De Matteo is an actor, director and screenwriter. He became interested in theatre during a workshop he attended in 1990 and three years later he founded the theatre troupe Il cantiere. He had his forst film role in the romantic drama Le amiche del cuore (1992). He acted in films Velocità massima (2002) directed by Daniele Vicario, Gente di Roma (2003) by Ettore Scola, Due vite per caso (2010) by Alessandro Aronadi and Tutti contro tutti (2013) by Rolando Ravello. He direccted the short documentary about soccer Prigionieri di una fede (1999) and three years later made his feature directing debut Ultimo stadio with a similar topic. After directing one part (Art. 10) of the omnibus by many directors All Human Rights for All (2008), he directed the drama La bella gente (2009). His last two films are dramas Balancing Act (2012) and The Dinner (I nostri ragazzi, 2014).