Last trace of Berlin
Jasmin Tabatabai takes stock of the anniversary
Jasmin Tabatabai (left) with her "last trace Berlin" colleagues (from left): Aleksandar Radenkovic, Hans-Werner Meyer and Josephin Busch.
© ZDF / Oliver Feist
The anniversary series of the crime series "Last Trace Berlin" is in the starting blocks. Jasmin Tabatabai looks back in the interview.
Actress Jasmin Tabatabai (53, role Mina Amiri) starts the tenth season of the crime series "Last Spur Berlin "(since 2012). It starts on Friday evening with part one of the double episode "Tag X" (March 12th, 9:15 pm, ZDF). Part two will follow on Friday.
In an interview on the anniversary season, the German-Iranian actress Tabatabai, who has been part of the series production from day one, takes stock. Among other things, the mother of three (born in 2002, 2009 and 2013) reveals what her highlight scene has to do with her private life. She also explains what the "presidium fuss" is all about.
Congratulations on the TV anniversary. What is your personal balance sheet after ten years?
Jasmin Tabatabai: I am happy and grateful that the audience has remained loyal to us for so long and I am still enthusiastic about it because we are a great team and have good fabrics. I would also like to take this opportunity to highlight our great caster Dorothee Weyers, who always manages to get really outstanding fellow actors to play with us. That spurs us on and raises the level of the program immensely.
Approximately when did you realize that the series was going to be a long-running hit?
Tabatabai: I had a good feeling after the first season because the chemistry was right between us and we had so much fun filming. Still, everyone was passionate and focused on what they were doing. However, such success over a long period of time is anything but a matter of course and a great gift for which one should always be grateful. What we are too.
What can viewers expect in the anniversary season? Is there anything special compared to the previous seasons?
Tabatabai: In any case, we start with a bang: Oliver Radek (Hans-Werner Meyer) is shot in an untypical solo effort and Mina has to take over the management and surpass herself. A very exciting and emotional double episode.
Is there some kind of ritual during the "Last Trace Berlin" filming that you like?
Tabatabai: There is no special ritual, but there is the phenomenon of the "presidium roll", in which we actors in particular have developed our idiosyncrasies on the long days in the studio – probably to keep us happy and relaxed. For example, Hans starts dancing at some point (laughs).
The tenth season was probably also shot under Corona conditions. How was that for you?
Tabatabai: Thank God I didn't have to isolate myself from my family, but of course we had to take very strict hygiene and precautionary measures during the filming, which was a challenge for everyone, including nerves. It is of course particularly hard for the team members, who are not allowed to take off their masks all day, in contrast to us actors who are allowed to do that in front of the camera. And of course we were all tested regularly.
What has been your highlight scene over the past ten years?
Tabatabai: I really liked the episodes in which Mina (Tabatabai) was pregnant. It was me and that gave this strong character a certain fragility that I really liked. Especially in the episode "Family Honor" (2013), in which Mina was looking for her Persian cousin and we learned a bit about her origins and her family.
Can your children watch your programs?
Tabatabai: No, my children don't watch "Last Trace Berlin". Two of them are too small anyway and I don't even want them to see me as an actress, but as a mom. If you would like to have a look at it voluntarily, I am of course not in your way.
Do you always watch the episodes on TV?
Tabatabai: I mostly watch the episodes in the media library and the most important thing for me is whether the story works. Fortunately, our creative team usually does a great job.