Netflix’s The Tearsmith (or Fabbricante di lacrime for the purists) hit the streaming world like a freight train of teenage angst and gothic atmosphere. If you’ve seen it, you know. It’s dark. It’s moody. It’s very, very Italian. But more than the plot—which involves a creepy orphanage, a mythical legend, and some seriously intense staring contests—people are obsessed with the actors. The cast of The Tearsmith managed to take a beloved Wattpad-turned-novel sensation and make it feel tactile, even when the dialogue got a bit flowery.
Finding the right people for Nica and Rigel wasn't just a casting call; it was a high-stakes mission to satisfy a massive fandom. When Erin Doom’s book first blew up on TikTok, readers had very specific ideas of what these broken characters should look like.
The Breakout Stars: Caterina Ferioli and Simone Baldasseroni
Let’s talk about Caterina Ferioli. Honestly, it’s wild that this was her debut film. She plays Nica Dover, the "moth" of the story. Ferioli captures that fragile but resilient vibe perfectly. She’s got this wide-eyed innocence that doesn’t feel faked. Before landing this role, she was basically a newcomer from Bologna. She didn't have a massive IMDB page to lean on. She just had the face and the presence that felt like Nica.
Then there’s Simone Baldasseroni. You might know him as Biondo. If you follow the Italian music scene, especially the talent show Amici di Maria De Filippi, you definitely know him. He’s a rapper. A model. A guy who usually has bleached hair. For the cast of The Tearsmith, he went dark—literally. He dyed his hair black to play Rigel, the tortured musical prodigy who is basically a human thunderstorm.
The chemistry between these two is the whole movie. If they didn't click, the movie would’ve flopped. Hard. Baldasseroni’s portrayal of Rigel is all about restraint. He spends half the movie looking like he’s about to either explode or burst into tears, which, considering his character’s name, is pretty on the nose.
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Supporting Players Who Made the Grave Orphanage Feel Real
While the leads get the headlines, the supporting cast of The Tearsmith anchors the more "grounded" parts of this dark fairy tale. You have Sabrina Paravicini as Margaret, the terrifying headmistress of the Grave. Paravicini is a veteran of Italian TV, and she plays that cold, stifling authority with scary precision.
Then you’ve got the adoptive parents, Anna and Norman. Roberta Rovelli and Orlando Cinque play them. They provide the only warmth in the movie. It’s a stark contrast to the blue-tinted, cold hallways of the orphanage.
- Alessandro Bedetti as Lionel: He’s the "rival" for Nica’s affections. Bedetti brings a different kind of energy—preppy, privileged, and ultimately a bit unhinged.
- Eco Andriolo Ranzi as Adeline: One of Nica’s few friends from the Grave.
- Nicky Passarella as Billie: Nica’s friend at the new school who helps her navigate a world that doesn't involve gray stone walls and trauma.
- Sveva Romana Candelletta as Miki: Another key member of the social circle that tries to pull Nica out of her shell.
Why the Casting Choices Were Controversial (and Why They Worked)
When the cast of The Tearsmith was first announced, some fans were skeptical. That’s always the case with book-to-movie adaptations. Biondo (Simone) was a huge pop star. People worried he was just "stunt casting." Could a rapper actually play a character as complex and damaged as Rigel?
The answer, mostly, was yes. Baldasseroni brought a certain swagger that Rigel needed, but he also handled the piano-playing scenes with enough conviction to make you forget he usually spends his time on a concert stage.
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Caterina Ferioli had the opposite problem. No one knew who she was. But that anonymity worked in her favor. She didn't come with baggage. She was Nica the moment she stepped on screen.
Behind the Scenes: Direction and Vision
Alessandro Genovesi directed the film. Now, if you look at his filmography, he usually does comedies. 10 Days Without Mamma? That’s his vibe. So, him taking on a dark, YA gothic romance was a curveball. He leaned heavily into the aesthetics. He used the cast of The Tearsmith almost like moving statues. There’s a lot of slow-motion. A lot of focus on eyes.
The film was shot largely in Ravenna and Rome. The locations matter because they frame the actors. The "Grave" itself feels like a character, and the actors had to play against that oppressive atmosphere. It’s not easy to act when the lighting is so dim you can barely see your own hands, but they made it work.
The Cultural Impact of the Italian Cast
It is kind of a big deal that this movie stayed Italian. There was a world where an American studio bought the rights and turned it into a generic high school movie set in Oregon. Keeping it with an Italian cast of The Tearsmith preserved the specific "Italian Gothic" feel of Erin Doom’s writing.
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It also launched these actors into the global spotlight. Before the movie dropped, Ferioli had a modest following. Now? She’s a fashion icon in the making. Baldasseroni has successfully transitioned from "the guy from Amici" to a legitimate leading man in cinema.
Nuance in the Performance: More Than Just Romance
One thing people get wrong about the cast of The Tearsmith is thinking it’s just a Twilight clone. It’s more about trauma than vampires (there are no vampires, obviously, just a lot of metaphors). The actors had to portray "sensory overload." Nica is someone who hasn't been touched with kindness in years. Rigel is someone who can't handle being loved.
The scene where Rigel plays the piano—that’s actually Simone Baldasseroni showing off his musical background, even if he’s not a classical pianist by trade. It adds a layer of authenticity. You can tell when an actor is faking a physical skill, and while there’s definitely some movie magic involved, the "vibe" is right.
What to Watch Next If You Loved the Cast
If you’re now a stan of the cast of The Tearsmith, you should check out their other work, though for some, it’s a short list.
- Simone Baldasseroni: Look up his music videos. It’s a totally different energy—blonde, upbeat, and very Italian pop-rap. He’s also in the film L'amor fuggiasco.
- Alessandro Bedetti: He’s been in Nudes and Prima di andare via. He’s definitely a rising star to watch in the European circuit.
- Caterina Ferioli: Keep an eye on her upcoming projects. She’s already being scouted by major fashion houses for campaigns because of her distinct look.
Final Insights on The Tearsmith's Ensemble
The cast of The Tearsmith succeeded because they embraced the melodrama. In a world of "ironic" acting, they went full-on sincere. They leaned into the tears, the whispers, and the intense stares. It’s not a movie for people who want gritty realism. It’s a movie for people who want to feel something big and messy.
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of Italian cinema or just want to see how these actors evolve, start following their projects on platforms like MUBI or Netflix Italy. The success of this film proves that there is a massive appetite for non-English language YA content that doesn't hold back on the emotional intensity.
Actionable Next Steps
- Watch the Original Interviews: Look up the Netflix Italy YouTube channel. They have "behind the scenes" clips where Caterina and Simone talk about their chemistry tests. It’s fascinating to see how different they are in real life compared to their characters.
- Read the Book: If the movie felt rushed (and let’s be honest, it covers a lot of ground in two hours), the novel by Erin Doom provides all the internal monologue the actors had to convey with just their eyes.
- Explore Italian YA: Check out Skam Italia or Baby on Netflix. Many actors from this "new wave" of Italian talent move between these shows.