
Back to All News
Revealing the Cast That Will Bring From Scratch' to ScreenTembi Locke
Author and Executive Producer
Entertainment
07 April 2021
GlobalUnited States
It's an honor to revisit From Scratch for the screen. In many ways, it feels like a cinematic love letter - and the perfect next step of this story. Long before I wrote the book about my experience with love and loss after the death of my husband, I spent years replaying the memories in my mind. There is no better person to take on this journey than my creative partner, showrunner, and family member - my sister, Attica Locke. She knows the story like no one else. For us, this is life and art colliding to allow the personal to become the universal.
Having Zoe Saldana sign on to From Scratch was quite literally dream casting. We knew casting certain characters would be a challenge, particularly the lead role of Lino, based on my late husband. Attica called me after she first saw one actor's audition. She had a visceral reaction and told me we should sit on the phone together as I watched. From that phone call we knew. Here was someone we didn't know but who felt like family. Every member of our cast feels like that.
After more than a year of isolation, separation, and loss, and it is beautiful and even fortuitous to share a story that embraces the richness of nature, food, love, and travel - the things we have all been denied. I hope the series will nourish our souls, inspire creativity, and, of course, remind us of the magical ways food can express love.
There could be no more perfect home for From Scratch than Netflix. Stretching across multiple languages, many cultures, and two continents, our show is about how love and our shared humanity can cross borders. It's exciting to know that this series, which highlights the universal things that unite us no matter where we are on the planet, will be streamed all over the planet.
THE CAST
Zoe Saldana (Guardians of the Galaxy, Avatar) plays Amy Wheeler, a young woman from Texas who arrives wide-eyed in Italy, searching for a life full of beauty and adventure. An unexpected romance with a charming Sicilian, Lino, teaches her to live a life full of love and passion for romance, art, and food.
Eugenio Mastrandrea (La Fuggitiva, The Girl from last century) plays Lino, a Sicilian chef who grew up translating literature at night, after spending days picking garlic and olives with his father in the fields of Sicily and learning to cook at his mother's stove. Lino broke 100 years of tradition by leaving the fields of Sicily to become a chef. It's through the love of his wife that he's able to fulfill his dream of dreams before the end of his life.
Danielle Deadwyler (Watchmen, The Harder They Fall) plays Zora, Amys older sister and best friend. Although she sometimes resents her baby sister for getting their parents to go along with her rule-breaking she also lovingly cheers her on. With wry humor, she is Amy's fiercest ally in the family.
Keith David (Greenleaf, Welcome to the Blumhouse) plays Hershel, former civil rights activist, and Amy's father. Hershel is a plainspoken man who lets his kids make their own decisions but doesn't bullshit them if he thinks they're about to make a mistake. He raised two headstrong young women. Though happily remarried, his divorce from Amy's mom is a wound he still carries.
Kellita Smith (The Bernie Mac Show, Z Nation) plays Lynn, Amy's bitingly funny mother full of judgment about almost every aspect of her daughter's life. Lynn gave Hershel custody of the girls after they divorced and has spent the last decade feeling guilty and regretting this decision.
Judith Scott (Dear White People, Snowfall) plays Maxine, Herschel's wife, and Amy's stepmother. Maxine practically raised Amy and Zora during their teen years, and her commitment to them is unwavering.
Lucia Sardo (Nastro dArgento, Picciridda) plays Filomena, Lino's mother. Filomena is deeply bound by Sicilys Old World culture but is adept at finding clever ways to work around the patriarchal hierarchy of her country and her marriage.
Paride Benassai (Felicia Impastato, La Fuitina Sbagliata) plays Giacomo, Lino's father. This man with a grade school education devoted his life to garlic and olive farming and provided for his family; he is a proud patriarch who disapproves of his son not taking over the family business.
Roberta Rigano (I Know This Much Is True) plays Lino's sister, Biagia. She feels abandoned by Lino but also proud of his accomplishments by leaving home. She is also hurt and angry with herself for all the ways acquiescing to the patriarchal order cost her joy and a different life she could have had.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
02/05/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
18/04/2026
MultiDyne Video & Fiber Optic Systems has begun shipping the C16-AM-12G audio mo...
18/04/2026
FOR-A America is set to detail AI functionality for its software-defined IMPULSE...
18/04/2026
Cobalt Digital and SineSix Media have announced a partnership to integrate the v...
18/04/2026
The ATSC, the broadcast standards association, is highlighting the status of the ATSC 3.0 internet protocol-based broadcast standard at the 2026 NAB Show. The e...
18/04/2026
Bolin Technology has introduced a new range of hardware for live production envi...
18/04/2026
KMH Integration is participating in the 2026 NAB Show, focusing on its AV Casti...
18/04/2026
Appear has appointed Mike Burk as vice president of business development for North America. Burk brings over two decades of experience in the broadcast and live...
18/04/2026
Skyline Communications is showcasing its DataMiner platform and the new DataMine...
18/04/2026
Telos Alliance is exhibiting its portfolio of broadcast audio products at the 20...
18/04/2026
TAG Video Systems has announced an integration with the AWS Elemental MediaConne...
18/04/2026
Blackmagic Design has announced DaVinci Resolve 21, with a public beta available now for download. The update will be demonstrated at NAB Show 2026 (Booth N2502...
18/04/2026
Calrec (Booth C6907) and Grass Valley (Booth C2408) have announced a long-term broadcast audio technology partnership at NAB Show 2026, integrating Calrec's...
18/04/2026
Free software mixer now in public beta
Blackmagic Design are best known for their high-end video hardware and DaVinci Resolve editing software, but the latt...
18/04/2026
The first signs of spring in March led to Poles spending significantly less time in front of their screens, leading to a sharp 22-minute drop in average viewing...
18/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/04/2026
Clear-Com announced FreeSpeak Cell , a cellular-based wireless intercom system that uses LTE and 5G infrastructure to support large-scale production communicat...
18/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/04/2026
New York, NY, April 17, 2026 -- TAG Video Systems has announced an integration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) Elemental MediaConnect Router. The integration bri...
18/04/2026
Pro Sound Effects (PSE), the leading provider of professionally recorded sound effects for film, television, advertising, and technology today announced the lau...
18/04/2026
Fincons Group, a multinational IT business consulting and system integrator firm, announced today that it has achieved Amazon Web Services (AWS) Media & Enterta...
18/04/2026
Adobe extends leadership in video: unleashing new AI-powered creation in Firefly...
17/04/2026
The World Fencing League (WFL) has announced DAZN as its primary global streamin...
17/04/2026
ARRI Releases ALEXA 35 SUP 6.0 and LPS-1 SUP 1.3 Software Updates
ARRI has announced software updates for its ALEXA 35 Live camera and Live Production System L...
17/04/2026
Sennheiser has announced Spectera Studio, an offline system planner for its Spec...
17/04/2026
Deltatre and the German Football Association (DFB) have announced DFB.TV+, a DFB-owned direct-to-consumer streaming service developed and operated by Deltatre. ...
17/04/2026
Global sports marketing agency IMG has announced new senior leadership roles, designed to strengthen how it supports rightsholders and partners in the midst of ...
17/04/2026
NAGRAVISION and Harmonic have announced a watermarking-as-a-service solution for...
17/04/2026
NETGEAR and EVS Broadcast Equipment have announced a global technology partnersh...
17/04/2026
America's broadcasters are launching the NEXTGEN TV Converter Box Program, a new initiative designed to provide millions of American viewers with a low-cost...
17/04/2026
Quantum Corp. will exhibit at NAB Show 2026 (Booth N1726), presenting what it ca...
17/04/2026
Leadership and Staff Announce '20/20 Vision' Playbook...
17/04/2026
TNT Sports has announced a multi-year agreement for U.S. media rights to the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). Three events will air on truTV - the 24 Hou...
17/04/2026
Scripps Sports has announced a multi-year broadcast partnership with PBR (Profes...
17/04/2026
Adder Technology, a specialist in connectivity solutions and high performance IP KVM, today announced the latest release of AIM, its IP KVM matrix management so...
17/04/2026
Victory , a free sports streaming platform from A Parent Media Co. Inc. (APMC), has announced a multi-year content distribution partnership with the Dallas Cowb...
17/04/2026
In-venue and creative video staffers at the professional and collegiate level have one major thing in common: the intensity and attention to detail ramps up dur...
17/04/2026
Quickplay has announced the full-scale deployment of Gray Media's streaming ...
17/04/2026
Clear-Com has introduced the FreeSpeak Cell cellular-based wireless intercom system that uses LTE and 5G infrastructure to support large-scale production commun...
17/04/2026
The 2026 NAB Show kicks off Saturday, April 18, with the show floor and exhibits opening April 19-22 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The show features more ...
17/04/2026
Ratings Roundup is a rundown of recent rating news and is derived from press rel...
17/04/2026
Versatile ribbon mic kit revealed
The latest arrival to the AEA line-up brings together three contrasting models from their Nuvo range, delivering a versati...