URIs_MOMENTUM_Research_and_Innovation_Magazine_Spring_2024_M

Finding the Light from

“It honestly surprised me how much my

academic work helped me then

and helps me every single day, now, as a professional actress.”

Aria Mia Loberti ’20 is no stranger to hard work. As a University of Rhode Island (URI) Honors Program student with a triple major in philosophy, political science, and communication, and double minor in ancient Greek and rhetoric, she immersed herself in her studies, graduating summa cum laude . She then received a master’s degree in ancient rhetoric on a Fulbright Scholarship at Royal Holloway, University of London. In 2021, she began her Ph.D. at Pennsylvania State University—on track for a research career. Life, however, had another path in mind. During the first semester of her doctorate, Loberti landed her debut acting role as the lead in All The Light We Cannot See . The World War II drama follows a teenager in the French Resistance. It premiered on Netflix in November 2023. Her life of classrooms and ancient texts morphed into one of constant travel and screenplays. Loberti moved to Budapest, Hungary, to begin the six month process of filming the adaptation of Anthony Doerr’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Produced and directed by Shawn Levy, the series also stars Mark Ruffalo and Hugh Laurie. “It honestly surprised me how much my academic work helped me then and helps me every single day, now, as a professional actress,” Loberti says. While at URI, Loberti published articles in peer reviewed journals and presented her work at conferences around the world.

academic research to worldwide success. written by MOLLY STEVENS ’20

- Aria Mia Loberti

Aria Mia Loberti ’20 acting in All The Light We Cannot See.

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