In the feature film “Der große Mitsch”, “SOKO Wien” star Martin Gruber has to deal with a Viennese acting star. He remembers that.
“The Big Mitsch”, the new primetime edition of the “SOKO Vienna” crime team (since 2005), will be broadcast on Wednesday (September 25) at 8:15 p.m. on ZDF. After “We Are Many” (2016) and “The Fourth Man” (2019), this is the third feature-length episode. For the relatively new lead investigator Max Herzog, who has been played by actor Martin Gruber (54, “The Mountain Rescuers”) since 2022, it is the first long version.
In an interview with the news agency spot on news, the Munich actor talks about what it was like working with the Viennese episode star Thomas Mraz (48). Gruber also reveals who his toughest critics are and what he likes to do to relax after a long day of filming far from home.
With “The Big Mitsch” there is another feature-length primetime special coming up. Will you watch the episode when it airs?
Martin Gruber: The cast gets to see the finished episodes in advance, so the broadcasts are no longer relevant for me. But the family really enjoys watching the episodes “live”.
How important is your family’s feedback to you?
Gruber: My family knows me best and they are therefore the toughest critics, but also the ones who have nothing to do with the business. So there are no mitigating circumstances for bad acting, even if I explain to them that the filming conditions were really tough. (laughs)
What was the most endearing comment from a fan about one of your productions?
Gruber: “Yes, Andreas Marthaler… the wonderfully crazy man! I miss you,” someone said after I left “The Mountain Rescuers”.
You are relatively new to the “SOKO Vienna” team. How well have you settled in and what helped you settle into the new team?
Gruber: I’ve settled in wonderfully. My colleagues and the whole “SOKO Vienna” team made it easy for me with their warmth and helped me a lot when I arrived. And Vienna, with its inimitable charm and fine food, did the rest.
You spend more and more time in Vienna for filming. What do you like to do there to relax after a long day of filming?
Gruber: Long walks along the Danube or hikes through the Vienna Woods are a great counterbalance to a long, hot day of filming in the studio.
What role does sport play in your life? What is the best way for you to let off steam?
Gruber: Sport has been an integral part of my daily life for many years. Exercise in any form – whether jogging, weight training, biking, yoga or archery – means relaxation for me.
What was the funniest thing about filming the long-running episode “The Big Mitsch”?
Gruber: It’s so much fun to watch our fine colleague Thomas Mraz (Mitch) play that you almost forget about your own game.
Among other things, the film is about Sissi’s star-shaped hair accessory. Do you watch the Romy Schneider films every year in the run-up to Christmas?
Gruber: I have only seen the original “Sissi” films once. But the versions made by Bully Herbig are still very present in my eyes and ears: “Oh Sissy, you wild empress …”
You have your own foundation that supports the school project “WerteRaum”. What success are you particularly proud of in this context?
Gruber: Such success is always teamwork. There are many people behind the projects with a lot of passion and clear visions. If we see that we can make a small contribution to improving other people’s lives with our commitment, we try to build on that. Of course, no one can save the world alone, but many small, continuous impulses can change thinking for the better.
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
