 In the film, he plays Frances Mayes' (Diane Lane) first love interest upon arriving in Italy; a kind, well-reserved and married estate agent from whom she receives emotional support throughout the film.To the contrary, on the commentary of "Under the Tuscan Sun", director Audrey Wells states that his character's persona was merely something he invented, as in reality he is boyishly energetic.Because of his frequent roles of portraying Italian men, critics and viewers often mistake him for being from Italy, when in fact he was born and brought up in Britain to Italian immigrants.