Klaus Steinbacher in “Sisi”
Ride with fake horses was “weird”
Klaus Steinbacher stars in the series “Sisi”. In the interview he reveals exciting details about his role as a racing jockey and horse breeder.
Klaus Steinbacher (30) can be seen in the fourth and final season of the series “Sisi” (first two episodes since December 1st on RTL+, two new episodes from December 8th and linear broadcast on RTL). He embodies Georg Basselet from La Rosée, whom Sisi challenges to a horse race to save her family home Possenhofen Castle. In an interview with the news agency spot on news, the actor reveals what he particularly likes about his role as a racing jockey and horse breeder and what strange experiences he had while filming.
Did you follow the last few seasons of “Sisi” or did you catch up on the episodes before filming?
Klaus Steinbacher: I had already seen the first two seasons. And I was able to watch the third season while preparing for my role.
What connection do you have to the story of Sisi, which continues to fascinate so many today? For example, do you watch the “Sissi” films at Christmas?
Steinbacher: I have to admit that I am a big Christmas film fan in general. You can’t ignore the “Sissi” films. To be honest, I look forward to the “Grinch” and “Three Hazelnuts for Cinderella” every year.
They play Georg Basselet from La Rosée. To what extent does the figure from a noble family that immigrated to Bavaria have a historical background?
Steinbacher: My character is a purely fictional character. But I know that the Basselet of La Rosées actually lived near Possenhofen during Sisi’s time. I don’t know anything more about the noble family because the historical background of the family was not relevant to my role work.
To what extent were you able to speak dialect in the series?
Steinbacher: During our first conversation, our director Sven Bohse wanted me to incorporate a bit of dialect into my character’s pronunciation. We tried a few variations on set and it ended up being a color. This pronunciation locates my character in Bavaria, but allows it to remain understandable for the entire German-speaking world. And I can well imagine that people in Bavaria at that time sounded something like Georg Basselet in our series.
Georg develops over the course of the episodes. How would you describe these?
Steinbacher: Georg had to go through a lot in his life and has therefore adopted a certain facade that doesn’t necessarily seem likeable. This facade crumbles more and more over the course of history and we experience the people behind it and their vulnerability. That’s what I really like about this character.
What makes the relationship between Georg and Sisi special and what was it like filming with Dominique Devenport?
Steinbacher: It is Sisi who, with her courage and good-heartedness, causes Georg’s facade to crumble. He is – I would say from the second moment – very impressed by her. Dominique is truly a fantastic colleague and it was a great pleasure to shoot with her
In a historical series, costume design is very important. What looks did you wear and how did they make you feel?
Steinbacher: The special thing about Georg is that he moves in different worlds: He is a count and we see him dressed accordingly on official occasions, at a ball and at the opera, for example. At the same time, he helps out on his horse farm and we see him in his stable clothes, forging hooves and mucking out the stable. And then he is a jockey and rides horse races, of course in a classic jockey outfit. Personally, I enjoyed wearing all these different costumes. Although I’m pretty sure that Georg feels most comfortable in his stable clothes.
Georg is a racing jockey and horse breeder. Have you worked with animals on set before, especially horses?
Steinbacher: Although I have often filmed with animals, I had never been allowed to ride a horse before this film. I enjoyed it even more. I admired the work our stunt team did with the horses and was happy every time I was allowed to get on the horse myself. By the way, my stunt horse was called Carambo – the name said it all. But all the horses were great and turning with them worked much better than I had imagined in advance. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I would like to ride and work with horses more often in the future.
How did you prepare for the horses/equestrian scenes?
Steinbacher: I was allowed to take around 25 riding lessons. This was a gift for me because I was able to work with great riding instructors and horses.
How did the shoot ultimately go? Which scenes did you leave to professionals?
Steinbacher: Of course we left the horse racing to the professionals. For the closer camera shots during the races, Dominique and I rode “automatic fake horses” that were pulled by a car. It was a strange but very funny filming experience.
Did anything go wrong during filming? Which moments will always remind you of “Sisi”?
Steinbacher: I will definitely remember the ride with the fake horses. But also the scene in which my character had to try a piece of horse apple to check whether the horse’s diet was well adjusted. I laughed so hard during the first two takes that nothing worked at first. I don’t even know if this scene actually ended up in the series, but I won’t forget this moment for now. I also fondly remember the dance scene with Dominique. Georg and Sisi dance in front of Possenhofen Castle, while the party or ball is taking place inside in the ballroom. I liked the choreography from the start and it was a particularly beautiful night shoot.
SpotOnNews
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.
