Interview with actress Katharina Schüttler, from 'Heidi' to 'Dogs of Berlin'

Katharina Schüttler worked in the movie Heidi (2015) as Fräulein Rottenmeier, Alone in Berlin (2016), tv series Dogs of Berlin (2018). The next projext is Charlotte Link - Im Tal des Fuchses.

Q. In “Heidi” you interpret Fräulein Rottenmeier. How did you come to this character?

As a child I watched the japanese anime series of "Heidi" and it sure played a big part in my childhood. Although it were just roundabout 50 episodes it felt like at least 300 or more. Fräulein Rottenmeier almost seemed to exist in the real world, as a very strict person you had to be a little bit scared of. So this comic character certainly influenced me developing the character but it was as important to free myself and find my very own interpretation to turn her into a character of flesh and blood.

A. With Bruno Ganz I actually had no scenes so we had no working relationship with him. Although i would have loved to have a scene with him, because he is such a magnificent actor. So I still hope we will get the chance to play in another film together. All the kids including Anuk Steffen were casted so well and precisely that it was very joyful working with them. Sometimes one had to use a certain trick, if you were off-screen to evoke a certain reaction. That meant to sometimes overact or doing silly things, if you were off-screen to get their concentration. And sometimes the kids weren't there, if you were on-screen due to the working hours kids are allowed to be on set. So it was a big challenge and at the same time a lot of fun. 

A. The few big productions with a lot of money are mostly comedies, because they so far were best at the box office. But the majority of produced films are probably small art house dramas, which is probably based in the subsidy system we have. Of course there is a certain amount of historic films the past century is pretty rich with important changes and thus for stories to tell. 

A. As explained before this is one of those important stories that still had to be told. It was very intense, as all great sets, the precise screenplay and great directing of Oliver Hirschbiegel transported us actors right back into those difficult times. For Christian Friedel it must have been even more heavy but in those few scenes one could get a good glance how it must have been, living under the Nazi-Regime. It is always very challenging to portray a real person, because it is a special responsibility one feels.