From his first-ever audition to Sundance-bound actor, 19-year-old Giovanni Mazza is on a whirlwind ride through Hollywood — and it all started with a surprise twist of fate at .
“My life completely changed,” Mazza told TooFab in an exclusive interview. “General Hospital was actually my very first in-person audition. I had just moved to L.A. at 18 to train for two months — now it’s been almost nine.”
Mazza plays Gio Palmieri, a fan-favorite newcomer to the long-running soap. And while the first few months have built out his character's relationships, Mazza teased that something “very big” is about to unfold.
“We’re finally diving into who Gio really is. Fans are going to be very, very excited,” he said.
Speculation has been swirling among viewers and even his own family about the character’s mysterious background. “It’s funny — my cousin texted me, like, ‘Is so-and-so your parent?’” he laughed.
“I love hearing those theories. They actually help me explore the character even more on-screen.”
Before his big break on TV, Mazza made a name for himself playing violin in stadiums across the country. That lifelong passion recently came full circle with an invitation to perform at a Los Angeles Lakers halftime show — the same team he once opened for as a young teen.
“That moment at Crypto.com Arena was surreal,” he said. “I invited the casting director and executive producer from General Hospital. It felt like everything came together — music, acting, the Lakers — all in one night.”
The Chicago native first picked up the violin with dreams of playing fiddle, but his path took a hip-hop twist.
“They asked, ‘Can you play hip-hop?’ Next thing you know, I’m doing ‘Turn Down for What’ on the violin,” he said. “Then came dancing, classical training, blending styles… and now, here we are.
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Beyond the soap and stadiums, Mazza is headed to the prestigious Sundance Film Festival with the U.S. Dramatic Competition entry .
“It’s one of the most unique films I’ve ever seen — or been part of,” Mazza said. “We were just a bunch of kids filming together, sharing dinners, making something special. I felt at home on that set.”
“It’s not just about Sundance.
Whether it's a festival or your grandma’s birthday, the people you share it with make it matter. And we’re all still friends. That’s what makes this so meaningful.”
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