Why this ‘Marco Polo’ star travels with just one pair of pants
When Lorenzo Richelmy was a boy touring with his stage actor parents through Italy, he fell in love with the world of theater.
But his parents hoped he’d choose another path.
“They were really worried about me making a living at this job,” he says. “Of course, they were the first to be happy about ‘Marco Polo.’”
Richelmy, now 26, is the handsome title character in the Weinstein Company’s Netflix original series set in Kublai Khan’s court in 13th century Mongolia. Since taking on the role of the Venetian adventurer, the Italian actor who was born in La Spezia and raised in Rome, has picked up conversational English and traveled to some incredible places, from Venice and Kazakhstan to Malaysia.
Season 1 and 2 are available for streaming on Netflix. While he waits to hear if the series will be renewed for a third season, we caught up with Richelmy by phone. Did your parents watch the show?
Yeah, sure! Watching and criticizing everything. Yeah. Like, “You could’ve done better in that scene” or “Those clothes you have on are too (expletive).” But I love it! They’re actors and have a life’s worth of knowledge to share with me.
I know learning English was a hurdle you had to overcome, but were there any other challenges while making the series?
The big challenge is that several months of shooting and preparation takes you away from your life and completely emerges you in this land that is Mongolia in the 13th century.
I’ve been enjoying your short, behindthe-scenes videos from “Marco Polo” on Instagram. What inspired you to post them? I think it’s an amazing way to show people what happens behind the scenes and, in a way, stop idolizing actors. It’s a job! It’s just a job! And it’s beautiful if the people watching it can feel like they’re part of the process instead of like, (he gasps).
You traveled to some incredible locations. Was any one more memorable than others?
Kazakhstan. Once, while I was half asleep, I opened my eyes and saw the dawn on the horizon; and then I saw this bunch of wild horses running beside the car. I thought, ‘Am I dreaming? In 2016, are we still able to see these things?’ That site might be a go-back.
While filming the series, did you also get a chance to explore?
When I wasn’t busy, I’d take a car and drive or go backpacking. You mean like backcountry backpacking?
Always, yeah. I’ve backpacked all over South East Asia. I love it. It’s just a man, his feet and a bag. It’s wonderful.
What do you pack along?
The most important things are a towel, a light, a lighter and you don’t really need anything else. I don’t really think about fashion when I’m traveling so I go with the same pants on, and two or three shirts that I can wash at night and sleep in. When I’m backpacking, my backpack is never too heavy.
Now that Season 2 is behind you, do you have any new roles on the horizon?
Yes, but nothing I can talk about right now.
Is that because you’re waiting to hear if there will be a third season?
Yeah. “Marco Polo” had me for nine months out of the year so I couldn’t do much other than that. At the same time, “Marco Polo” for me was a big step up. I feel lucky to be part of that project on Netflix. I don’t want to spoil this experience, so I’m still riding the wave.
If another role in a big historical drama series like “Marco Polo” should come along, would you take it?
If it’s something on the level of “Marco Polo,” then yes.
Contact Sandra Barrera at sbarrera@scng.com or @SandraBarrera18 on Twitter.