Jesse Williams at Hotel Costiera: "In Italy, I rediscovered family and a new idea of ​​masculinity."

We met him in Rome , at the exclusive preview of Hotel Costiera organized by Prime Video at the Barberini Cinema, where he introduced the new TV series set in the splendid setting of the Amalfi Coast to the Italian public.

Jesse Williams , a much-loved face by international audiences – who can forget him in the role of Dr. Jackson Avery in Grey's Anatomy – plays Daniel De Luca, a former American Marine with Italian roots who returns to the land of his childhood to take on an unusual and dangerous job: working as a fixer in one of the most luxurious (and problematic) hotels in the world .

She shared the stage with a largely Italian cast that included Maria Chiara Giannetta , Tommaso Ragno, Antonio Gerardi.

Jesse Williams on the Coast

Between bizarre requests from VIP guests, mysteries to solve, and a disappearance that rocks the tranquil waters of the Villa Costiera hotel, Daniel will find himself facing much more than he bargained for. His secret mission? To find Alice , the hotel owner's young daughter, who has been missing for over a month. An investigation that will test not only his military skills, but also his humanity.

In our interview, the American actor told us what fascinated him about this role, which balances action, comedy, and romance, why Hotel Costiera is much more than a simple series set in a picture-perfect location, and what it was like working in Italy for so many months.

Tell us a little about your character in Hotel Costiera .

Daniel De Luca is a "scugnizzo" (street urchin), born in Naples and raised in the alleys of the Italian city. After his childhood, he moved to America, where he grew up to become a man who enlisted in the Marines. Twenty years later, he returned to his birthplace and his life changed.

He finds a job as a "problem solver" for the wealthy guests of a luxury hotel in Positano. He's good at helping others, but deep down, he's a bit of a lost soul.

What was it like filming this series in Italy? What struck you most?

I fell in love with this place very quickly. In the last three months, I've been to various parts of Italy about 4-5 times, and I've been deeply impressed by the importance you place on family . In Italy, family ties are very close , while in America, we can't wait to leave the nest and move away.

We don't take care of the elderly, we put them in a nursing home. While working on this series, it was nice to see how the family here is a glue for the adults, a tradition to be represented and honored. It gave me a strong sense of stability .

The energy, the diversity, the blue, and the nature of Naples won me over. I felt at home, as if I were back in the United States . The Amalfi Coast is beautiful, a magnificent place to spend time.

What differences did you notice between the American and Italian sets?

In America, you work 14 hours a day, until 2 a.m. It's exhausting. Here, they care about quality of life. I remember on set someone always made sure we'd eaten, that we'd had coffee, and then more pizza would always arrive. I'd say, "But we've already eaten it!" and they'd reply, "Yes, but this is a different kind." I learned that there are dozens of types of pizza .

In this series, drama mixes with comedy and there's a balance. How did you come up with this formula?

From the beginning, we talked with Adam about the story and how to find the right balance between comedy and drama. I think Daniel's problems, from his old life, are causing him problems in the present. He finds himself alone, he solves other people's problems but can't seem to solve his own.

At a certain point, we come to grips with his personal issues, but I can't spoil them, but this is definitely one of the aspects that most fascinated me about the story. Daniel is a character who makes mistakes, but he tries to improve himself, especially in his relationships with women.

Through your character in the series, a new type of masculinity is presented…

The way the male figure and the element of masculinity are addressed in this series are aspects that really attracted me. I tried to bring to the screen a character with fragilities, incomplete, with flaws.

He's constantly seeking genuine relationships with people, including women. He seeks collaboration, not just sex or the classic mechanisms usually seen in movies and TV series.