TV with Tickling. But they were really small things, they didn't turn our lives upside down."
Then the twist…
«My mother took Miki to audition for "Medico" in Rome, they decided to let me go with them. For mom it was just a good reason for us to visit the capital, nothing else. At the famous audition, they were also impressed by me. None of my family expected that in a few days they would call us: they wanted Michael and, surprisingly, me too ».
Weren't his parents afraid of influencing your children's lives too much?
«They assured us that the production would last six months, not even a day longer. In short, a nice and fun experience for children, they didn't have too many problems ».
And with the school?
«I was so small that at the end of the six months I could have started kindergarten like everyone else. For Miki too, the solution was just around the corner: the German school, like the one she attended in Milan. Francesca, our older sister, on the other hand didn't want to hear about it: she was a teenager, she had her friends and her rhythms. She wanted to stay in Milan, and dad stayed with her».
Was it difficult to manage the distance?
«Logistically yes. But I repeat, we were used to being far away and "wandering around" considering dad's job as a jockey. It was not a tragedy, moreover the period must have been relatively short ».
The short six-month fling became the long 18-year fling. Between farewells and big returns, she was one of three actors (with Lino Banfi and Milena Vukotic) to participate in all ten seasons.
"Yup. I only appeared a little in one season, the penultimate one. It was the year of maturity, the priority was obviously that ».
What's your first memory on set?
“Just some flashes. For example, the props shop, a sort of shed in Cinecittà that housed the entire scenography department, i.e. the objects that decorated the Martini house. The blanket, the TV, the sofa and… the toys. For product placement, boxes and boxes of the latest toy models arrived, for a child it was practically a dream».
How much could he distinguish his real family from the "television" one?
"I've never messed up. I don't know if because they explained it to me well or because unconsciously, from my gut, I knew how to distinguish between the "blood of my blood" and "the others" who, for me, were like so many uncles".
Then there was Michael, real brother and step. How was your relationship on set?
“We spent more time killing each other than helping each other! Deep down, beyond the normal bickering between brother and sister at that age, he was my anchor».
How bad was it when you decided to leave the set?
“Selfishly I was very sorry. But I knew it wasn't his way. In recent times he was increasingly listless, disaffected and tired. How to blame him: he woke up very early in the morning to go to editing, then rushed to the set to shoot hours and hours. Like Dad years before, he understood that his desire was to be a jockey. And so it was."
How has your life as a “famous” child changed?
«It seems strange but not much. At the time we weren't "famous" at 360 degrees, which today is possible above all thanks to social networks. “Doctor” took us a long time, it's true, but after each season we had a whole year off in which life returned to absolutely normal».
How much improvisation was there in the actors' interaction with her as a child?
«More than improvisation I would call it naturalness. There were some studied jokes for me too, but I often laughed, played, said random words and the "grown-ups" indulged me. I think this was the strength of the first seasons: just the naturalness».
Thanks also to Lino Banfi and Giulio Scarpati, how did they manage to create that understanding?
«They were very good. The set was not born for a child: it is a workplace, with many adults, rhythms, restrictions, even difficult climatic conditions, considering how hot it is under the lights. That was a period in which we worked calmly, we breathed a relaxed atmosphere».
Did things change then?
«In the last few seasons the pressure has become higher, the times tighter. But when I was a child, they respected my times. Was I throwing a tantrum? They certainly didn't send the assistant director: Lino and Giulio came to take me by the hand. They made everything very enjoyable."
The best memory?
"I have two of them. The first, my brother Miki's 18 years. After business hours everyone stayed there to celebrate it. I also have a souvenir DVD, every time I cry like a fountain. The second, another birthday, my 12 years. A surprise barbecue and cake, all for me. And they also gave me my first dog. A Jack Russell, we called him Lino».
The hardest scene?
«In the last season, when I surprisingly discover that I'm not Lele's daughter, the confrontation with my "new dad" Valerio. I must have been very angry, a river in full flow. But there was nothing to do, I was blocked, it didn't come to me. In the end I did it."
How traumatic was filming the last episode?
«Zero, and for a simple reason. Nobody knew it was the last! We had already signed the contract option for Medico 11, so we said goodbye as if it were the last day of school, when you know you will see friends again after the summer. Nothing more has been done about it."
Could they still call you back?
“I really don't know. But seven years have passed, I see it gray ».
Which actor or actress are you most fond of?
«Margot Sikabonyi (in the series the older sister Maria, ed), by age, by sharing moments, by character: we understand each other a lot. But everyone has a special place in my heart."
Have you ever experienced identification with Annuccia as a burden?
“I always thought it would be a plus to have that kind of experience. But unfortunately, working-speaking, I encountered many difficulties. No one ever told me to my face that the problem was "Doctor" but I perceived it, between calls that didn't arrive and missed opportunities. I'm not the only one, other colleagues have also experienced the same thing. So yes, it's a burden, for better or for worse."
What are you doing today?
«After studying acting at the Academy for three years, I enrolled in Languages, French and English, because I would like a Bachelor's degree. I'm having a bit of an effort, I admit it, because going back to studying after so many years is tiring. But I am confident! With my company we make shows and teach theater in schools. Covid was a good beating but we're starting again. I'm discovering the world of social media, a new way of working, even if inside I'm a bit of a boomer, as my grandchildren say. The followers discover me through Annuccia but I try to intrigue them by bringing them into my world».
Future plans?
"Graduating is the first thing. Then I would like to go back to the set, which I miss a lot, and test myself in another guise. I want to try my hand and understand if that is my path, if it gives me well-being as a "Doctor". I don't exclude realizing that it's not like it used to be: life can reserve you many surprises! But I would like to have the opportunity to get back into the game and then make my decision ».