Citations

[on his role in Männer wie wir (2004)] I had read the script and knew what I was getting myself into. I had a lot of fun doing it. I tried to imagine what it would be like if I was gay. For me it was important to do it without clichés like the pinky, the shaking butt or a higher pitched voice, to portray the character in a most natural way. My approach was to simply portray a story of first love - only that this one was with a man.

Maybe I will be proved wrong one day. But at present I can say with full conviction: I think I will be faithful to only my wife for the rest of my life, and I am not missing out on anything.

[playing a police inspector in Tatort (1970)] I wouldn't be particularly keen on that.

I am aware that many actors record an album at some point. But singing is not quite my thing. For La mélodie du destin (2011) in which I play young Udo Jürgens, I learned to play the piano. In my personal life I play the guitar, I had violin lessons for a long time and I played in an orchestra once. Music does play a role in my life, but rather for domestic use.

No, in my personal life I don't watch TV much.

[on whether his New Year's Eve celebration will be loud or quiet] Both. I live in a house community with several families and there is always a lot going on. But above all it is a party for the children, just as Christmas also is.

I in fact believe that you are obligated to break the rules if their meaning is no longer met. Some kind of basic anarchy is actually necessary if everything is to remain alive. I don't think it's good to play by the rules simply because they exist. You should also feel free to question whether it still makes sense. If the rules still make sense, you can readily play by them. If not, something new is needed.

I am not an actor who will pester the world with a [music] album.

Recklessness in terms of allowing every adventure to happen - I don't even know if I would be brave enough for that. [What could cause this to fail are] the many dangers that lurk everywhere. [The thing I am most scared of are] brawls. I don't like them at all, yet for my role in Bad Cop: Kriminell gut (2017), I have to physically fight constantly. I spoke to the stuntman recently about how, in real life, I would be much too scared in such situations.

There is hardly anything that is quirky on German television, there is no actual wicked humor. Apparently they are scared of alienating the viewers.

[Vienna plays] a very important [role in my life]. It is my favorite city. I went to drama school there, I acted in the Burgtheater and also shot several movies there since.

[on turning 40] These worries so many people have regarding their age starting with a 4 I don't have at all. I am happy about every day that will be added and I also increasingly manage to enjoy taking things as they come.

[2020] I smoked for over 25 years and I only really gave up a year and a half ago.