ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GR♥W FONDER

Actor Gianni Capaldi’s love of Celtic extends to trying to convert the Hollywood film industry into Hoops fans

-  TONY CONNELLY

IT’S been well over a decade since Gianni Capaldi moved permanently to the United States but, despite the distance, the Hollywood actor’s lifelong love affair with Celtic has only grown stronger.

The west coast of America may not have as many Celtic fans as the west coast of Scotland, but Capaldi is on a one-man mission to make Hollywood green and white.

The 45-year-old caught up with the Celtic View from his home in Los Angeles, California after a week of filming Way of the Warriors in Minnesota. Such routines are indicative of his life now, but neither that nor the time difference keeps him from watching the Hoops on Celtic TV each week.

Finding fellow Celtic fans to chat about the games with while on set is rare but that hasn’t stopped Capaldi from sharing his passion with others. In fact, the Scottish actor has made it his mission to increase Celtic’s fan base in the film industry.

“I love telling people about Celtic and the history of the club, whether that be the origins around 1888 or 1967,” said Capaldi. “Celtic is your pride and joy and you take a lot of pride in telling people about the club, why it was formed and the success stories that have come from that over the decades.

“When you ask people who they think the first British team to win the European Cup were, they’ll say Manchester United. When they find out its Celtic, their interest is peaked and they want to know more.