Seydou Sarr is just 19, but on the cover of his latest book, he appears older, dressed as he is in stylish clothes. He is busy talking to new friends he has made over the past few months as he rides the waves of success. Sometimes he smiles for selfies people ask to take with him on the street.

In just a short time, a year since the film Io Capitano (I, Captain), directed by the Italian director Matteo Garrone was released, life for Sarr has changed almost immeasurably. But, he remains humble.

"2024 is my year, the year of the Captain", he says with enthusiasm. Since Garrone's movie "Io Capitano" debuted at the Venice Film Festival, it has won prizes like the coveted Italian prize named after the famous actor Marcello Mastroianni, and toured the world of cinema from the Oscars to the Golden Globes.

"But the most beautiful screenings have taken place in my country, Senegal, where many young people have discovered, thanks to the film, that the journey to Italy and Europe is tragic 90 percent of the time", he told ANSA while a guest at the Tavolara Film Festival to present Io Capitano.

Also read: Senegalese author becomes parliamentary assistant in Italy

Dreaming about cinema and soccer

But despite all the success, the biggest thing he is waiting for at the moment is the arrival of his Italian documents.

"My identity card and residence permit are arriving," he said, repeating humbly: "I was lucky --as a person who had never worked in cinema, I toured the world and was suddenly successful as an actor. My mother was a theater actress and singer, perhaps I got some of her talent."

Meanwhile, Sarr is auditioning "for a television series that will begin filming in October." He also filmed a documentary for Italy's football league against racism in football. His objective, however, has remained the same --soccer-- even when he auditioned for a part in Io Capitano but decided to take part in a football match beforehand.

"I am a central defender, I have been playing since a young age and I would like to become a professional. I have tried out for the Lecce club and in a few days for Civitavecchia, now that my documents are arriving maybe I will make it", says Sarr.

Learning to cook pasta

Together with Moustapha Fall and Amath Mamadou Diallo, who are also actors in Io Capitano, he lives in Fregene, near Rome, "in Donatella's home, who welcomed us over a year ago. teaching us to speak Italian and to cook pasta, my favorite is with meat sauce. I really love her, she made me feel at home."

Donatella Rimoldi is Matteo Garrone's mother and she is watching the young men grow day by day, Moustapha with his dreams of becoming a model, Amath who has taken part in another two films and has become a sound specialist and Sarr with soccer.

"I train on the beach of Fregene every day", he said, showing a video in which he runs with a Roma jersey, the team he has always rooted for, "and we play with friends, we swim, we play bongos and sing".

Also read: The story of Ibrahima Lo, whose story inspired Io Capitano

'I feel lucky'

Seydou Sarr was 16 when one of his three sisters forced him to audition for Garrone's movie. He listened to her - "you never know", he thought - and after the first audition in Thiés, a city one and a half hours from Dakar, he took part in several others before reaching the final one before meeting the director who chose him as the captain and gave Moustapha Fall the role of co-protagonist.

During filming, he thought about giving up though. "It was really hard in Morocco," But things got better when the filming moved to Senegal. "Even if it was my first time on set it felt natural, and although meeting real migrants there and experiencing the protagonist's odyssey was tough, including emotionally, I did it because I understood that I would be giving them a voice," explains Sarr.

Although experiencing such a life change can be a destabilizing factor for someone so young, Sarr said he doesn't feel he has changed. "I only feel lucky, first of all for having met Matteo, who is like a father for me --said Sarr who lost his father six months before auditioning for the part-- and then for Donatella. They advise me, they help me grow, they let me be who I am. Yes, my mother in Senegal is also a little jealous of them, but she knows they want the best for me."

Just like his co-star Moustapha Fall, fashion is also tempting Sarr: he has worked for Fendi and Moschino. "I like being a model from time to time but I don't see my future in fashion, although the Elite agency has been courting me," he said.

Also read: A harrowing journey, the tale described in Io Capitano