Antonia Bill is one of the greatest talents in German film and television. She owes her creativity not least to her family, as the actress performed in a cabaret theater with her mother, father and sister as a child.
Antonia Bill in an interview: We always have theater – professionally and privately!
Antonia Bill is currently playing one of the main roles in the latest Cologne “Tatort”. For the film “Seventh Floor” the actress took on the role of sex worker Jasmin Backes. In an interview, Antonia Bill told us how she prepared for this role. She also talked to us a little about her wonderfully “normal” family.
fuersie.de: In the latest Cologne “Tatort” you play one of the main roles in the episode – a prostitute in a whorehouse. Did you say “yes” straight away when you were offered the role?
It took a while to get the confirmation! I don’t think it’s well known that we actors have to go into casting for projects, often for several rounds. For this project I did a total of three rounds. This allowed me to get to know the role and the director Hüseyin Tabak better and better. After this intensive examination of the script and the character and in combination with the director, it was clear that I definitely wanted to play it. Luckily the call came with the promise! It’s rare that you get the chance to play roles that are so far removed from yourself and allow for a complete change in type. For me, this project is an incredible gift!
fuersie.de: The authors’ main aim was to make the women behind the label “sex worker” visible. How did you prepare for your role?
For me it was particularly important to approach the role as unbiasedly as possible and not to have any desire to copy images that have already been seen a thousand times. In the end, “I” is there too – with my body. Of course I change my appearance and give the character a certain gait and different “tics”, but I always try to make the cosmos behind it as ambivalent as possible. To do this, I research in various directions beforehand – in this case, I watched a lot of interviews and read a few things. In my opinion, you can’t do justice to the topic anyway – everyone immediately has an opinion about it! The most helpful thing for me in preparation is always the stories of the individual people, how and why they do something and how they got there and what they think about it.
fuersie.de: In the film you address the audience directly – like in a theater monologue. What was it like for you to be able to combine your two great passions – theater and film?
That really impressed me the first time I read the script. By turning directly towards the viewer, the “fourth wall” is broken and the illusion is destroyed, so to speak. What is spoken becomes a comment and for me it is no longer the character who speaks, but the actress who plays the character. Suddenly the original tones of the women, most of whom really said it, speak through us actresses. I think this is an ingenious trick and relieves the whole thing of its great morality.
fuersie.de: Do you miss acting?
Very. I can’t say it any other way. But I don’t miss the structures around it as I experienced them. There were a lot of really great moments, but also a lot of destructive things. But I’m in the process of reintegrating theater into my everyday working life. At the moment I have an incredible longing for the stage and the audience.
fuersie.de: You were on stage with your family as a child. Are you still creative together today – whether professionally or privately?
We always have theater – professionally and privately! Just kidding, but actually, my parents still go overboard with their cabaret routines, my sister is a fantastic performer, directs, acts, and is a pioneering fat activist fighting against our messed up body image. So, there’s always a lot going on here. Every time a funny story happens, my mom says, ah, I could use that on stage. There is a heated discussion and a lot of argument. My dad plays the piano wonderfully from time to time – he has always accompanied us on stage and in everything we wanted to sing – while we laugh our heads off. A completely normal family.
fuersie.de: Do you dream of being able to be on stage with your own children in the future?
I would never force it and hopefully never become some sort of “figure skating mom.” It must be fun! From what I have observed, being on stage or filming is a lot of stress for many children and they sometimes do it just for the sake of their parents. This is terrible! For me it was a great opportunity and I made my own way out of it. Now, after a lot of ups and downs, I can honestly say that I feel very comfortable in my job.
From which films and series do you know Antonia Bill?
Even though Antonia Bill has been acting in the theater for a long time, she has also appeared in a number of films and series. You probably know the actress from the series “The Crime Scene Cleaner” or films like “Work Without an Author”. She also plays in the popular television series “Murder or Watt?” and was most recently seen in “Marie Catches Fire” and “The Anders Family: Rose-colored Glasses”.
Does Antonia Bill have a boyfriend?
Although Antonia Bill spoke openly about her family in our interview, little else is known about her private life. For example, we don’t know whether the actress is taken and in a relationship.
Sources: crew-united.com, daserste.com
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