Wolfgang Bahro: In “GZSZ” he feels like RTL Bruce Willis

Wolfgang Bahro
In “GZSZ” he feels like RTL Bruce Willis

Wolfgang Bahro (61) plays the feature-length Jo Gerner on Thursday, May 12, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of “Gute Zeiten, Schlechte Zeiten”. The series veteran has been an integral part of the series for almost three decades, which airs Mondays to Fridays at 7:40 p.m. on RTL and RTL+ is broadcast. In the anniversary episode, Bahro takes center stage as the main actor – “a great honor” for the actor, as he says in an interview with the news agency spot on news. He also reveals why he felt like an action star when shooting, how much say he has and which scene has touched him the most in the many “GZSZ” years.

Mr. Bahro, would you have thought at the time that you would stay with “GZSZ” for so long?

Wolfgang Bahro: No, not at all. I thought maybe I’ll stay for two months and then I’ll do something else. I would not have thought at the time that it would turn out to be almost 30 years.

When you started you were 33 years old. Did you and your character grow up together?

Bahro: Well, let’s put it this way, Gerner went through a lot during that time and maybe became wiser. Whether that became Wolfgang Bahro in time – maybe (laughs).

When did you realize that you are a real star in Germany? Was there a moment that you remember?

Bahro: When I noticed that there were people in front of the door wanting autographs. Also, people found out where I live and waited outside the door. My friend Oliver Kalkofe once invited me to the show “The Worst Movies of All Time”. There I was supposed to play the villain in the 100th episode in front of a live audience.

That was in a large hall in Berlin that could hold several thousand people. As I pulled down the hood of my robe, I heard a roar from thousands of people cheering, clapping, and stamping. Then I thought: ‘What’s going on now?’ This is how a world star must feel. Prince or the Beatles.

Have your fans gotten older too?

Bahro: It used to be the young girls who ambushed me. The stalking doesn’t happen to me anymore. When the young girls come and want autographs or a selfie, it’s mostly for their mothers and not for themselves.

Do you sometimes watch “GZSZ” yourself, for example as a quality assurance in between?

Bahro: Yes, I’ll do that. Especially when there’s spectacular stuff to see how that comes across. Did we do everything right? And then I look at it again. I’m also very excited to see how the special turns out.

Do you always agree with the scripts? How much say do you have?

Bahro: We have a lot of say. So not only me, but also my colleagues. If we don’t agree with the scripts, we can always go to the writers or producers and voice our concerns. We do that too and that’s great.

Soon fans will see your anniversary episode. How does it feel that it’s finally all about you?

Bahro: That was a great honor for me. When our producer said she was writing this special with Gerner in the lead, I was delighted. Of course I felt very honored and thought: ‘It’s great that there’s finally a special where I can really show what I’m capable of. And that will be fun too. ‘

They are on the run and go into hiding. Did that make you feel like the new action star?

Bahro: It was a bit like being RTL’s Bruce Willis.

Are you generally known for a certain quirk of yours on set?

Bahro: If possible, I try to joke around on the set and lighten the mood so that people have something to laugh about and don’t take everything so deadly seriously.

Which scene have you kept in mind over the years? What touched you the most?

Bahro: The scene with Raúl Richter, who played my son Dominik, was very bad. He was in a motorcycle accident and was brain dead afterwards. Gerner then had to decide whether to switch off the devices or not. At first he refused. But then it was made clear to him that the boy is actually dead. Then there was a scene where Gerner is sitting in the hallway while his son’s organs are being removed for donation. So it’s definitely clear that he’s dead. When Gerner sees the paramedics passing him with the organs, he breaks down and cries in the arms of his then-girlfriend. This scene got very close to me. Because I personally always imagined what it would be like if my biological son were in this situation. And how it would be if the organs were carried past me by my son.

Do you have any other projects coming up in the near future?

Bahro: I will take part in the Jedermann Festival in Beelitz in September. There I play the devil.

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