If you watch Passions, The Bold and The Beautiful, or Days of Our Lives, you have seenVictor Alfieri throughout the years. If not, you will see him in the much anticipated film, Angels & Demons alongside Tom Hanks on May 15th. He is also filming a new Fox series, Persons Unknown in Mexico right now. Recently though, I had a chance to talk with Victor about Angels & Demons and more.

Starting with Angels & Demons, what was the audition process like?
It was cool. In the beginning, there were Italian roles that needed to be filled and I happened to be in Italy but I couldn’t get in. It was very closed off, very selective. I was very disappointed because at that point I had just missed one big movie. Those roles don’t come around that often.

But then the writer’s strike took place so Angels & Demons stopped production. It was the first major motion picture to be affected by the writer’s strike. For six months, they lost their actors, etc… so they started looking for Italian actors in America. That is how I ended up getting the audition. I went through 3 selections, the last selection was the meeting with Ron Howard, and I got it.

So had you read the book prior to your audition?
No, I read it after actually. I had read The Da Vinci Code but Angels & Demons I had just heard a lot about.

How long were you shooting Angels & Demons?
The film started June 4th and was wrapped October 9th so about 4 months.

What do you find most compelling about Angels & Demons?
I enjoy books because you can run your imagination and the same with screenplays. I was reading the screenplay and I really liked it but thought about how it was really all up to the director. Then I thought, “Shit, I’m working with Ron Howard.” Ron Howard loves to make movies, not to make money, not to be famous. It is his passion. I feel like we share the same passion because I just want to make movies and send messages. I am the type of person who does not like to criticize. If I like something, I really like something. I do not like when people analyze everything instead of looking at the big picture and just enjoy it.

You kind of touched on my next question, what was it like working with director, Ron Howard?
Oh man, I was really excited. I was nervous when I walked into the studio to audition for Ron Howard. The pressure was on. I was walking to Sony studios and imagining Ron Howard in his office with his Oscars, telling me to show him what I’ve got and I’m thinking, “Oh shoot, what am I going to do?” (laughs). It was so cool though. 4 weeks later, the phone call came that I got the role.

Very nerve wrecking.
Yeah. Actually, I was up for a role in Pink Panther 2. They changed the character on purpose because I am Italian, not Spanish. It was an honor to be up for a role between myself and Andy Garcia, you know? A year after, I got another role with Sony.

So it worked out for the best.
Yeah. I love to do comedy, don’t get me wrong but I also love drama and action. I used to be a cop, so I still like a little action in my life.

Would you ever go back to being a cop?
If I could yes, but I think I am too old by now. They have older police officers but they have been in the force for years. I love the police work. I like to help people.

Excluding the time it took to film Angels & Demons, how often do you visit home in Italy?
I go back once a year. I do not like to go back for a week or two. I go back for 2-3 months. I really like to spend good quality time with my family and friends. We should really work to live, not live to work. We really need to enjoy life.

When you are in LA, what are your favorite things to do?
I love writing. I go to the gym and work out. I like boxing. I love motorcycles and vintage cars so I like riding my motorcycle and spending time on my Cadillac. I like going to a very simple coffee shop. Once in awhile I will smoke a cigar.

What type of writing do you enjoy the most?
I like to create stories. No matter what the stories are, from comedies to dramas, I enjoy creating adventures. It has always been like that since I was ten years old. The first story that I created was for homework. The teacher could not believe that I came up with such a clever story. She said that I copied it from somewhere. She took the homework away from me and embarrassed me in front of everybody. She lectured me in front of the class but I wrote it. I love writing. I kept journals in school at one point. I am working on a screenplay too.

Can you explain the premise of the Fox series, Persons Unknown that you are shooting in Mexico?
Seven people are kidnapped and taken to the middle of nowhere. They are being watched by security cameras. The organization behind the security cameras tells them what to do and how to behave. The people in town that are related to those who were kidnapped are looking for their loved ones. This triggers the organization to go after the people in town looking for those kidnapped. I am one of the people in town and I am looking for my fiancée.

What were your favorite episodes of filming Days of Our Lives, The Bold & the Beautiful, or Passions?
If I had to pick, my favorite is The Bold and The Beautiful. I really enjoyed it not only because it is a small group of people that is kind of like a family but they go on location. You are not back at the studio filming for years. When we went to Venice, Italy to film for about 10 tens was the best.

Tell us about your upcoming projects.
My Father’s Will is coming out in selected theaters on March 27th. This is my first American movie where initially I am a lead. It is important for me because it is the first time the audience will see me as a lead in a movie. In order to find love, means to lose everything he owns. I like this movie because it goes back to the origins of movie making. I like thrillers, etc… but sometimes you just need a simple story. It is a very touching story with a happy ending.