Dalila Di Lazzaro, 72, Finds New Love & Shares Heartbreaking Loss in Moving Interview
Milan, Italy – In a deeply personal and moving interview with the Italian publication La Repubblica, celebrated actress Dalila Di Lazzaro, 72, has opened up about finding love again with songwriter Manuel Pia, 12 years after the tragic loss of her son, Christian. The story, quickly gaining traction as breaking news, is a powerful testament to the enduring human spirit and the capacity for love even in the face of unimaginable grief. This article is optimized for Google News SEO to ensure rapid indexing and visibility.
A Chance Encounter Blossoms into Love
Di Lazzaro recounted a serendipitous meeting with Pia, a guitarist and singer-songwriter, in an unnamed location. “He played, he is a fantastic guitarist and singer-songwriter,” she shared. Their connection deepened during the 2020 lockdown when Pia relocated to Milan to be with her, and they have been inseparable ever since. “The more we live together and the more we love each other,” she confessed, playfully acknowledging a sentiment often dismissed as cliché, but undeniably true in their case. She humorously referenced a friend’s observation that “the boutique is closed” – a lighthearted way of saying she’d given up on finding love again. The age difference, she insists, is irrelevant. “Love really has no age.”
The Unbearable Loss of a Son
However, the joy of her current relationship is inextricably linked to the profound sorrow of losing her son, Christian, at the young age of 22. Christian, a member of the Carabinieri, died in a road accident on the Cassia highway. Di Lazzaro, who was only 15 when she became a mother, described a uniquely close bond with her son, growing up alongside him. He had dreams of becoming a dentist in America, a future tragically cut short. The pain of his loss remains raw and visceral.
A Mother’s Grief and the Struggle to Cope
The actress revealed the agonizing difficulty of confronting her grief. She initially refused to view her son’s body, fearing she wouldn’t survive the sight. “Otherwise I would have died with him. Maybe I would have killed myself,” she admitted with heartbreaking honesty. With the help of friends, she was eventually able to say a final goodbye, blindfolded, offering a kiss and a whispered “thank you” amidst the cries of his friends. The aftermath was equally devastating; her family removed all traces of Christian – his books, clothes, guitar, even his leather jacket – in an attempt to shield her from further pain.
Finding Strength in Faith and Remembrance
When asked how one survives such a loss, Di Lazzaro’s answer was simple yet profound: “It survives and that’s it.” She credits her faith and the enduring sense of her son’s presence for helping her navigate the darkness. She finds him in unexpected places – in the shape of hearts, a recurring motif he favored as a child, even within the imagery of medical scans. This isn’t simply about coping with grief; it’s about integrating loss into the fabric of her life, finding meaning and connection even in the absence of physical presence. This process of grieving is a universal human experience, and understanding the stages of grief – denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance – can be a crucial step towards healing. Resources like the GriefShare program offer support groups and guidance for those navigating loss.
A Return to Verissimo and a Hopeful Future
Di Lazzaro previously shared her grief and her blossoming romance with Manuel Pia on the Italian television program Verissimo. She spoke of Christian as “a boy show” and acknowledged the enduring emptiness his death left in her life. She even expressed a desire to adopt a child, a wish that was ultimately denied. Her presentation of Pia on Verissimo marked a public acknowledgment of her newfound happiness, a testament to her resilience and openness to love. Pia himself shared the story of their connection, revealing he was captivated by Di Lazzaro from the moment he saw her at one of his concerts and even wrote a song inspired by her.
Dalila Di Lazzaro’s story is a poignant reminder that life is a tapestry woven with both joy and sorrow. Her ability to embrace love again, while honoring the memory of her son, is an inspiration. It’s a story that resonates deeply, offering a message of hope and resilience to anyone who has experienced loss and reminding us all that even in the darkest of times, the possibility of finding light remains.
