Max Simonischek

Before acting as a trainee at the “Krone”

Max Simonischek is living proof that true acting talent can slip into almost any role. The down-to-earth 38-year-old became an audience favorite with great consistency. Before acting, he gave a guest performance as a trainee at the "Krone".

"Krone": Mr. Simonischek, how do you define the term "home"? And do you feel Swiss, Austrian or German because of your upbringing?
Simonischek: My personal home is where my family and my four walls are. I'm still looking for my artistic home. But you probably spend a lifetime searching for it.

How do you feel about the current film and television industry, which is an essential part of your life?
At the moment, I notice that the film industry has recovered and is busy filming again. However, the theater is once again fearing for its existence. I see this as an imbalance and an injustice because, as we have learned in recent months, theater is not systemically relevant, but it is relevant to education.

In contrast to many of your professional colleagues, who are very active on social media, you seem to negate them. Why is that?
I prefer to be in the public eye with my profession. I have no interest in publishing my private life. Social media is now very much part of the business - much to my chagrin - and follower numbers are often decisive for a casting. A circumstance that I would prefer to avoid. I use Instagram to report on my work and my projects.

"I prefer practising sport to writing about it"

Is it true that you did an internship at the "Kronen Zeitung" newspaper before starting your acting training?
Yes, that is true. After graduating from high school in 2002, I did an internship in the sports editorial department. However, that was a bit sobering for me because I realized that I actually prefer to do sport myself and don't like writing about it.

What new developments does the immediate professional future hold for you?
Two crime films, Commissioner Laim and Sarah Kohr, have already been shot, but there are no broadcast dates yet. There will also be some readings with a jazz singer, if Corona allows. Next year will be exciting for me. From March, I will be performing in the opera "Der Freischütz", in which I play Samiel, at the State Opera in Hamburg. And at the Bregenz Festival I'll be playing "Michael Kohlhaas".

Personal details: Max Simonischek is the son of the actor couple Peter Simonischek and Charlotte Schwab. He was born on October 19, 1982 in West Berlin. He trained as an actor at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. The 38-year-old father of an almost two-year-old daughter recently shone at the Tiroler Landestheater with a monologue of Franz Kafka's story "Der Bau", which he directed for the stage. At the beginning of next year - in January and February to be precise - he will return to the Tiroler Landestheater four more times with this production.