Simone Borrelli (Italian pronunciation: [siˈmoːne borˈrɛlli]; born 5 November 1985) is an Italian actor, director, singer, songwriter, musician, screenwriter and producer.
Early life and career beginnings
Born in Crotone, Borrelli began his acting training early at the Teatro Stabile di Calabria, directed by Geppy Gleijeses and Alvaro Piccardi, with whom he began working at the age of 16. He graduated in acting and dramatic arts from the Italian Academy of Dramatic Arts "Alessandra Galante Garrone" in Bologna , receiving the Giusto Monaco Prize for Best Young Actor in 2004 for his performance as Hector in The Trojan War Will Not Take Place by Jean Giraudoux.
He subsequently deepened his cinematic studies by studying with acting coaches associated with New York’s Actors Studio.
Television and film
Borrelli made his small screen debut in 2008, playing the role of Mauro Morbello among the main cast of the TV series Terapia d'urgenza, broadcast on Rai 2, and in the miniseries Quo vadis, baby? by Gabriele Salvatores and Guido Chiesa for Sky Cinema. Subsequently, for Mediaset, he played the character of Ivan in the second season of the fiction Anna e i cinque, alongside Sabrina Ferilli. He is also known for the role of Mario, the vending machine technician, in the fifth season of the sitcom Camera Café.
In 2010 he acted in the film Martino's Summer (L’estate di Martino) by Massimo Natale, playing the role of Andrea alongside Treat Williams; the film was presented in competition at the Rome Film Festival. In 2011 he wrote the screenplay for the film Venerdì Sera.
Borrelli embarked on an international tour, presenting Eddy at screenings and events in numerous countries and at several universities, including Stanford University, UC Berkeley and UCLA, and he was invited to take part in the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of Italy’s accession to the United Nations. The tour, known as the "Eddy Tour", included a live performance accompanied by the film’s original soundtrack orchestra, and comprised more than 90 dates, 11 of which were sold out.
Thanks to the film he received several international awards, including the European 12 Star City Award in Paris, the Kerala International Film Festival in India, the Social World Film Festival, the Special Franco Fedeli Prize from SIULP and the Ferdinandea Prize from UNICEF Italy.
In 2016 he received the Special Prize of the 17th edition of the Premio Fedeli awarded by SIULP, the Italian Police Union, and was named “Personality of the Year” by the city of Crotone.
Recent work
Since 2019, Borrelli has been part of the artist roster of Universal Music.
In July of the same year he released the single “L’Amor”, distributed by Universal Music Group, accompanied by a music video composed of animated GIF images conceived and produced by Borrelli. In 2020 he wrote, directed and starred in the music video for “Il cammino dell’anima” by Angelo Branduardi, and oversaw the artistic supervision of the European tour associated with the album of the same name.
From 2023 he has been testimonial in a Mulino Bianco advertising campaign themed around the 1980s, produced by Publicis. In 2026 he was chosen as the lead testimonial and on-screen face of Mail Boxes Etc.’s advertising campaign during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
He is recognised by the project for pioneering integrated authorship across acting, directing, writing and music.
Style and achievements
Borrelli is associated with two records in the field of cinema and digital music:
Through the film Eddy, he is the first artist who simultaneously held all key creative and production roles (eight) in a film, including those of director, screenwriter, lead actor, composer, performer, arranger and musician of the original music as well as author and performer of the soundtrack songs.
The single L'Amor is the first music video distributed by a major composed exclusively of original animated GIFs.
Filmography
Cinema
Una volta sola, mai più, directed by Nicola Parolini
Borrelli's film Eddy received support from Unicef, Médecins Sans Frontiers and Amnesty International, and was designated by the Council of Europe as an "Official Human Rights Film".
European 12 Star City Award – Paris (France), for Eddy
Ferdinandea Prize – UNICEF Italy, for Eddy
Best International Film – International Film Festival of Kerala (India), for Eddy.
Best Film (Jury Prize) – Social World Film Festival, for Eddy.
Best Actor (Jury Prize) – Social World Film Festival, awarded to Borrelli for Eddy.
Franco Fedeli Special Prize – SIULP , for Eddy.
Person of the Year – City of Crotone, for Eddy.
Sonora Prize for Eddy.
European Film Festival – Starring Europe – American Cinematheque, Hollywood, United States, for Eddy.
International Human Rights Film Festival, for Eddy.
