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The First Avenger: Civil War – Interview with Daniel Brühl
With “Good Bye, Lenin!” Daniel Brühl had his big breakthrough. This was followed by films such as “The Edukators”, “Krabat” and “John Rabe”. He also regularly appears on international film sets: Whether with Judi Dench in “Ladies in Lavender”, with Julie Delpy in “2 Days in Paris” or with Brad Pitt in Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglourious Basterds”.
After his appearance as racing legend Niki Lauda in “Rush” and the political thriller “Colonia Dignidad” from Oscar-winner Florian Gallenberger, he now appears alongside Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johansson in the film adaptation of the Marvel comic “The First Avenger: Civil War”, soon to hit cinemas.
Mr Brühl, as a child your mother used to call you “bluebottle” – how did you end up with such a charming nickname?
Brühl: (Laughs) I was a bit persistent as a child. You couldn’t easily get rid of me when something interested me – and that’s how I ended up with the nickname bluebottle.
Were you a comic book fan when you were a child?
Brühl: Of course, I was a comic book fan. I was especially captivated by the classics, from “Tintin” and “Gaston” to “Asterix”. I also found Moebius exciting for a while, as well as some of the Marvel comics – although I wasn’t exactly an expert in those. It’s really only through this film that I began to properly discover the fascinating Marvel universe.
Don’t characters tend to be rather one-dimensional in comic-book films?
Brühl: Not at all. I tried to give my character a human side and to make him transparent, so the audience could connect with him. He’s not a one-dimensional villain who’s just plain evil. He’s a mysterious chap where you’re left wondering what he’s actually doing. Only at the very end do you discover what his motivation was.
Once you’ve appeared in a comic-book film, does that automatically mean you’ll show up in a video game?
Brühl: That’s certainly possible, but so far I haven’t heard anything concrete about it. Appearing in a video game sounds pretty cool – and if you even end up as an action figure in a kids’ meal, then you’ve really made it in your career! (Laughs)
What kind of souvenirs do you bring back from the set of such a comic-book adaptation?
Brühl: It really was a bit like a children’s birthday party; among other things, there were all the earlier adaptations on Blu-Ray. A particularly special keepsake is a keyring from Robert Downey Jr., which he designed himself and only gifted to a very select few.
Comic-book adaptations traditionally turn enormous profits – do actors get a slice of the big pie?
Brühl: I don’t share in the profits. Still, there’s no reason to complain: I’ve already been treated very fairly.
How do you actually land a role in a film like this?
Brühl: Kevin Feige, the head of Marvel Studios, knew my films and wanted to meet me in London. During our meeting, he talked very specifically about the project and my potential role – and three days later I got the call that they wanted to have me on board. Given the scale of the project and the top-notch cast, it was, of course, a great honour and a delight.
What do you do with Hollywood stars after filming is wrapped up for the day?
Brühl: The wonderful thing about Americans is their tremendous warmth. You’re made to feel immediately welcome on set and never get the sense that you’re standing alone in a corner as an outsider, with no one talking to you. I was quickly invited to basketball games or we’d often go out together in the evenings. I’d really love to have that experience again.
What was filming with Scarlett Johansson like?
Brühl: I have to pass on that, I’m afraid. As is usual with these big productions, nothing can be let slip that relates to the film. After all, no one wants the pleasure and the suspense to be spoiled by spoilers.
Is all this secrecy not a bit tiresome in the long run?
Brühl: It is a bit stressful, having to constantly keep in mind that you need to be extra careful with the script and not leave your laptop lying around anywhere. Even now, during interviews, I have to be very careful not to let anything slip about the film itself.
What would the possible penalty be?
Brühl: I’d honestly rather not know. I’m sure it would be something unpleasant…
What are important qualities in your profession?
Brühl: You need patience and perseverance. It’s difficult enough to make the right decisions, and it’s all the more important to know how to properly deal with the wrong ones. That takes staying power and self-confidence – which I’m becoming increasingly aware of.
Your Berlin tapas bar “Raval” is celebrating its fifth anniversary. Is becoming a landlord an alternative career option?
Brühl: I enjoy “Raval” incredibly and I feel genuinely proud when I look at our guestbook. The list of colleagues who stopped by to celebrate during the Berlinale ranges from Ian McKellen, Benedict Cumberbatch and Michael Fassbender to Audrey Tautou or Elyas M’Barek. Emma Thompson was so taken with it that she’s considering opening her own tapas bar in London.