interview
Felicitas Woll
“We bring two worlds together”
Benjamin Piwko, 42, and Felicitas Woll, 42.
© Hannes Magerstaedt / Getty Images
In an interview with GALA, actress Felicitas Woll talks about her love for her deaf partner Benjamin Piwko.
This relationship has been rumored for a while, but Felicitas Woll, 42, has never publicly commented on it.
Felicitas Woll: She learned sign language for Benjamin
She has been one of the most popular TV stars since “Berlin, Berlin”. He, Benjamin Piwko, 42, is particularly successful as a martial arts master. As the first deaf person on “Let’s Dance”, he became known to a wide audience. The two have a four-year-old daughter with whom they live in Hamburg. Felicitas Woll, who can currently be seen on RTL+ in the “Herzogpark” series, is now talking to GALA about her love and her family. She seems very relaxed and happy.
GALA: You both appeared as a couple for the first time at the “Herzogpark” premiere. Why did you take so much time with this?
Felicitas Woll: Benjamin and I spontaneously said we would go together – we just let our feelings guide us. Okay, there was a lot of flashbulbs, but we enjoyed that too.
As a couple, they radiate a great bond.
I am very happy. With us, two worlds come together. Our daughter learns two languages right from the start – in addition to spoken language, also deaf language. She’s not as cerebral as we adults tend to be. I’ve gotten so used to it myself that I often sign automatically with hearing people because that’s how it is.
It is a great enrichment for a child to be much more open to people who are different.
You already know “being different”: Your brother Tassilo was born with Down syndrome.
Of course, I deal with my brother quite normally, he is now 20. I wish that people would deal with the new and the unknown with less fear. That would solve many problems.
You already have a teenage daughter from a previous relationship. Do you like being a mother?
Yes, although I actually find the role of mother more difficult than I initially thought. You don’t master it perfectly right away, but that’s okay. Letting go is something I find difficult. Sometimes that hurts too. I’m still learning.
What exactly do you wish for your daughters?
I want to give both of them the freedom to try themselves. I don’t want to judge anything in advance and I don’t always want to give good advice. I’d rather be a fixed constant in their lives and lovingly stand by when I’m needed.
Benjamin and I support – that’s our educational model, even if you don’t agree.
What does your everyday family life look like?
It’s busy and always a lot of fun with us. I take a lot of time for my family and also time for myself because it gives me peace and quiet. It gives me strength when I go back to work.