Joe Manganiello is readying for one of his most personal films yet. The actor is starring in "Nonnas," a Netflix film that's premiering this Friday on the streamer, and stars Vince Vaughn, Susan Sarandon, Linda Cardellini, Manganiello himself, and much more.
"Nonnas" premieres on Netflix during Mother's Day weekend, and follows Joe (Vaughn), who decides to open an Italian restaurant following the death of his mom, choosing to hire the local grandmothers as the restaurant's chefs.
It's an emotional movie, with the trailer showcasing plenty of hilarious moments and some of the most stunning Italian food captured on camera.
At the film's premiere in New York City, Manganiello spoke to HOLA! and discussed his journey while playing an Italian-American character, an identity that represents him, yet one that he rarely gets to play onscreen.
"I think my parents' generation... They wanted to be American. So they didn't speak the language. So a lot of those things weren't passed down, and they didn't think to ask," he said.
"This movie is really a return to... as Americans, the cultures that we all came from. For me, as a Sicilian-American, it was fun to go back and explore that."
"I'm an Italian citizen. I love Italy. And I don't really get to play Italian very often!" he continued.
"For me, this was a really fun way to play into all of that. Normally, when I don't play Italian characters, I have to stop moving my hands," Manganiello said with a smile.
"This was really fun because I could just let it go."
What viewers can expect from 'Nonnas'
Manganiello warned viewers that 'Nonnas' is an emotional movie, with him spotting many people leaving the screenings in tears. "I think people are gonna cry," he said.
He also had some suggestions for future watchers: "I want people to come away from it and call their mom. Call their grandmother. Get the recipes. Go to the kitchen and get the stories of what's behind what they're cooking."