You play in the new Sky series “Souls”. It’s about transmigration and time loops. A fourteen-year-old recalls a past life as a pilot. You play the pregnant pathologist Allie who – in the past – wants to prevent her husband, the pilot, from boarding the plane. Rarely have you been heard talking about a project with such conviction. What fascinates you about this genre called “mystery”?
I am very convinced of this series. But I haven’t had much to do with Mystery so far. Well, I grew up with .ET and Blade Runner started my love for film. I was also a fan of “Star Wars”. The first three parts were my first big film experiences. Anyway, the Souls books grabbed me from the start because they’re just so good. With multi-layered characters, a complex story that asks you to think along and that grips you. And now that I’ve seen the result, I can only say: It’s well done.
Her figure has special depth.
She offered to do it, yes. I fell in love with the character Allie immediately. She has a strong goal, to save the love of her life, Leo, by stopping him from boarding the plane that is about to crash. And she pursues this goal in a radical way. I found it fascinating that this woman acts so ruthlessly, towards others, but also towards herself; that she is unconventional and never sentimental and has tremendous energy and power. She shows no shyness and is very vulnerable. This contradiction alone is attractive.
Sounds like you’re the one talking about yourself.
Calling yourself strong sounds strange. I can develop a clarity and strength, fighting for something that makes sense to me. As an actress I have found something in this profession where I don’t run the risk of looking for distraction. When I get involved in an exciting role, I can develop strength. But I wouldn’t associate Allie’s radicalism with me.
Why are you so interested in the subject?
Because it’s about issues that are universal, that concern us all. Or, to put it quite banally: I was able to dock immediately. It’s about letting go, about loss, dealing with our demise. Is there a soul, does it wander? Does reincarnation exist? The typical questions of meaning that fascinate me.
Because you ask yourself these questions?
I don’t believe in anything that I can’t consider proven. I definitely want to be open to all possibilities, and I can’t say for sure that there is no such thing as reincarnation. But neither have I experienced anything that makes me believe in it, nor would this thought have any consequences for my life. In other words: I don’t want to lull myself into a hope for consolation. But I don’t want to be without these questions. They revolve around the big topic: How do I want to live my life?
And how do you want to live your life?
It sounds trite, but I want to be a good person as best I can. Then, of course, you have to ask yourself what this “good” means.
Have you ever had the feeling that you already know someone?
It has always fascinated me that we only use a fraction of our brains. The question lurking behind this is: What would we be if we used the full capacity? Maybe we could see things that we call psychic. It would not be supernatural at all, but we would be able to smell, feel, see things that we cannot decipher at the moment. Of course I know that when I meet someone and feel a trust that cannot be explained. But maybe that’s just a projection, and it’s really chemistry. All in all, I would never say that what we think we’re seeing is the end of the road. But this thought has no consequence for my life, for my actions.
Not at all?
I’m not saying I wouldn’t feel any different, but I wouldn’t act any differently if I believed there was a God, a supreme authority. I want to be responsible because I believe that when I act responsibly, I act with respect. I will strive to be respectful and mindful of other people, animals, the environment, everything that lives.
Do you have a guide?
The categorical imperative: treat everyone as you would like to be treated. I try to follow that.
Gregor Gysi once said that he had nothing to do with the church, but did not want to live in a society without Christian values.
I can understand. I wasn’t baptized but was raised in Christian values and in many ways I’m glad of it. One must not forget how culturally shaped we are. If I had grown up in Tibet, the idea of reincarnation would probably have been a given, but in Central Europe it is not.
Was there a role you would have preferred to have stayed in?
Not in real life, but as a player, yes. Allie is definitely a character I’d like to step into again. A woman in an extreme situation who, despite all the desperation, never loses her sense of humor. We mixed two genres: drama and comedy. It was great acting pleasure and a nice challenge because they are two completely different energies. Need comes from within, and self-mockery comes from the outside perspective. Sometimes tragedy can be endured better that way. You don’t want to see people suffer, you want to see them fight their way out of their situation.
“Souls” will be on Sky from November 8th.
