Our meeting with Hart Denton takes place at Lake Iseo, in Lombardy, Italy, at the Araba Fenice Hotel, which serves as the Grazia base camp from which we created the exclusive imagery you see on these pages.
He arrives right on time in his dark car. Wearing a white t-shirt, jeans and sunglasses with tinted lenses, the actor projects a sunny confidence. He approaches us on his own, heedless of the entourage that came with him.
At his side there is model and photographer Elysée Sanvillé, with whom he is romantically involved. She has a camera at the ready and is tasked with filming the day.
The couple spent part of their summer vacation in Franciacorta, an area between the province of Brescia and Lake Iseo, and were enchanted by its nature, historical sites and wine, which is recognized worldwide as an example of Italian excellence. That may be why Franciacorta wine was chosen by the Television Academy as the official sparkling wine of the Emmy Awards, which, in turn, recognize excellence in the television industry to which Denton belongs.
The ceremony was scheduled for January 15 in the hopes that the labor disputes between entertainment industry workers and studio producers will have been resolved by then [Editor’s note: The writers’ strike ended in late September]. For months Hollywood stars have foregone participation in any events, in a show of support for better compensation and more equitable contract terms. Denton just finished filming a movie, but because of the strikes, he can’t talk about it.
Originally from Arkansas, at 30 years old he’s a creative jack-of-all-trades: an actor, model, designer, musician and collector of vintage cars.
At this delicate time in the American movie industry, you’re starring in two films. Can you tell us about your roles?
Unfortunately, I can’t talk about that because of my support for the strikes.
What do you think of the Hollywood strikes, which affect all workers in the entertainment industry?
The strikes are a necessary battle, even if they’re bringing the entire industry to a standstill and might keep us from seeing new series and films before 2024. The movie business and entertainment in general are all a group effort: each person’s contributions need to be valued.
You began your career as a model. How did you become an actor?
The first time I set foot on set I understood that acting was what I wanted to do in life. Still today, even when I have many passions and interests, acting remains what I find most rewarding and exciting. I grew up in a small town in Arkansas and already as a kid I dreamed of the big entertainment cities like New York or Los Angeles. First, I moved to Nashville and then to Los Angeles. There, a friend introduced me to the fashion world, and I started working as a model. In 2016 I was selected to appear in an episode of the series Lethal Weapon, and right after that I was offered a role in Fun Mom Dinner, and then in the Riverdale series.
What impact on your career did the cult popularity of Riverdale have?
Appearing on Riverdale changed my life and boosted my profile on social media. [Editor’s note: He has 1.2 million followers on Instagram.] It opened a lot of doors and facilitated professional networking, but beyond that, some of the cast members on the show became friends. The interesting thing was playing a character [Editor’s note: the stylish, enigmatic half-brother of the show’s protagonist] who’s really unlike me. I’m a very outgoing person.
How did you learn to act?
I was lucky enough to have enlightened parents who always encouraged me to be creative and expressive and allowed me to study music, theater and acting. Modeling also helped me a lot, because it taught me to control my body and facial expression. Acting in theater requires exaggerated movements to catch the audience’s attention. But when you’re on camera, your face and your feelings are the focus.
What actors would you like to work with?
There are many actors I respect who I’d like to work with. The first names that come to mind are Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf and, obviously, one of the best: Brad Pitt.
You’re also a big music and Elvis Presley fan.
When I was just over a year old, my mom dressed me as a little Elvis for Halloween. At 6, I was performing on the street to earn some change by singing his songs. The thing I find most fascinating is that Elvis was both an actor and a singer. Often in my career I’ve been asked to pick one or the other, acting or music. But I think being creative in a variety of fields is a good thing. For example, now that film production is on hold, I can focus on music and on my band. I’m hoping to go on tour with them. For me, there’s always something to do and communicate.
What is your relationship to fashion?
I love fashion. I once worked with H&M on a capsule collection. I even designed a line of clothes, which I hope I can soon produce. I also like wearing nice clothes, I really admire the work Anthony Vaccarello is doing as creative director of Saint Laurent. I attended his show in Venice and loved every single piece.
You have a vintage car platform. Where did that idea come from?
I’ve always loved old cars. At first, I was looking for cars to help friends who wanted to find specific models. Then I started buying them: right now, I have a combined total of six Mustangs and Mercedes. Sometimes I lend them out to productions, but one day I’d like to design one of my own.
Do you have a dream?
I’d like to direct a movie and I hope to do so next year. Visiting Franciacorta on vacation made me think that this could be the perfect setting for a film, because of the variety of landscapes in the area.
How important is love in your life?
I met Elysée in Miami at a music festival. We’ve been together ever since we met; we do everything together. She’s a great photographer, she’s even worked with major fashion brands. I like working with her and that’s why I entrusted her with my video camera on set with Grazia. ■
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IN THE LAND OF WINE
Franciacorta, in the province of Brescia – with Lake Iseo, the Castello di Bornato and the unmistakable hillsides covered in vineyards – was the set for the images you see on these pages, which were shot by French photographer Sabine Villard for Grazia. American actor Hart Denton is shown here, where he spent part of his summer vacation and inked a deal with the Consorzio Franciacorta, a consortium dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the Franciacorta name, territory and wines and educating consumers about what makes them special.
Franciacorta wine, a true Italian specialty, could only be a product of this unique place in the world, valued for its rich biodiversity. Hollywood has caught on, too: the Consorzio signed a three-year deal with the Television Academy to make Franciacorta the official sparkling wine of the Emmy Awards, which air on January 15.
The 75th edition of the awards ceremony will be broadcast live on Fox and Sky. Hart Denton will be there to raise his glass of Franciacorta at the Governors Gala, the party to honor the award winners. Consorzio Franciacorta president Silvano Brescianini told Grazia: “This is a long-term partnership that not only guarantees we will have a significant presence in the American market, which represents a growing share of our business, but also gives greater visibility and prestige to the artisan excellences of our territory.”
Photo Sabine Villiard @ CAOS18, styling and interview by Ildo Damiano
