Filming" Under the Tuscan Sun "Made Dan Bucatinsky Yearn to Be a Dad. 23 Years Later, He Makes Emotional Return to Italy with His Daughter
Dan Bucatinsky More than two decades ago, Dan Bucatinsky was an up-and-coming actor when he landed a small role on the beloved 2003 movieUnder the Tuscan Sun.Working alongside now-lifelong pals like Sandra Oh and Raoul Bova, Bucatinsky embraced his time in Tuscany and Rome, exploring — and eating, of course — his way through the sun-soaked cities. It was there that he was inspired to become a dad, and earlier this month, the Emmy-winning actor-writer — who went on tostar in hit shows likeScandal, The Comebackand,most recently,the fourth season ofHacks—returned to Rome with his daughter Eliza, 20. Below Bucatinsky, 59, who's also dad to son Jonah, 17, with screenwriter husband Don Roos, shares in an exclusive essay with PEOPLE about the unexpectedly emotional trip: "Andiamo!" — Italian for "let's go" — is what our 1st A.D. would shout during what I can only call a transformative experience shootingUnder the Tuscan Sunin Italy in 2002. Amazing all these years later, how ubiquitous "let's go" has become in today's lexicon — a way for young and old people alike to communicate "Let's do this!" or "I'm ready!" Well, I'm certainly feeling ready as I tell my daughter, Eliza, about my experience on the film as our plane arrives in Rome, now over 20 years later. It's emotional for me to be back here again, at last. And to be here with her for the first time since filming. "Why?" she asks. "What's the big deal?" I get it. I've traveled a lot over the years. And I've certainly worked on other projects, both in front of and behind the camera, in my 30-year career. But this is different. "I'm here with you," I say. I look out the window, hiding my welling eyes. Why does everything make me cry lately? My own mid-life, menopausal melancholy, perhaps. Or maybe it's as simple as what I tell her: "I'm happy we're here – together." She smirks, rolling her eyes. "See, it was because ofTuscan Sunthat I became a dad in the first place." She doesn't get the connection, nor should you, actually. I'll break it down. Dan Bucatinsky In 2002 in my early 30s, I was fortunate to land a small role in this iconic chick-flick, starring Diane Lane, shooting for eight weeks in Tuscany and Rome. Directed by the late Audrey Wells, the script adapted by her from Frances Mayes' autobiographical book. While only in a few scenes, I connected with the whole cast. And with Rome. It became an inspirational experience that changed the course of my life, echoed by the famous line from Mayes' book: "Life offers you a thousand chances… all you have to do is take one." Yes, I discovered the breathtaking, timeless beauty of Tuscany and Rome, snapping photos with my Nikon 35 mm camera everywhere I looked. It was 2002 "p.i." (pre-iPhones). And yes, I discovered the warm, comforting tastes of homemade Italian cooking — in restaurants fashioned from the kitchens of authentic, aproned grandmas. I had never tasted olive oil and wine and pasta and truffles quite like this before! Plus, sharing it all with my castmates created a feeling of family I was clearly seeking. Many of them, like Sandra Oh, still among my closest friends. Dan Bucatinsky But beyond the beauty, taste and warmth of these delicious memories, it was a connection with Audrey, our talented director, that was most indelible. Audrey had brought along her then 2-year-old, Tatiana, and her husband. And one afternoon in the middle of a stunning, centuries-old, cobble-stoned square, she encouraged me to become a parent: "Discover the father in you!" Talk about an "ah-ha" moment! I knew instantly I had to become a dad. The rest, as they say, is… chronicled in my bookDoes This Baby Make Me Look Straight?(no, it doesn't, I've learned), published a decade later (on Audible #shameless plug). Since the film, I've not been back to Rome. Life took me on another course, adopting first our daughter, Eliza, and later our son, Jonah. Raising my kids from birth and continuing to work and build our family — Rome became that Emerald City in my mind… the place to where I knew I must one day return. (Yes, I'm Dorothy in the analogy. Surprised?) And now, over two decades later, it's no wonder I tear up on these cobblestone streets, side by side with Eliza, the literal manifestation of my last experience in Rome! And whileTuscan Sunrevolved around Diane Lane's character, Frances, grappling with self-discovery, personal transformation and the power of new beginnings — this trip with Eliza, I hope, will serve as a beautiful mirror of those themes we'll experience together. Frances was grappling with the pain and anxiety after a difficult divorce. She goes to Italy to find herself again, to find joy in unexpected places. Eliza, now 20, is also looking for a reset. She's a fabulously unique spirit, always marched to her own drum, but suffered her own bout of anxiety and depression after the pandemic. Like many teens between 2019 and 2021 (particularly those, like Eliza, on that neurodivergent spectrum), they were forced into isolation while confronting our terrifying vulnerability to unpredictable forces like a virus. The impact on them, and on so many of us, will continue to unfold for years. But like Frances in the film, when she arrived In Italy, I hope each day in Rome may serve as a healing reminder that it's okay to take small steps toward connection and confidence. When we weren't shooting, I remember throwing myself into Italian life with Sandra Oh, training up to Florence; sharing our new love of Prosecco; and trying to out-Italian each other on our European flip-phones, answering as locals did: "Pronto?" For my daughter, walking the streets of Rome, visiting iconic locations and even tasting the vibrant Roman foods (she's obsessed with pizza and pesto pasta) helps her see there's a vast world waiting for her beyond her anxiety. Plus, Eliza has always loved to cook. So I found a pasta-making class where we learned three different recipes made from scratch: lemon ricotta ravioli, spaghetti arrabiatta and fettucine cacio e pepe. Dan Bucatinsky Eliza lit up from the experience — the tastes, smells and feeling of dough in her hands. A few days later, we had even more fun at a pizza class in the Piazza Navona restaurant, Osteria Pastichio. Cooking together in that Roman kitchen, I saw a spark in my daughter again, not dissimilar to how Frances, in the film, rediscovered her own feeling of connection cooking for the workers rebuilding her Villa. Sure, there were days when Eliza, overwhelmed by the loud, boisterous throngs of tourists and zipping motorcycles, needed to take some "chill time" back at the hotel. It was there where she caught up onEmily in Paris— the reason we were in Rome in the first place! You see, my husband,Don Roos, is on a month-long writing gigwith the team that makesEmily in Paris. So, I too got to feel the value of sharing time with Don, Eliza's other dad, in Rome. And when alone, I'd do what I love most: walking the city end-to-end, winding down streets, strolling through churches and galleries and searching for the best gluten-free pastas and desserts! (Soffita; New food; Mama Eat) . It was during my own "chill time" I got to ride a horse in a suburban countryside; take a Vespa tour with a knowledgable (and handsome) local; and reconnect with Italian actor, Raoul Bova, a castmate fromTuscan Sun(now onEmily in Paris) who, like me, remembers the experience profoundly. Dan Bucatinsky Dan Bucatinsky Twenty years ago, I traveled to Italy for what I thought would just be an acting job. But I walked away with a love of Rome and this powerful desire to "discover the father in me." I returned to Los Angeles on a mission to return to Rome one day, but not before I embarked on the challenging journey to make our adoption dreams a reality. Now over 20 years later, I feel so fortunate to have been able to bring her with me "under the Roman sun" to create a narrative of growth, resilience and exploration we won't soon forget. The parallels with the film inspired both of us to embrace the present with more wonder and gratitude and look to the future not only with a stronger father-daughter bond, but with more hope and adventure about what else is out there. What a once-in-a-lifetime experience it was makingUnder the Tuscan Sun. Of all the thousands of "chances" life has offered me, I'm so grateful I took that one. And today, even more grateful to have taken this one with my daughter. Read the original article onPeople
Filming" Under the Tuscan Sun "Made Dan Bucatinsky Yearn to Be a Dad. 23 Years Later, He Makes Emotional Return to Italy with His ...
