At the age of ten, Jannis Niewöhner had his first role in “Tatort” in Münster.
This was followed by children's (“The Wild Chickens and Love”) and youth films (“Cheeky Girls 2”).
The first character role was played by Niewöhner, who was born in Krefeld in 1992, in 2012 in “One year after tomorrow” by Aelrun Goette.
Six years later he made his breakthrough with Alain Gsponer's film “Jugend ohne Gott”.
Film adaptations of novels suit the Berliner by choice: Last year he was seen as Goldmund in Hermann Hesse's “Narcissus and Goldmund”, in September the “Confessions of the impostor Felix Krull” (directed by Detlev Buck) will be in the cinema - with Jannis Niewöhner in the title role.
Peter-Philipp Schmitt
Editor in the section “Germany and the World”.
Follow I follow
What do you eat for breakfast?
A good old muesli with oat flakes and fruit that you cut yourself.
In addition, a coffee rather than tea.
Where do you buy your clothes?
Mostly on the set.
The costume designers get the best things, and if the clothes don't come from the store, you can sometimes buy them.
I just don't have the good eyesight when shopping for it, nor the patience to do so.
What's the oldest item of clothing in your closet?
A t-shirt that is totally riddled with holes.
But I refuse to throw it away because there is a story on it.
I used to go to Formentera with my parents, and from there we would take a strange tourist thing with us every year that simply said “Formentera”.
My father bought this t-shirt sometime in the nineties.
When was the last time you wrote a handwritten letter?
About five months ago, to a director who I think is really great.
I had heard about a new film project that I would like to be part of.
With the letter I wanted to give my concern more weight.
And she answered too.
But I won't tell you more.
Which book impressed you the most in your life?
The first thing that comes to mind is actually “Narcissus and Goldmund” by Hermann Hesse.
The book really took me along, as I am sure many young people who start life after school.
And back then I also felt strongly like Goldmund.
How do you find out about world events?
I read newspapers, not on paper, but on my cell phone.
Further sources are friends who study philosophy and history, for example.
It gives me a different perspective on things, just like my films, such as Christian Schwochow's “Je suis Karl” most recently, which is about terror and a young woman who falls in love with a revolutionary.
What's your favorite small talk topic?
Small talk always starts with a short summary of what you do.
Hopefully that will lead to other, more important, more interesting topics.
What was the last movie you cried at?
I actually cry quite a lot while watching movies.
Most recently when I saw “The Art of Winning - Moneyball” again.
Are You Superstitious?
No.
Only if it is connected to something good.
What can you laugh about?
About the British comedian Ricky Gervais, the American Jonah Hill or the German comedian Teddy Teclebrhan.
And basically about situation comedy.
Your favorite first names?
Noah for a girl and Bela for a boy.
Are you taking a lunch break?
Not anymore.
I used to do that often on set, but mostly because I always ate a lot at lunchtime.
At some point I realized that that's why I was always so tired.
Now I eat a portion less and am fitter throughout the day.
In which country would you most like to live?
I am very happy here in Germany.
But I could also live well in New Zealand, at least in my mind.
What is never missing in your fridge?
Fruit.
Simply apples, pears, peaches.
Do you feel freer with or without a car?
Without.
I have a bicycle.
It feels like you're just standing in a car in Berlin, but you're always on the move with your bike and you also get on much faster.
What is your greatest talent?
My openness to all kinds of characters, including in real life.
I like to deal with people without being judgmental.
What do you do when it is unreasonable?
My strategy is that I rate everything that others see as unreasonable as okay to me, at least the moment I do it.
Which historical person would you like to meet?
I would like to meet my grandpa again, but he's not a historical person.
Perhaps the judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, because she fought for her cause so without hatred.
Even about the bad old white men who sat before her in the Supreme Court, she thought, they are little children I can teach them something new.
Do you wear jewelry? And a watch?
No.
Never.
Do you have a favorite fragrance?
Allure from Chanel.
What was your best holiday experience?
In an old campsite on the Brittany coast.
It was in the woods and the trailers were criss-cross.
I've been there with friends and family every summer and have many fond memories of it.
What was the last concert you were at?
At a concert by a small band in the “Dalston Jazz Bar” in London.
Fortunately, what are you missing?
Fortunately, nothing.
What do you have for dinner?
Just hot water.
Beer and wine anyway.