When casting for the leading role in Pretty Woman (1990), it came down to Valeria and Julia Roberts (the latter was eventually cast). Before the audition, Roberts whispered to her: 'Go and get them, big mama!'. The same thing happened shortly thereafter when Golino narrowly missed out on the leading role in Flatliners (1990): once again, she was first runner-up to Roberts.
Acting came to me instead of me going to acting. I always loved movies -- I was a cinephile, but I never thought about being an actor until Lina Wertmüller put me in my first movie.
