»There was a phase when I was afraid of dying«

Icon: enlarge

Starring girl in "Sörensen is afraid":

"I wanted the whole movie to feel like an oppressive anxiety disorder"

Photo: Michael Ihle / NDR

In the discipline of the acceptance speech, Bjarne Mädel has achieved a few interesting top performances in recent years.

On such an occasion, his colleagues first report on their nervousness.

When Bjarne Mädel received the German Acting Award in 2019 for the best performance in a comedic role, he climbed onto the podium and said: "I have a pulse."

During another award ceremony, Mädel celebrated the ritual widespread among artists of patting yourself on the back when saying thanks, with the words: "You are actually only as good as you are."

And the fad of actors to listen publicly to themselves in front of a prize gala microphone, he ridiculed on a prize podium with a whole cascade of clichés and ended with the admission: "This feeling of being a me, I sometimes don't have."

If you know such statements, it is not at all surprising when Bjarne Mädel explains on the phone that it is not a problem for him that he is currently hardly able to meet anyone for an interview due to the pandemic.

He thinks that is better than being accompanied on visits to the weekly market or walks in order to give journalists the most original possible insights into his life.

As a viewer, he is not interested in knowing a lot about an actor or director anyway.

“I don't care if someone smokes or lives with five women, or what sexual orientation they have.

On the contrary, the more I find out about people privately, the less likely I can believe their characters. "

Read more with Spiegel Plus

More perspectives, more understanding.

Your advantages with SPIEGEL +

• Icon: Check

  SPIEGEL as a magazine

  as an app, e-paper and on the e-reader

• Icon: Check

  All articles on SPIEGEL.de

  Exclusive texts for SPIEGEL + readers

• Icon: Check

  Try one month for free

  Cancel anytime online

  A price

  only € 19.99 per month

One month for € 0.00

Try now for 0.00 € Buy nowArrow to the right

Already have a digital subscription? Register here

Restore iTunes subscription

SPIEGEL + is processed via your iTunes account and paid for with a purchase confirmation.

24 hours before it expires, the subscription is automatically renewed by one month at the current price of € 19.99.

You can cancel the subscription at any time in the settings of your iTunes account.

In order to use SPIEGEL + outside of this app, you have to link the subscription to a SPIEGEL ID account immediately after purchase.

With the purchase you accept our general terms and conditions and privacy policy.