Stanley Tucci is a man of many talents but he’s particularly proud of how his children have taken after him by sharing his love for all things Italian.
The award-winning actor and writer, 64, who was raised in upstate New York and Florence, has starred in travel shows and written books inspired by his favourite place on earth.
With his latest offering, Tucci In Italy, set to premiere on National Geographic and Disney+ this month, it is little wonder that his offspring are also total Italophiles.
The Conclave star has five children; fraternal twins Nicolo and Isabel, 25, and daughter Camilla, 21, from his first marriage to Kate Tucci, who died of breast cancer in 2009. He also shares Matteo, 10, and Emilia, seven, with second wife Felicity Blunt (older sister of actress Emily Blunt).
Speaking to The Standard, he explained: “I try everything out on them. I have a son who's a chef now, he's amazing, so I'm afraid to try stuff out on him. But yeah, the little ones, everybody. They're all very much [Italy fans].
“I have a daughter now who's in Rome. She was doing a semester abroad and now she's figured out a way to stay and actually graduate from there. She loves it so much. And yeah, they're all very connected to Italy and to my grandparents and they share a love of food and sitting around the table and helping and cooking and all that sort of stuff.
“And the little kids, too, now really, they love it. You know, to be able to say to a 10 -year-old and a 7-year-old, ‘Can you set the table, please? Can you get the thing?’ You make sure they do it, and it's just like it’s great. And I say, ‘What's missing?’ And they go, ‘Uh...’ I go, ‘No napkins?’ Then they blame each other, which is weird. You were supposed to get an item.”
Some areas however he is understandably less enticed to share.
“I Went away one time with my wife and the older kids were still living in the house and on the wine fridge, I put caution tape over one section, and I don't really buy like really fancy wines or anything, but they were a little, you know, nicer and I was like, ‘No, that's not for you. You can have those bottles.’
“They did [stick to the rules] Thank God! I think they knew it wouldn't be good [otherwise].”
Five-part series Tucci In Italy follows him across Tuscany, Lombardy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Abruzzo, and Lazio as he immerses himself in the stories, passion, and traditions that have shaped Italy’s most iconic dishes.
He gets fully stuck in too with some of his exploits including fly fishing glacial rivers, grilling mutton in sheep country and investigating one of the world’s most expensive ingredients.
The Devil Wears Prada favourite has carved out a niche for himself, winning three Emmy Awards for previous show Stanley Tucci: Searching For Italy, and has no interest in turning his attention to other countries.
“I think that the reason that the show works is because I have a connection with the country,” he reflected.
“I don't think me going to like France would work. I don't have a connection with the country. I love France. I love French food, but I just think anybody can do that.
“I lived [in Italy] for a year when I was a kid. I grew up in this extended Italian family. I'm obsessed with food. My parents are like incredible cooks. And food has been just a huge part of my life. So I think it works.”
Tucci in Italy premieres May 21 at 8pm on National Geographic and all episodes stream from May 19 on Disney+
