One of Italy's most famous actors, Pierfrancesco Favino, on Wednesday said Italian actors should be given a chance to play Italian roles in big international movies. He didn't mention any names but his plea came just a day before "Ferrari" was due to debut at the Venice Film Festival, with U.S. actor Adam Driver playing Italian carmaker Enzo Ferrari and Spain's Penelope Cruz playing his wife.

Two years ago, Driver played another well-known Italian, Maurizio Gucci, in Ridley Scott's "House of Gucci." Other Italian roles were taken by Lady Gaga, Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons, Salma Hayek and Al Pacino. "I wish Italian actors ... were more present in international movies where Italian characters are written," said Favino, who was promoting his new Italian-language film "Comandante," which opened the Venice Festival on Wednesday.