Who is Fabia – Maria Cerra ?
I’m still finding myself in this life. From a troubled childhood, through my teenage years and adulthood life has challenged me through abuse, taking wrong paths and becoming a mother and carer of an amazing son who has autism.
I found happiness as a child through the dark times by competing in world dance championships. Holding titles in the contemporary jazz and disco style.
Creativity and expressive feelings through the medium of dance, gave me freedom to feeling the music, have goosebumps on my skin and enabling facial expressions instead of sadness and fear.
Burlesque dancing came into my life in later years when I entered a television show called “Britain’s Got Talent” 2009. My audition was a burlesque act and I reached the semi-finals with my homage to a Flashdance routine which to me back to my initial roots of dance.
When I used to perform burlesque in London cabaret, an audience member asked me after if I was an actor? I explained I wasn’t. He said in my performance he could see an actress struggling to get out. That evening whilst on the train home, his words struck a cord with me. That’s when I decided I’m going to take acting classes. So I did.
This is my acting portfolio:
www.spotlight.com/7611-8974-1784
I also work as an extra on films, music videos and commercials. Gaining any experience by watching the director and listening to the producer on set.
A person told me once “you remind me of Merle Oberon”. Once I’d researched this name, I’d discovered the actress is actually a descendant on my late mother’s side of the family. I have roots from Mumbai. My late grandmother Freda was somehow related to her. Joyce was Freda’s friend when Freda once lived in Edgebaston, Birmingham.
They were friends serving in the Royal Airforce.
I also have Italian roots. My father’s side of the family originated from Catanzaro, Reggio Calabria. Whenever I visited there it felt like home.
My mental took a decline after my Nonno Umberto passed away. I was later admitted to having with the first of many nervous disorders and breakdowns. My late mother was very ill and I helped nurse her at home as her wish was not to go into a hospice. My mother passed away in 2001 and I was later diagnosed with bipolar and in 2003.
I’m please to say that I am now in remission from bipolar disorder.
Being creative through the medium of acting has enabled me yet again to escape certain feelings. It doesn’t mean to say I’m running away from my demons, they will always be around, just not controlling me anymore. I call use emotional recall in my acting and it works for me as I can turn it off and on.
It’s another form of therapy for me.
My psychiatrist recommended I write a book. To get her everything done, see it all in black and white. So I took a writing course at home online, put pen to paper and wrote.
One day, I’d love to create a script for my book ” In 2 Minds” and send it to an Italian director. I need to learn how to write scripts from my memoir.
That’s why I called my short-film “My heads f*cked” because the truth of matter is that it’s a fact. Doesn’t mean I’m some sort of psychopath who goes around destroying other people’s lives.
Instead, I use my personal life experiences to try to help other people express their painful memories and feelings into another art form. Every human is creative.
Remember school? Our lessons were drama, music, dance, singing, writing, painting and drawing. As we get older, we somehow can lose all these mediums because of life commitments.
For me, having so many nervous breakdowns took me back to my past and I had to start my life over again somehow. Life is an art form at the end of the day. If you study close enough, everything is being created all the time.
Do you remember the exact moment you in love with cinema?
I do remember the first time I fell in love with cinema. It was when my school friends invited me to watch the movie “Rain Man”.
I felt so much empathy for the character played by Dustin Hoffman. The character is diagnosed as
autistic – savant.
Which is in our family in Italy. My nephew and my son also have this condition.
Nowadays more adults are being diagnosed with autism as shows up later in life.
Which Director inspires me most?
Well that’s an easy question. With no doubt in my mind it’s Francis Ford Coppola. The God Father I, II and III is the trilogy of films that make me feel many overwhelming emotions. home, love and heartbreak.
Such powerful storylines and capturing the true authenticity of Italy takes me back.
My father always says to me “You left your heart in Italy Fabia”. He was right, until someone passed away,
then my heart began to heal.
If a film doesn’t make you feel somehow, then personally it’s not a MOViE!
Tell us about your project “my heads f*ucked”
My project is called “My heads f*ucked” A £0.00 budget short-film I shot on my iPhone in the comfort of my own home.
When sending in self tapes for auditions for my agents, I used the same set up.
I talk about my mental state and how bipolar disorder affects my daily life and also functioning on medication which is also shown.
I break down the fourth wall in short-film by speaking directly into camera. The audience can see me clearly as I honestly open up about my mental health.
This is only one aspect of my life.
I’m honoured to say that my short-film won an award at the Milan Indie Film Festival for “Best Low Budget Film” First 2026 Season.
I couldn’t believe it when Mona Louis sent me a congratulations email along with my certificate.
Again, thank you so much to Mona. Milan has such beautiful creative history and culture. To even be recognised for my work is a privilege.
What do you dislike about the world and what would you change?
I detest war, violence, racism, abuse and hatred.
The world was certainly very different when I was young. No body was be killed in street with guns and knives. Women and girls weren’t afraid to go out to discos and certainly not have their drinks spiked with date rape drugs. Couples in domestic abuse relationships.
If I could change it, honestly, I would get a law in where any person who kills another human, rapes, spiked them or uses any form of domestic abuse or violence they would be incarcerated.
I don’t know what happened in the world but it’s evil now.
This is global pandemic. They say hurt people hurt people. I’ve been hurt, I don’t go around hurting others. Instead, I use my pain in a creative way it helps other people.
How do I imagine cinema in 100 years?
Firstly, in 100 years, I imagine cars flying. More space being used up.
Everyday, we are being filmed by CCTV, ring doorbell cameras, dash cameras and mobile phones.
Human life is no longer private. Therefore, without realising it, we are making cinema. Now, this may sound a bit like big brother is watching you. Let’s face it, it’s the truth.
Hours and hours of footage, not forgetting social media where some people find entertainment out of filming others pain.
I would love to imagine cinema being interactive and immersive. A bit like theatre but the audience can have control to how they want the movie to play out. They get choices before hand and the most popular parts of the movie are in. They are then signed up to be a part of the movie too.
Depending on the genre, we can all relate to something someone else has been through. Instead of using violence, hatred, crime and war why not play it out instead if certain people feel that much anger and hatred towards the world.
Cinema is the place for expressing use emotions into art form. It’s therapeutic.
What is your impression of WILD FILMMAKER?
My impression of WILD FILMMAKER is that the filmmaker had been let loose in the wild. Freed up from any restraints of the typical everyday studio filming routine.
I always believed that I’d have to a degree in filmmaking. How wrong am I.
The poetry of free cinema. How beautiful is that!
I never thought my short-film would get reconsidered. To be honest, as it’s a zero budget film, no production, crew, cast, technicians, MUAH. I thought it be rejected!
I’m thrilled to say I am part of the WILD FILMMAKER community. I’m very grateful to Michele Diomà the Editor – In – Chief of WILD FILMMAKER for this opportunity of an exclusive interview.
I never thought in my wildest dreams at fifty two years old, I’m finally finding my direction in life.
