Gabriella LEONARDI – Author, Screenwriter, Actress
Gabriella Leonardi is a multifaceted talent whose work spans screenwriting, poetry, theater, and modeling, consistently garnering critical acclaim and awards. Her debut screenplay, The Little Boy and the Duck on a Cliff’s Edge, has won multiple prestigious awards, including Best Drama Screenplay at The New York Screenwriting Awards, Best Drama Screenplay and overall Winner at the 2024 Gil International Screenwriting Awards, Best Young Screenwriter under 30 at The Chicago Script Awards, and Best Drama Screenplay at the Oxford Script Awards. This project is now being actively pitched to selected producers.
Currently, Gabriella is writing The Croquis, a 4-part TV series that reflects deeply personal experiences and explores the pervasive dangers facing women today—an issue that remains prominent in the media. Gabriella brings a unique perspective to her work, informed by years of experience as a model, appearing in major fashion publications like Vogue Italia, Off Town, Mob, Afi, Teen Cruze, Beauty Mute, Shuba, Pump, and Q, among others. Her storytelling, candid and grounded, tackles themes of vulnerability and resilience, often involving dark elements such as murder.
Alongside her dramatic works, Gabriella has also ventured into comedy, penning the pilot for a 10-part sitcom I Think My Boyfriend Hates Me. This story follows a beautiful yet insecure young woman with dreams of stardom, who moves in with her musician boyfriend’s family due to financial strain. The family’s multi-generational and clashing personalities create an environment of humor, chaos, and heart. Gabriella is also developing a feature film, The Premonition of Love, which offers an intimate exploration of long-distance connections, missed timings, and the delicate interplay of love and heartbreak.
Gabriella studied at East 15 Acting School and has since worked in both film and theater. Her film credits include Road Girl with Raw Power Films, directed by Jesse Lawrence, In Search of Fear with Silent D Pictures, directed by John K. Webster, and All That You Love Will Be Carried Away, a short based on Stephen King’s novel, directed by Hendrik Harms. Gabriella also has extensive theater experience and is currently starring in Flock, a new play previewing in Oxford before a six-week run at London’s Soho Theatre, followed by stops in Bath, Derby, and Salford. Her performance has been met with critical praise, with one reviewer noting, “Gabriella Leonardi as Cel steals the show: simultaneously confident and vulnerable, she is desolately fragile.”
As a bestselling poet, Gabriella has published The Art Of The Damaged Soul (Austin Macauley) and The Art Of The Damaged Soul Vol 2 – When Two Souls Collide (Amazon), which have both topped the British and Irish poetry charts as well as the Women’s poetry charts multiple times. These works are available in bookstores worldwide, resonating deeply with readers through Gabriella’s raw and reflective explorations of love, loss, and resilience. Her poetry has drawn comparisons to Sylvia Plath, with one critic describing her as “the 21st century Sylvia Plath.” Gabriella’s writing often tackles issues such as women’s safety, mental health, and climate change, capturing the voice and spirit of her generation.
In May 2023, Gabriella premiered a one-woman show based on The Art of the Damaged Soul at The Brighton Fringe, where she won the Encore Insure Bursary Award for The Most Promising Show and was the runner-up in Voice Magazine’s Best Newcomer Award. This recognition led to an invitation to perform at Glastonbury Festival in 2024, further cementing her reputation as a powerful and evocative performer.
Gabriella Leonardi continues to challenge and inspire audiences with her fearless creativity and authentic voice, building a legacy as a groundbreaking storyteller.
