**Sabrina Impacciatore Reflects on Overcoming Fear in The Paper’s Second Season**
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In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Sabrina Impacciatore has opened up about her experience filming a challenging sequence in the second season of the comedy series, *The Paper*. The Italian actress, known for her role in *The White Lotus*, portrays Esmeralda Grand, a character who often dons disguises to uncover social issues. In the season finale, she undertakes her most ambitious undercover operation yet, leading to moments of self-doubt and anxiety.
Impacciatore recalls the moment she first read the script for the episode, expressing her fears that she would not be able to deliver the performance required. “When I read the script, I told myself, ‘I’m not able to do this. They’re going to fire me,’” she admitted. The fear of failure loomed large for the 58-year-old actress, who felt the weight of expectations as the production invested heavily in her transformation.
The narrative arc sees Esmeralda infiltrating her son Matteo’s middle school as part of her uniquely named “Esmeralda Undercover” programme. She embarks on this mission after discovering that Matteo has received a C- in maths. Throughout the episode, Esmeralda adopts the persona of a “confused woman who believes she’s a boy,” though Matteo is quick to reveal her true identity to his friends.
Filming this particular sequence proved to be the most demanding challenge of the entire ten-episode season, according to Impacciatore. “The hardest moment was when she goes undercover,” she reflects. “I was very, very scared. They hired an incredible makeup artist to transform me, which only increased my anxiety. I thought, ‘Oh my God, they’re spending money. They’re betting on me.’”
As she navigated the intricacies of portraying Esmeralda in disguise, Impacciatore found a surprising well of resilience within herself. “I gave everything I could, and I was actually very surprised by the fact that I was able to do that,” she noted. Looking back, she expresses gratitude for the experience, recognising it as a significant moment of growth in her acting career.
While Impacciatore does not shy away from discussing her nerves, she maintains a level of composure on set. She shared that during the filming of the first season, she constantly questioned her place in the production, pondering if her comedic style would resonate. “Every single day of the production, I thought, ‘Is this my last day?’” she revealed, grappling with the fear that her Italian humour might not translate.
Her co-star, Domhnall Gleeson, who plays the role of the serious editor-in-chief of the Toledo Truth Teller, also contributed to her nervousness. Impacciatore described Gleeson as “hard to break,” noting his intense focus and dedication to his craft. She felt inspired by his seriousness, which motivated her to elevate her own performance. “I wanted him to really feel [the scene], and I think he wanted me to really feel,” she explained.
Yet, this intensity did not come without its own set of concerns for Impacciatore. “Sometimes, to be honest, I think, ‘Does he hate me in real life?’” she confessed, pointing out how prolonged performance dynamics can lead actors to lose sight of reality. Nevertheless, she noted that this season allowed them more time to bond off-camera, which helped ease her initial apprehensions.
“Domhnall is very funny. He’s a very, very funny guy in real life,” she shared, looking forward to spending more moments with him outside of filming, encouraging a more relaxed atmosphere between takes.
The latest season of *The Paper*, created by the minds behind *The Office*, is currently available for streaming on Peacock. With her compelling and multifaceted performance, Impacciatore has not only showcased her comedic talents but also her ability to confront personal fears head-on, carving a path for continued growth in her acting journey.