Get to Know Matilda De Angelis, the Star of HBO's The Undoing, With These Quick Facts

If the name Matilda De Angelis doesn't ring a bell yet, don't worry, it will soon. The 25-year-old actress is starring on HBO's latest drama miniseries, The Undoing [1], alongside Nicole Kidman [2] and Hugh Grant [3]. Matilda will take on the role of Elena Alves, a young mother whose son is attending an elite private school on a scholarship. Even though this may be Matilda's biggest role to date, it isn't her first. Matilda has made a name for herself in Italy, with roles in films like the Italian Race and Youtopia, and we have a feeling this is just the beginning of what's to come. Ahead of the Oct. 25 premiere of The Undoing, get to know more about Matilda ahead.

She Was Discovered on the Street

Matilda got into acting after director Matteo Rovere discovered her on the street [4] and cast her in 2016's Italian Race. "It was real luck for me, because it was my very first experience with acting," Matilda said in a 2018 interview with Fade to Her. "I was into music, waiting to go to university . . . And after, my life was changed and I'm here having a leading role in a film. That's crazy! It was the best experience I've ever had in my life and it continues to bring me luck."

The Undoing Is Her First Major Acting Role in the US

Being cast in a show alongside Nicole Kidman [5] and Hugh Grant [6] is nothing to sneeze at, and naturally, Matilda was overjoyed [7] when she got the part. "How did I celebrate getting the role? I got drunk. Really drunk," she told Interview Magazine. "I went out dancing with my friends and I just couldn't stop smiling all night. Then my mom and I took a trip to Madrid that weekend. We wanted to do something crazy, since the whole thing was so crazy. She's always been so supportive of me, and she was the one I wanted to celebrate with most of all."

She's Kissed Nicole Kidman

OK, it may have been for a scene in The Undoing, but it still counts. And given how much Matilda admires Nicole, it was a pretty big deal for her [8]. "I loved it. I was so proud! I immediately told all my friends about it. I think of it as my first kiss," she gushed to Interview Magazine. "I've been in love with her basically all my life, and on the day I was supposed to meet her, and when she arrived — she doesn't walk, she floats on the air like an angel — I was just struck by how beautiful and charming she was. She's Nicole Kidman [9], but when you meet her, you instantly feel comfortable."

She's a Musician

Before getting into acting, Matilda's first love was music [10]. She learned to play the violin and guitar when she was 16 years old. "I got into a band, a well-known band in my hometown, Rumba de Bodas, and we travelled around Europe in a yellow van. It was one of the best experiences in my life and I was with this band for five years," she revealed to Fade to Her. Matilda also has a YouTube page [11], where she posts videos of her Italian covers.

She Used to Be a Gymnast

Is there anything Matilda can't do? In addition to being an actor and musician, the 25-year-old used to be a gymnast [12]. In an interview with Fade to Her, Matilda opened up about how it's defined her, adding, "I think sports are important because they give you a forma mentis to confront life. They give you patience and the sense of working on something with all your body and all your energy. You can also find it in acting. It is really important to have stability, a consciousness about your body, how to use it, how to handle it."

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