With US actress Zoe Saldaña sweeping the awards season and finally Sunday last, copping the coveted Oscar —Best Supporting Actress for the 2024 film Emilia

Perez — and securing a place in history as the first American of Dominican origin to win an Academy Award, there’s no better time, we reckon, to revisit SO ’s memorable Milan 2018 encounter with Saldana who starred in The Campari Red Diaries movie The Legend of Red Hand.

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Following the international success of the 2017 edition, Campari, the iconic Italian aperitif, announced the return of Campari Red Diaries 2018, with an all-star short movie steeped in intrigue, leading viewers in the pursuit of the perfect cocktail.

Evolving Campari’s ethos that ‘every cocktail tells a story’.’ The Campari Red Diaries — The Legend of Red Hand is a celebration of bartenders’ talent around the world and most importantly, the Red Hands, masters of the world’s best cocktails.

The short movie acts as the centrepiece of this year’s campaign, starring globally renowned actress Saldaña — star of blockbuster film franchises Avatar and Guardians of the Galaxy — Italian actor Adriano Giannini and directed by celebrated Italina director Stefano Solima.

Entitled The Legend of Red Hand, the story is a thrilling mystery that tells the journey of Mia Parc, played by Saldaña, in the pursuit of the perfect cocktail, starting in Milan, the birthplace of Campari.

Director Sollima brings his storytelling expertise in the thriller genre to create a tense and captivating story, taking viewers on an intriguing journey around the world in the pursuit of perfection. Saldaña exudes glamour and finesse in her role as Mia Parc alongside Italian actor Adriano Giannini as the male lead, and Mia’s love interest Davide as the epitome of Italian style.

Lead protagonist of the film Saldaña noted: “The Campari Red Diaries campaign has a great legacy, so I was delighted to play the role of Mia Parc in the Legend of Red Hand. Mia’s character was a fascinating one to play, to portray her sheer determination to reach perfection, and bringing this to life in Milan, as the birthplace of Campari, the iconic Italian aperitif, was very special.”

Director of photography Dion Beebe behind the scenes of The Legend of Red Diaries Campari

Saldaña exudes glamour and finesse in her role as Mia Parc 

Zoe Saldaña enjoying Campari in between scenes

Zoe Saldaña attends the premiere for the Campari Red Diaries short movie, ‘The Legend of Red Hand’ wearing dress by Alberta Ferretti, earrings by Vhernier and shoes by Stuart Weitzman Campari Red Diaries – Red Carpet Premiere on January 30, 2018 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Venturelli for Campari)

Zoe Saldaña enjoying Campari in between scenes

Zoe Saldaña and director of The Legend Of Red Hand Stefano Sollima 

Hair and make-up for US actress Zoe Saldaña (Photos: Campari Diaries)

Actress Zoe Saldaña celebrates winning the Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for “Emilia Perez” in the press room at the 97th Annual Academy Awards on March 2, 2025.