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Ex Home And Away star Richard Brancatisano says his new film Alex and Eve challenges racial stereotypes

By Alicia Vrajlal for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 03:06 EST, 18 October 2015 | Updated: 06:59 EST, 18 October 2015

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He shot to fame after starring as Italian stallion Vitorrio on Home And Away, before going on to find international success on US television series Chasing Life.

But now Australian actor Richard Brancatisano is back home to promote his latest movie, Alex and Eve.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia about the film, in which he plays a Greek Orthodox man who falls in love with a Lebanese girl from the Islamic faith, Richard says he hopes the flick generates cultural awareness and eliminates racial stereotypes.

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Proud: Australian-Italian actor Richard Brancatisano says he hopes his new film Alex and Eve generates cultural awareness and eliminates racial stereotypes

'It gives you an insight into two different cultures (including) the Muslim culture and their beliefs and their practices and you really walk away from the film loving it and understanding it more,' the 31-year-old told DMA.

Touching on the stereotypes following recent terror events, Richard said: 'It’s a very small minority that are being extreme and choosing violence and the less we generalise, the better. Generalisations are going to get us nowhere.'

The movie, which was filmed in Sydney's Western suburbs, sees his and Andrea Demetriades' characters fall in love to the disapproval of their strict parents.

In character: The 31-year-old plays a Greek Orthodox man who falls in love with a Lebanese girl from the Islamic faith, played by Andrea Demetriades

Discussing racial misunderstanding explored in the film, he told DMA: 'It really shows that it’s not just between the Aussies and the immigrants, it’s between immigrants and immigrants.

'There’s racism everywhere,' he said, but added that the film is truly about 'two people’s love that overcomes this.

'That's the seed that changes these particular families,' he explained.

For Richard, whose father is Italian and mother is Australian, playing the role of Alex was very relatable.

Trouble in paradise: Richard's character has to convince his parents that Eve is the right woman for him after they disapprove of the cross-cultural romance

All about love: 'There’s racism everywhere,' he told DMA, before adding the film is truly about 'two people’s love that overcomes this'

Also speaking about the opportunities for different cultures to be represented on screen, Richard confessed that Australia may be behind US in terms of cultural progression, but he's hopeful this will change.

'If I look Italian then I’m going to play people who are Italian. I never thought of myself as being pigeon holed,' he said.

'I think everyone needs to be represented,' he continued, before adding: 'I think as time goes on and Australia becomes more multicultural, it will become more integrated into film and TV and we will see people of ethnic backgrounds just getting roles just as Australians'.

Close to his heart: For Richard, whose father is Italian and mother is Australian, playing the role of Alex was very relatable as he has witnessed his own family's process of integration into Australian society

Richard also says it was wonderful to return home to shoot Alex and Eve after having been LA for some time filming ABC series Chasing Life.

The dark-haired stud starred opposite Italia Ricci in the television show, which was cancelled earlier this month after two seasons.

'It’s sad that the show’s over but at the same time that’s the industry and there’s so much out of your control,' he said about the program getting the axe, adding he will now focusing on hitting up the LA audition circuit once again.

International gig: Richard also says it was wonderful to return home to shoot Alex and Eve after having been in the LA for some time filming ABC series Chasing Life, alongside Italia Ricci and Scott Michael Foster

'It was great to be on that show. It did help my profile a lot, but more than that it helped me find the comfort and a home in LA and in the US market.'

Prior to that he starred in Home And Away in 2010, playing Prince Vittorio Secca, the love interest of Lisa Gormley's character Bianca Scott.

He has also starred in Australian shows Power Rangers Mystic Force, as well as Underbelly: Razor and Dance Academy.

Alex and Eve hits screens in Australian cinemas on October 22.