How Vince Vaughn’s Granny Inspired Him to Take the Role in Nonnas & if He’s Actually Italian in Real Life
Enoteca Maria is getting the movie it deserves. The heartwarming tale of a restaurant owner who makes a space for old woman to cook for restaurant lovers just got it’s big debut on Netflix with Nonnas.
Nonnas is based on the real story of Jody “Joe” Scaravello who opened up the iconic restaurant Enoteca in Staten Island, N.Y. The restaurant hires old women who cook dishes from their heritage to a bunch of restaurant-goers. The film stars iconic Italian-American actresses in the titular roles, like Lorraine Bracco, Susan Sarandon, Talia Shire, and Brenda Vaccaro.
Vince Vaughn plays the role of Joe, but does he have the same Italian family tree as the real person?
Is Vince Vaughn Italian?
Vince Vaughn has some Italian ancestry from his mother’s side (his mother’s father was from Italy). He has a mix of Canadian, Lebanese, Italian, German, English, and Irish ancestry.
The actor was drawn to the reliability of growing up with a grandmother who always cooked in the house. “I was raised with my granny in the house with me, and so I really loved that this was a real place and a true story,” the Dodgeball alum told ScreenRant. “I’d never heard of the restaurant, but Joe created a place where he brought Italian grandmothers to be the cooks to make the recipes that were their family, recipes that they used to feed their family and to celebrate life. I thought that was such an interesting idea and such a great send-up to these ladies and this culture.”
On the contrary, the real inspiration behind Vaughn’s character is proud of his Italian heritage. The restaurant was named in honor of Scaravello’s mom Maria. His grandmother is also from Sicily and died just a few months shy of 100 years old. “I just tried to recreate that part of my life that was gone,” he said about the restaurant’s creation. “This is like therapy for me.”
Today, the restaurant has branched out to Nonnas of different ethnicities. They have a rotating menu from nonnas from Italy, Japanese, Mexican, Poland, and more.
Another Italian on the cast, Joe Manganiello, who plays Bruno in the movie, was elated to show off his roots in the movie. I’m of mixed ancestry, so I haven’t been cast as Italian a lot in my life,” he told Entertainment Weekly. “I’m a foot taller than most of the other Italians that I know because of the Croatian and the German. Those lengthened my brother and I out quite a bit. I’m 6 foot 5, my brother’s 6 foot 7. But there were nuanced, funny things about being Italian that I felt like I understood.” The actor got Italian citizenship in 2022.
