Quote

I am a proud Italian American, raised by an Italian mother and Italian grandparents.

Most Italians who came to this country are very patriotic. There was this exciting possibility that if you worked real hard, and you loved something, you could become successful.

We have a house in Umbria that we bought just before we went to America. That meant we couldn't go there as often as we thought, but now we're back, we're going to start using it more. I love the light, the countryside, the language and the fact that children are accepted everywhere. The Italians get passionate about everything, too.

I love places that have an incredible history. I love the Italian way of life. I love the food. I love the people. I love the attitudes of Italians.

I love being Italian.

As an Italian-American, I have a special responsibility to be sensitive to ethnic stereotypes.

I like my country, but I don't think like an Italian. It's a complex, complicated difficult country to make things happen in.

The Italian culture and values have significantly shaped who I am, and I would never intentionally demean or degrade the very culture that has been so integral to my life.

I was born and raised in New York, but my family on both sides is of Italian descent.

Love and understand the Italians, for the people are more marvellous than the land.