“Tatort” star Miroslav Nemec
Guest appearance as grandfather in “Lena Lorenz”
“Lena Lorenz – Hard Break”: Josi Brenner (Muriel Bielenberg) would like to convince her grandfather Andreas Brenner (Miroslav Nemec) that she is definitely capable of taking over the Brennerhof despite the wheelchair and pregnancy.
© [M] ZDF / Walter Wehner
Miroslav Nemec plays a grandfather for the first time in “Lena Lorenz”. In the interview he talks about what that was like and about a surprise project.
Plays in “Lena Lorenz – Harter Bruch” (April 18, 8:15 p.m., ZDF). Miroslav Nemec (69) an episode role. For the first time he embodies a grandfather in the form of the mountain farmer Andreas Brenner. From Brenner’s family, only he and his pregnant granddaughter Josi Brenner (Muriel Bielenberg, 29), who has been in a wheelchair since an accident, are still alive. She wants to continue running the farm despite all odds. At the end of the episode, the actor, who has also been celebrated as Munich “Tatort” detective Ivo Batic for years, gives you goosebumps with just one sentence – nothing more will be revealed at this point…
In an interview with spot on news, a cheerful Miroslav Nemec explains, among other things, what he thinks of his first grandfather role and whether he also has a family tradition that his three daughters should carry on. In the conversation, the Croatian native also reveals that he is currently venturing into unfamiliar territory musically. And he’s already revealing a few details about the upcoming milestone birthday.
“Lena Lorenz” takes place in a wonderful landscape around Berchtesgaden. How did you like it there?
Miroslav Nemec: It’s beautiful there. I grew up in the region and got my first Lederhosen there. I was thrilled to be able to be there again. You could see the mountains from the hotel. The atmosphere was great, the team was very professional and pleasant. I already knew the director and the production manager, including from our “Tatort”. If you already know people on set, you automatically have greater trust. Of course it was work, but all around it felt like a vacation.
You play a very likeable grandfather. It’s your first role as a grandfather. Did that cost you anything to overcome?
Nemec: No, not at all, I’m practicing for my private life (laughs). In general, I have played so many different roles and at my age, a grandfather is an appropriate role.
The film is, among other things, about the lifelong dream of passing on a farm for generations. Is there anything you would like your children to continue?
Nemec: Not my job, I’ll say (laughs). You really have to want it like crazy, otherwise there’s no point. I wish my three daughters that they do what they want to do. My older daughter already does this, she’s a makeup artist. My middle daughter is studying psychology in Hamburg. And the youngest is now twelve years old and likes to swim, for example – but that probably won’t be her career, there will probably be something else (laughs).
Maybe your eldest daughter will get the hang of it and move from behind the camera to in front of it?
Nemec: No, I don’t think so. She is really very happy with the makeup artistry. She really enjoys doing it and has always been interested in it. I have photos of her as a child, around the age of six or seven, where she was in the make-up with me and asked the make-up artist how she did it… If one of the three wanted to be in front of the camera, I would of course support. But it takes an unconditional will, discipline and perseverance. And you certainly don’t have a regular 35-hour week with a good work-life balance.
“Lena Lorenz” is also something for “Tatort” fans, because Eva Mattes, the former Lake Constance commissioner, plays the mother of the midwife of the title. Could she give you any tips for after the “crime scene”?
Nemec: Unfortunately we didn’t have a scene together. But apart from that, I don’t need any tips for what happens afterwards. Firstly, because it’s still running for a while. We still have two “crime scenes” this year, two next year. And secondly, something will be found, because something has always been found.
You also make music, what plans are there?
Nemec: There’s a really funny project going on right now: The two Lower Bavarian rappers are dense and moving [seit 2014, Kulturpreisträger, Red.] asked me if we wanted to make a music video together. And now I have the text here and I’m already studying hard. This is something completely different than what I have done before. But why not, after all you only regret what you didn’t do.
After “The Dead from the Falkneralm” (2016) and “Croatian Roulette” (2018), are you planning a new novel?
Nemec: No, I’m not working on that at the moment, unfortunately I don’t really have the time. A “crime scene” has just been filmed and the next one is scheduled for August. In June I will also be on stage again at the festival in Passau. Last year we opened the European Weeks Festival with “Kriemhild. A symphonic play on the Nibelungenlied”. This year it takes place in front of Passau Cathedral, the premiere is on June 29th.
A few days earlier, on June 26th, it is also your birthday. Will you celebrate in Passau then?
Nemec: Yes, exactly, but above all I will be rehearsing that day. There we are on stage with 80 people from the choir and 80 from the orchestra, so a total of 160 people. But that also relaxes me a lot because I don’t have to worry too much about how I’m going to celebrate my birthday. Many friends of mine will come to Passau and we will celebrate a bit there, but a little later than the premiere on June 29th.
70th birthday or not, you always look very fit in the “Tatort” crime novels and also in “Lena Lorenz”. What do you do for it?
Nemec: I’ve just always done my push-ups, sit-ups and stretches. I also really like cycling and swimming. The gym, on the other hand, was never for me. But filming also keeps you fit. During the recent “Tatort” filming on a US Army base, we had to walk a lot. After four weeks on set you can really feel the mood (laughs).