The former author of Maria De Filippi: “I called her Belva”

April 25, 2024, 12:44 pm

4′ READING

The book in which the TV author Vanessa Collini Sermoneta is entitled “Children of Mary”. recounts the 28 years in which he worked alongside Maria de Filippi. “I was there at the first episode of Men and Women. As well as that of You’ve Got Mail. At the very premiere of Amici and Temptation Island as well – she explains in an interview with “TvBlog” – It’s a story that begins in 1993, I auditioned to participate in Amici as a speaking audience. I was 20 years old and I liked a boy who worked there, a certain Malcom Pagani, now an established journalist. Since 1999, that world of Maria De Filippi has become a job for me, first as an editor, then as an author. Until November 2020, when I left.”

“I could have focused on scoops, rumors and gossip to sell an extra copy”

Vanessa Collini Sermoneta reveals that no one wanted to publish her book: “I contacted some big publishing houses. They said they were interested in the book, but, on a couple of occasions, they asked me for a cover letter from Maria. As if she had to give the go-ahead. Why? I hope someone will explain it to me one day. Honestly, I refused to ask Maria for a cover letter…”. The Mediaset presenter was aware of the book’s release. “I informed her that the book – a tribute, a thank you for everything that with and thanks to her I managed to do in my working and personal life – was about to be published – says the TV author – She didn’t tell me anything – often it happens that he doesn’t respond – so that’s fine (…) I could have focused on scoops, indiscretions and gossip to sell an extra copy. But I’m not made like that.”

“On holiday for me Maria was a friend, the next day at work she was my boss”

Vanessa Collini Sermoneta reveals why almost four years ago she decided to leave Maria De Filippi’s Fascino of which she was employed: “Maria works 7 days a week, about 12 hours a day. For a while I kept that pace too. To say: I got married on September 2, 2020, on a Wednesday. The day before I worked until 6pm and the next day I was in the office at 11am because two episodes of Men and Women were being recorded. Maria didn’t ask me, it’s just that I’m made like that. At a certain point – after having had fun working on things that are cool to me – I realized that I had paid little attention to my family. And then I said to myself: ‘Now I want to slow down’. When I told her my intention to leave her… she didn’t jump for joy, that’s all. She understood that the problem was not economic. I simply couldn’t reconcile everything anymore (…) I resigned, I don’t know how many would have done so in the middle of the pandemic.” Regarding the possibility of one day returning to work for Maria De Filippi, she says: “I don’t think I would go back if I were hired, but if I were offered a collaboration I wouldn’t rule it out.”

Maria De Filippi was present at Vanessa Collini Sermoneta’s wedding celebrated in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic: “I remember his joke: ‘You had to wait for covid to get married!'”. Being part of the presenter’s working family also meant going on holidays with her. “We found ourselves with Maria – explains the TV author – a group was born that gets along well, both at work and eating pizza in the evening. On holiday for me Maria was a friend, the next day at work she was my boss”.
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“When things aren’t going well, you may receive phone calls in which someone yells at you”

Vanessa Collini Sermoneta explains why she saved the number by Maria De Filippi in the column as “La Belva”: “He is a great worker, a very generous person, but he is a very demanding employer. I have been part of the small circle of people she surrounds herself with and I have benefited from it, but when things don’t go well or are handled the way she doesn’t like, you can get phone calls where she yells at you: ‘What the hell are you doing? ‘. Belva seemed like a funny name to me, like the human Belva in Fantozzi’s film (…) she was my boss, I always respected her, but we often argued. Maria really likes listening to the opinions of the people she works with, she interfaces, she questions herself.”

“Men and women? At that time the television in my house is turned off”

No “Son of Mary” has denied the presenter. “Every time I meet them – reveals the TV author – everyone is happy to have been born with her. I am very close to Tina Cipollari, Claudia Montanarini, Costantino Vitagliano and Alessandra Pierelli, because I started with them (…) Anna Munafò, second in Miss Italy, At first I disliked her, then Maria chose her as the tronista. Four years ago I was her witness at her wedding and next Sunday I will join her in Milazzo, where she lives, because her second child was born. She has become a great friend of mine”. Today Vanessa Collini Sermoneta no longer watches “Uomini e Donne”: “At that time the television in my house is turned off”.