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I simply have trust in life | Interview with actor Damian Hardung about “Club of the Red Bands”
Things are going well for Damian Hardung. With the TV series “Club of the Red Bands”, he starred in a ratings hit that even won an Emmy award. Last year, he appeared in Aron Lehmann’s highly acclaimed teen drama “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World” as the somewhat awkward heartthrob Rick.
“I’m completely skint up here!” he exclaims in that script. In real life, Hardung was awarded a scholarship for gifted students at a private school in New York City when he was fourteen. Before he appears shortly in the TV remake of “The Name of the Rose” alongside John Turturro, he reprises the role of the sensitive Jonas in the cinema version of “Club of the Red Bands”. [030] staff member Dieter Oßwald spoke with the 20-year-old actor.
Mr Hardung, you could easily work as a model, based on your appearance. You’re also highly gifted—are you satisfied with your lot in life?
I don’t think much of the term “highly gifted”; I would quickly reject that label. And as far as looks are concerned: Last year I starred in “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World”, and the central message is, once again, that beauty is always in the eye of the beholder.
“The Most Beautiful Girl in the World” was one of the best German films last year. Yet another lucky break?
I’m incredibly grateful for everything. (Laughs) The producer always used to say: “Damian, the sun seems to shine out of your arse!” Now, I have to hear that every time we meet. And I haven’t quite managed to argue the opposite yet. I simply have trust in life, because it’s had such lovely things in store for me so far.
Those lovely things include your more than 175,000 followers on Instagram. Is it time for a disguise yet?
I have a great respect for what might come along. Even now, I feel what it means to be in the public eye and to give up some of your privacy. You constantly feel that certain things could be interpreted in particular ways by certain people. But constantly hiding because of that isn’t any fun either.
Do you still enjoy taking the tube when you’re constantly being stared at strangely?
No idea, I never take the tube; I get around everywhere by bike.
How do you learn to deal with fame?
It’s important to separate the character from yourself. For that you need the right people around you. That’s why I consciously decided against moving to Berlin and stayed in Cologne, where my family and long-standing friends live—people who don’t really have anything to do with acting professionally.
On TV, “Club of the Red Bands” was a ratings hit, with a shower of awards including the Emmy. Where does the enormous success for such a sad theme of illness and death come from?
We didn’t reinvent the hospital series, but we succeeded in telling the story from the perspective of children. The characters were given an incredible amount of room, which created a very special atmosphere. Every viewer could choose which character was closest to their heart. Since the club was made up of such different types, it became a very complex construct. It was like a painting in different colours: the handsome one, the clever one, the leader, the good soul. They’re all connected by an extraordinary friendship through their illness.
What happens when the club meets reality? Aren’t there quite a few people who reach out to actors with what they think is the same fate?
Expectations can sometimes be problematic when people look for the good mate from the series in real life too. Of course, I can’t provide that kind of psychological support as an actor. That’s the job of people who are professionally trained for it.
How does such a sad topic affect the mood during filming?
There definitely were days, even weeks, when it was incredibly tough. One of the worst times was in the third series when it was about Leo’s farewell. Looking at the shooting schedule, you sometimes thought: ‘Oh wow, how am I going to get through this emotionally!’
So what was your answer to that?
My solution was to create a space for myself. I would sit in the garden in the evenings and actively try to let it all go. You just end up staring at a tree for an hour, letting go of the role. It’s exhausting, but at the same time it’s also incredibly liberating.
What would you say is the most important quality for the acting profession?
You have to be brutally honest with yourself. Of course, you do some research about a character beforehand. But at the end of the day, it’s about really knowing your own impulses. And being aware of your fears and desires, so you can use them. That’s often tough. Making yourself vulnerable proves to be a difficult task time and again.
You’ll soon be seen in the remake of “The Name of the Rose” in the role that was once played by Christian Slater. Did you watch the original again to prepare?
No, I deliberately didn’t watch the film. I wanted to play my own version of the role and avoid being influenced by Christian Slater.
Has the Emmy for the TV series already had an impact on your career? Do you have to give up your medical studies?
There have been some effects, but I’m not allowed to reveal anything. (Laughs) I’ve started studying medicine, but the time management is a bit tricky at the moment. In any case, I find it exciting to experience this other world as well.
Lucas Hedges and Timothée Chalamet have become Oscar contenders in Hollywood through demanding roles. Are they role models for you?
“Call Me by Your Name” was my favourite film last year; I absolutely fell in love with Timothée Chalamet and his performance. What he achieved there is simply fantastic, and a wonderful source of inspiration for me personally. I’ll soon be appearing in the adaptation of Bov Bjerg’s “Auerhaus”, and while reading the script, I often thought of Timothée Chalamet.
“The Club of the Red Bands – How It All Began” has been showing in cinemas since the 14th of February.