Silvia Colloca: ‘I never expected life to turn out this way’

This story is part of the May 1 edition of Sunday Life.See all 11 stories.

When actor, cookbook author and presenter Silvia Colloca migrated from Italy to Australia 13 years ago with her actor husband Richard Roxburgh, she never anticipated her career would take off in the way that it has. The 47-year-old mother of three stars in a new Australian film, Little Tornadoes, playing the role of an Italian migrant, Maria, who uses food as way of expressing love and affection. She’s also just signed a deal with a record label, will launch a new season of her cooking show this month, and is enjoying all her planets aligning.

Does playing Maria in Little Tornadoes remind you of your own experience of moving to Australia?
My history of immigration is not comparable to those brave families that endured exhausting trips from Italy, on ships for months, and had to leave everything they had ever known to find new life in a country where they didn’t speak the language. I can’t compare myself to that. But I did leave my family and friends behind. I had to start again and make connections that are important in life, like building new friendships. As a grown-up, which comes with its own set of challenges. I could speak English but it was my second language; it’s hard to be yourself using the second language, I had to learn that – it took time and effort.

How did you get the part of Maria?
Director Aaron Wilson saw me in [the 2009 film] Vampire Killers. He knew
I was in Australia and got in touch. He spoke about themes of loss, longing and the power of healing that can be provided through food. When I moved to Australia, I used food to be accepted. I would make new friends by cooking meals and cakes and connecting with people through part of my culture that I knew people loved. Maria has some of those similarities to me. I only had my food blog when the offer for this film came about. The TV cooking career hadn’t happened. I then got a book deal and it spiralled from there. I was pregnant with our second child when we shot the film but I didn’t know that; it was early days.

Colloca plays the role of an Italian migrant, Maria, in Little Tornadoes.

Has life in Australia turned out better than expected?
I never expected life to turn out this way, but I couldn’t have hoped for a better situation to be in with my life and career. Meeting Richard changed my life [they married in 2004]. I am in love with him for 18 years and we’ve created a beautiful family of three children [Raphael, aged 15, Miro, 11, and Luna, 5] and now a dog. For us to support and encourage each other to go for it is a blessing.

“That’s the bit I love about acting – the intimacy of this, the behind-the-scenes and building these connections.”

Do you have any intentions of moving back to Italy one day?
I miss my family, for sure. I haven’t been able to see them for three years, but we will visit in June. I have nobody here and yes, of course, I do imagine if we moved there sometimes. I am very close to my parents and it has been difficult trying to hold back tears every time we speak on the phone; they really want to see the grandchildren.

Is acting something you would like to do more of?
I just wrapped on a 10-part Foxtel drama which stars Sam Neill and Marta Dusseldorp called The Twelve which is out later this year. Yes, it’s something I would love to do more of. Hanging out with Sam Neill on set was pretty special. Sam knows Richard, so we’ve had dinners together, but the dynamic that happens on set gives a rare insight into your colleagues. You sit at a communal breakfast table at 6am, and in this case we’re also in a courtroom for eight hours a day filming. You see people when the going gets tough, when they’re tired, when they’re not at their best. That’s the bit I love about acting – the intimacy of this, the behind-the-scenes and building these connections. You end up with a couple of new best friends by the end of it.

Bassike trench, $950, from David Jones. Sandro “Angus” shirt, $545, from David Jones. Maje jeans, $440. Credit: Christopher Ferguson

Is there a character Richard has played that comes close to reflecting who he really is?
Definitely not Rake! [Laughs] To be honest the cheek, the sense of humour and wit is definitely Richard; I can see him in that way. He is the most wonderful family man, but he is cheeky for sure. That is the secret to our good marriage – don’t take yourself too seriously. [Laughs] He plays Elvis’s dad in the new Baz Luhrmann movie [Elvis], which is his most recent. So I can’t exactly say there are any similarities there.

How do you and Richard juggle the work-life balance?
Every week we get our schedules out and cross reference to see who can do school pick-ups and if we need someone to help us. Mostly we manage. Our eldest son is 15 and can hold the fort sometimes if we are in dire straits. I’ve just finished filming Twelve and a new season of my cooking show, while Richard has been filming a new series about the Bali bombings. It’s been busy.

You trained as a mezzo soprano and have performed in operas all over the world. Where do these superpowers come from?
The opera side doesn’t run in my family but I always wanted to sing, and chose opera. I have performed in many productions, including some in Australia. The biggest news for me is that I have just signed a deal with Decca Records and will be releasing music later this year.

Rebecca Valance black cropped jacket with gold buttons, $699. Zara jeans, $79.95Credit: Christopher Ferguson

What were your food experiences like when you first arrived in Australia and how have they changed?
When I first arrived, I couldn’t find what I wanted and now you can. I was craving burrata and nobody had heard of it. I was told there was a deli in Five Dock [in Sydney] that would smuggle it in from Italy. I visited the store and was approved as a “true Italian”. They took my name and number down and told me when it comes, they’ll say “the books have arrived”. A few months later I got a call and got my stash of burrata. Now you can find it everywhere!

“I love getting older. I don’t judge anyone who wants to try to put a stop to it; that’s their choice. I don’t want it for myself because I think there is something beautiful and powerful about wearing your skin.”

What do you miss most about Italy?
I miss is the Italian soundtrack of the language being spoken everywhere and that chaos and clamour in the kitchen.

How do you stay healthy, apart from eating well?
I love what exercising does to me in terms of mental clarity and strength.
I was always very skinny and gaunt growing up. I was not very athletic. These days I try to train regularly; it has made me appreciate what the body is capable of. Whenever I don’t want to train, I say to myself, “You’re lucky that you can, so get off your ass and go.”

Do you feel comfortable within yourself as you get older?
I love getting older. I don’t judge anyone who wants to try to put a stop to it; that’s their choice. You do you and I do me. I don’t want it for myself because I think there is something beautiful and powerful about wearing your skin. And if you eat well and use amazing skincare … I love my retinols and hyaluronic acids. That’s where I stop.

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