Giovanni Mazza Credits His Uncle For Inspiring Work That Led To General Hospital Role

An accomplished violinist at an incredibly young age, Giovanni Mazza has also become the newest addition to General Hospital playing newcomer Giovanni “Gio” Palmieri. He discussed getting the part and what it was like to join the ensemble show.

Felt Like Being in the Twilight Zone

Before entering Port Charles, Giovanni Mazza was an accomplished violinist, starting when he was only three-years-old. By age nine, he played the halftime show at a Chicago Bulls game, and would continue to perform at many major sporting events over the years. In an interview with Soap Opera Digest, he explained that he was inspired by his uncle, Brian Chesters, to become an actor after seeing him appear on Grey’s Anatomy. Bitten by the acting bug, he stated that his mother “Was always so supportive of me, and she got me started very early with [acting]. I did a big national Walmart commercial, and I was always auditioning.” However, violin playing took precedence until the pandemic, when he leaned more into pursuing acting.

He eventually moved to Los Angeles and auditioned for GH twice, and for the first one he watched the show and did a ton of research. After the second one, it came down to the soap and an Amazon show, which he thought would be the one he’d land.

But, “Then I got a call that the [GH] producers wanted to see me,” he remarked, adding that he was offered a long-term contract playing  Giovanni “Gio” Palmieri. “It felt like the Twilight Zone. It didn’t feel real,” he stated, adding, “I was so excited when I found out that my character is also a violinist. I was like, ‘Gosh, this is perfect! I get to continue to play violin and also act!’ It truly couldn’t have been a better combo. I’m very hopeful to play more violin on the show. I hope the fans like it as much as I like playing because it’s so much fun to bring the violin on set and play and especially to play in the dressing rooms.”

Eden McCoy (Josslyn) was his first scene partner. Before they taped their scenes, “She introduced me to pretty much everybody after that, and especially when I played the violin on my first day, I just, I felt like I won everybody [over]. It just felt like everybody wanted me to succeed.”

He Plans on Giving Gio His All

He further noted that his character Gio is “such a sweet guy. He’s very appreciative of everything, very grateful for everything that his family and extended family does and for the people he surrounds himself with. He’s a hard-working kid,” then added, “He always keeps his head down, but he’s always looking out for ways to grow next. And he doesn’t really take a compliment too well! He’s very humble.”

Highlights of his first scenes included working with Tabyana Ali (Trina), whom he had great fun acting with, and he revealed, “My first encounter with Trina is when Josslyn introduces Gio to her. She is interested in who Gio is and wants to know more about him, just as he wants to know about her, and I think we’ll develop a great connection on the show. I feel like there’s so much that could happen and could blossom out of our relationship, and I’m excited to know where the story goes. As a fan of the show, I also want to know what’s going to happen next!” 

Mazza also had a message for GH fans, stating, “I’d just like to say that I am so, so excited to be on the show, and I hope to bring you all the best story, the best acting, and hopefully the best character that everyone falls in love with and can cheer on and support through his journey.”