Nina Gummich plays the young doctor in the third "Charité" season. Therefore she would be unsuitable as a medic in real life.
Waiting for the third season of the successful hospital series "Charité": The six new episodes about the world-famous Berlin hospital can be seen from tomorrow, January 12th, on Tuesdays at 8:15 pm in double episodes on Das Erste. The sequel takes place in 1961, the year the Berlin Wall was built.
In addition to Nina Kunzendorf (49), Philipp Hochmair (47) and Uwe Ochsenknecht (65, "Willkommen bei den Hartmanns"), the real characters of the pediatrician Ingeborg Rapoport (1912-2017), the serologist Prof. Otto Prokop (1921-2009 ) and the gynecologist Prof. Helmut Kraatz (1902-1983), actress Nina Gummich (29, "Alone under …") plays the fictional young doctor and passionate cancer researcher Dr. Ella Wendt.
In an interview with the news agency spot on news, the actress explains what she has in common with the time of the construction of the wall, why she felt like a princess preparing for the role and how hard she had to work for her medical knowledge.
What did you know about the Charité before filming?
Nina Gummich: This hospital is probably familiar to almost everyone. If it were translated into hotel language, it would probably be the first hotel on the square.
Have you been there before?
Gummich: Yes, once when I was around 15 years old. Back then, I hurt my arm slightly while doing a stunt while filming. At that time I already had the feeling that I was in a special place. But from what the "Charité" series tells, how long this hospital has been around, what incredible development it has gone through and what political circumstances the staff was exposed to, someone like me, who was born 29 years ago, had some of that only knows the new building, absolutely no idea.
What do you like about the series, which this time takes place during the time of the Berlin Wall?
Gummich: I really wanted to play that, especially at that time. On the one hand, because women were allowed to have a bigger mouth back then, because they were already more emancipated than in the first two seasons. It is also a time that affects my parents, for example, and which may make me feel a little closer.
Did you get information from your parents?
Gummich: Yes, too. But the older you get, the more you start to think about it. In the past few years I have also made a few films on the Wall. But the shutdown also gave me a little experience with closed borders. It’s just the first time I’m experiencing that something like that is not allowed. That has never happened in my generation. We rather had to think about where we could set ourselves limits because they almost no longer existed.
You play the young doctor and researcher Dr. Ella Wendt. Would a doctor have been an alternative to acting for you?
Gummich: No. Rather, I realized again during this shoot that I was completely unsuitable for it. At some point I also told the doctor, who was supposed to explain everything to me, that he shouldn't use too many technical terms, but rather explain it like in the "show with the mouse". In terms of content, it was really a lot of work to understand what my role is researching. I fit a lot more into my professional field of film and television.
How do you like the styling of the role?
Gummich: I like the styling very much. In addition, costumes and masks help a lot to slip into a whole new role. This time it had to be done very quickly. I had just finished the series "The Last Word" and was still dark-haired. Then we had three days to see Dr. To transform Ella Wendt.
After eight hours at the hairdresser's, the hair was dyed and the makeup artist had made a half wig that even the team didn't notice. Then I went to Prague and came to a room in an old castle where seven tailors, dressers and costume designers did their work. There were fabrics everywhere and everything was tailor-made. You already feel like a princess.
Are you also interested in fashion privately?
Gummich: Yes. But for me it is more and more about the fact that the clothes come from good fabrics and fair trade. I also take care not to consume too much. When I turn so much and get dressed as I do now, I like to walk around in sweatpants and a hoodie as a compensation. But I am very enthusiastic when someone knows a lot about fashion, I let such people dress me for events, such as my wonderful stylist Romina Mann.
Did you take a souvenir from the "Charité" filming?
Gummich: Yes, I actually took something home with me. In Prague, around the location, there were the best bakeries and candy shops that you can imagine. And I ordered a large batch of them for the whole family and friends and brought them with me. This is of course not a souvenir that stays, but one that is eaten quickly, but everyone was happy.
Among other things, Rostock "Polizeiruf" star Uwe Preuss (born 1961, role: Fritz "Pflaster" Krug) plays in the new season. How was it behind the scenes with him?
Gummich: It's always very funny with Uwe. But he's also the greatest storyteller I know. At the end of the shooting he gave me his book fresh off the press. I read that on vacation and can only warmly recommend it.
Actor Franz Hartwig (born 1986, "Der Pass") is known as Dr. To see Curt Bruncken. You have a lot of scenes together. How was the collaboration?
Gummich: He's really a terrific actor and brings so much with him that you can jump on the wave straight away and surf along. In addition, he was always perfectly prepared, had lots of new ideas and just a lot of creative energy.
You became known with the "Alone Among …" series. How is the contact today with your film dad Hannes Jaenicke (60)?
Gummich: We have little contact, but when we see each other we are very happy. He's already played my father eight times. I made my very first film ("A Father for Christmas") with him when I was nine years old. We've really bonded for a long time … That's a good clue to call him again.