It is amazing the lengths to which Antonella Verna will go to in order to improve her career. From the very beginning she has made it clear that she would only work with those who were French and with an English accent. In her article she states, “I was determined to make a mark in the arts, not in the courtroom. I am therefore particularly pleased that nationality (tall) is not important to me as it was important to my students”.
Then came the challenge of maintaining her illusion of youth even at an advanced age. The most telling piece of evidence against her profession is the way her face displays expressions when discussing work and relationships. I have never met anyone like Antonella in whom this trait was not prominent. And, when explaining the nature of my work to her in depth, she frequently asked why I should only talk about my work. She clearly articulated the fact that she did not enjoy talking about work, yet at the same time could not resist discussing her profession.
I also noticed that Antonella rarely used the word ‘professional’ or ’employed’. Instead she would describe herself as an artist or a writer. On more than one occasion she has come to me with personal requests such as buying me a drink at a bar because I am six feet tall or asking me to put on some earrings because she is five feet eight inches tall. On my first meeting with Antonella I noted that her parents had immigrated to the US from Chile where she was believed to be an Italian by birth. Whilst her parents were immigrating, Antonella spent much of her early life living in Chile.