“Storm of Love”: Michael Baral joins in: Finally showing the “sympathetic side”

The actor Michael Baral (born 1981) was born in Pforzheim, Baden-Württemberg. He studied acting in Munich and made his debut in front of the camera in the episode “Death in Walpurgis Night” (1998) of the crime series “Der Bulle von Tölz” (1996-2009). In 2001 he appeared in the award-winning three-part TV series “Die Manns – Ein Jahrhundertroman” and in 2006 in the popular crime comedy series “Die Rosenheim-Cops” (since 2002).

From 2009 to 2018, he had a permanent engagement in the former TV hit “Lindenstraße” (1985-2020). In it, he played the role of the loner Timo Zenker, who goes astray. Michael Baral has also followed the call to Hollywood, for example in the international feature film “A Hologram for the King” (2016) with superstar Tom Hanks (68).

This Thursday (September 12th), Michael Baral is joining the daily “Sturm der Liebe” (weekdays, 3:10 p.m., Das Erste, since 2005) as chef Luis Sommer. On the set, he met many former series colleagues, as he enthusiastically tells in an interview with spot on news.

How did the “Sturm der Liebe” casting go and how did you find out that you got the role?

Michael Baral: I did an e-casting in Berlin with my close friend and colleague Luise Bähr (“The Mountain Rescuers”). We took a lot of time for the casting, and just two days later we got a call from Bavaria. Initially, however, I was supposed to play a different role. But I actually found the role of Luis, which was then offered to me, even more exciting and I accepted it very quickly.

You describe your role Luis as a charming entertainer and “finally a likeable guy”. What characteristics do you personally share with him and what characteristics are very different?

Baral: I am said to have a certain charm and likeability in my private life – quite immodestly (laughs). On the screen, I have often played shady and divided characters in other productions, which is certainly appealing as an actor. Nevertheless, it is not only my mum who is happy that I can show my down-to-earth and likeable side. I also have cooking in common with Luis – I am not a professional chef like him, but I love to cook for my friends. One thing that is different is that Luis is very patient and able to suffer, whereas as Michael I get impatient much more quickly.

How was the welcome on the first day of filming for “Sturm der Liebe”? What will you never forget?

Baral: The welcome was great. It was like a family straight away. Despite the large amount of filming, I never had the feeling that there was a bad mood on set. For me, of course, it was great because I had the opportunity to film for Bavaria Fiction and with many colleagues. For example, I played a couple with my colleague Laura Osswald in “Rosenheim-Cops” in 2006. Before that, Sepp Schauer played my stepfather in “Bullen von Tölz”. I had already been in front of the camera for Bavaria Fiction productions such as “Das Boot” and “Endlich Witwer” and I was able to be part of “Manns – Ein Jahrhundertroman” on the Bavaria grounds themselves – in the villa, which, funnily enough, is now the backdrop for the Fürstenhof. So it felt like a home game to me from the start.

Like Martin Walde (“Sturm der Liebe” role: Vincent Ritter), you already played in the series “Lindenstraße”. How well did you know each other before “Sturm der Liebe” and did he give you any tips?

Baral: I was also very happy to see Martin again. We were filming “Lindenstraße” at the same time – but we didn’t have the same storyline, so I don’t think we were ever in front of the camera together. But of course, we exchanged ideas about how best to handle such a large filming schedule. And of course we talked about old times.

Which “Lindenstraße” colleagues are you still in contact with?

Baral: I am still in close contact with Marie-Luise Marjan [Rolle der Mutter Beimer, Red.]we became friends. I was also able to help her find her lovely new apartment in Bonn/Bad Godesberg about two years ago. I was very happy about that, as she suddenly had to move out of her apartment in Cologne after a long time.

“Sturm der Liebe” is known for its high volume of text. What is the best way to learn it by heart? Is there a trick?

Baral: I first record my text alone, then my text with the counterpart, and then just the counterpart one after the other, and often listen to the tape over and over again in the evening before I go to sleep and in the morning after I wake up… that way I hammer the text directly into my brain (laughs).

What is currently your favorite way to relax after a stressful day of filming?

Baral: Sport! And sometimes ‘A Viertele Wei’ – a glass of red wine – like we do in Swabia [Schwaben, Red.] so beautifully said…