Stephanie Fantauzzi: America’s Next Big Star
Meet Stephanie Fantauzzi, the Brazilian-born model and actress bringing the sexy to Shameless USA.
Who she?
- Age: “Not telling, but I was born on St Patrick’s Day.” (The internet says she’s 26)
- From: Brazil
- Likes: Travelling, Will Ferrell movies, Aerosmith
- Dislikes: Spelling errors, peanuts, dishonesty
- Twitter: @stephaniefanta
Still harbouring doubts as to whether America does telly better than us? Erase them by downloading Shameless USA immediately, because it stars the lovely Stephanie Fantauzzi. The Florida-raised model and actress plays Estefania, the short-tempered, sex-loving, clothes-shy daughter of a Brazilian drug lord. Estefania’s most memorable moments of the series include an angry, nude booty call, having an orgasm in the back of a car, getting her tan lines spray-tanned in front of an audience, and dangling from the roof of the Sears Tower wearing only a thong. OK, we made that last one up but, still, her character’s done some crazy shit. With some serious top-secret acting jobs lined up for the rest of 2013, Stephanie is tipped to be US telly’s hottest new star. Say “olá!”, everyone…
FHM: Hi Stephanie! So Shameless USA must be pretty fun to be part of.
Stephanie: It really is. We have amazing writers who push every script to the limit. I can’t believe some of the crazy storylines they manage to come up with. There are basically no boundaries.
FHM: Your character Estefania is not exactly shy, is she?
Stephanie: No, she’s not. She’s a free spirit who uses her assets to her advantage. But I like that about her. She knows how to use her sex appeal to get what she wants. Her needs definitely come first.
FHM: How do you feel about getting naked on camera?
Stephanie: I don’t agree with gratuitous sex scenes, but my scenes work because they show exactly who Estefania is. She is a stereotypical Brazilian, who is free with her body and celebrates it. When you see it like that, getting naked is nothing to be ashamed of. Also, the sex scenes are beautifully shot, so everyone looks amazing.
FHM: True. You also look amazing in this shoot. Did you enjoy it?
Stephanie: It really was so much fun – definitely the best shoot I have ever done. It was playful, flirty and sexy. I loved frolicking on the beach with my rubber ducky, popsicles and water gun.
FHM: Are you handy with a water pistol?
Stephanie: I like to think I can hold my own when the water starts flying. Not that I always play fair. I’m a huge prankster, so rather than get involved in a fight, I like to creep up on people and drench them when they least expect it.
FHM: Cunning. What other pranks do you play?
Stephanie: I’ve done loads and loads of great ones (see her best pranks over the page), but a couple of recent ones I liked were using an app to prank call my friends until they were at the point of calling the cops, and making up crazy stuff that my hungover friend had supposedly done the night before. It’s fun freaking people out who have drunk memory loss.
FHM: Are you a big drinker?
Stephanie: Not really. I’d definitely be considered a lightweight by any standards. When I’m working, I’ll have a glass of wine at most, but when I’m having fun, my drink is Jameson whisky, ginger ale and cherry.
FHM: Blimey. Did you pick that up in Ireland?
Stephanie: No. I’ve never been to Ireland or Britain, but I’m dying to visit. I have friends who visit London all the time and they rave about the underground music scene and the fashion. Hopefully I’ll get over this summer. But I hear it’s cold, so I’ll definitely have to pack my Victoria’s Secret hoodie.
FHM: It is indeed pretty cold. What other fun stuff are you up to?
Stephanie: Work-wise, I’m shooting a pilot for a TV show and a film. Aside from that, I want to get home to Florida for a bit and then hopefully head to the Caribbean for some relaxing beach time.
FHM: Are you a swimmer on a sunbather?
Stephanie: I’m a beach bum. When my mum was pregnant with me she spent lots of time lying around eating exotic fruits on the beach, and that trait has definitely been passed down to me. Growing up, if I wasn’t at school, I’d be lying on the beach with friends.
FHM: What’s the best way for a guy to get your attention on the beach?
Stephanie: It’s sexy when someone clearly cares about their body and is in good shape.
FHM: So once we’ve worked out and got the beach body, then what?
Stephanie: Maybe pull the classic throwing-the-ball-or-Frisbee-to-your-friend-but-accidentally-hitting-a-hot-girl trick. It’s a total cliché, but it gives you a chance to apologise and then throw in the charm and wow them with your sense of humour. I can’t promise this trick will work for every girl, but it will work with me. Aside from a guy being in shape for the beach, a good sense of humour is a huge thing for me.
FHM: Cool. So what’s next – do we just hand over our number and wait for your call?
Stephanie: No, the beach is a good place to start chatting, but that’s it. Asking for a girl’s number right there and then makes her feel cornered and uncomfortable. So instead of doing that, mention a bar you’re heading to and suggest she and her friends join you later. If that happens, and the vibes are still good, then it’s fair game to exchange contact details.
FHM: Excellent. Finally, you mentioned getting your body beach ready. What’s your opinion on male body hair? Do you like a hairy chest?
Stephanie: If you have one of those Persian rugs on your chest, then you should probably trim it to keep it tidy. But if it’s just a little bit of hair, I’d say keep it – I love the rough-and-ready look. Keep your stubble unshaven, too. The five-o’clock-shadow look is always a hot one in my opinion.
Stephanie’s most shameless pranks
1 “Honey, I’m pregnant”
“This is a classic trick any girl can play. I’ve only done it once to an ex-boyfriend, but it worked a treat. Poor guy. He just went straight into panic mode.”
2 Ketchup cut
“I prank my mum at least once a year. The best one I’ve done involved me pouring ketchup on my arm, then screaming that I’d cut myself cooking. You should have seen her face.”
3 The car move
“You swipe your friend’s keys, move their car round the corner and then put the keys back in their jacket. When they go out, they think they’ve been towed and go mental. It’s hilarious.”
From the December 2013 issue of FHM India.
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