“Room with Stable” newcomer Elena Uhlig
“Mr. Karl and I are very strict with each other”
Actress Elena Uhlig is the new one in “Room with Stable”.
© ARD Degeto/Marc Reimann
Elena Uhlig is the new one in the TV series “Room with Stable”. The mother of four explains in an interview how big the challenge was.
Aglaia Szyszkowitz (55) played the role of Sophie Böhmler in the popular TV series “Zimmer mit Stall” (since 2018) for nine films. After her surprising exit, a suitable replacement was found. actress Elena Uhlig (48) is celebrating her debut in “Das Blaue vom Himmel” this Friday (November 17th, 8:15 p.m., the first). In an interview with spot on news, she tells us how extremely short-term everything was and what that meant for the mother of four. She also reveals how closely she works professionally with her husband, actor Fritz Karl (55), who she married last weekend.
Welcome to “Room in the Stable”! They replace leading actress Aglaia Szyszkowitz as Sophie. That was definitely a big challenge. How scared were you before that?
Elena Uhlig: I was very scared. Also because it was so short notice. It only took about four weeks from the station’s request to start filming. Eight days before filming started, I definitely knew I was committed. I then threw myself into it and tried to internalize the role as best I could. After watching the old episodes, I decided that the only way I could play the role was the way I would dress it up. Anything else would have been nonsense. Then I had to learn the lyrics in a short amount of time. That was quite a ride.
How were you received by your colleagues?
Uhlig: I received an incredibly warm welcome from my colleagues, especially Friedrich von Thun. He said that we could manage it and that we just had to listen carefully to each other. Learning the text is only one part of acting work; playing together is at least as important. And Friedrich von Thun is of course a grand master. Even though it certainly wasn’t that easy for him to adapt to a new actress. I was very, very grateful for his kindness and professionalism.
Did you also speak to Aglaia Szyszkowitz beforehand?
Uhlig: Yes. We know each other. She thanked me from the bottom of her heart for stepping in. It was so important that things continued as smoothly as possible because a lot of jobs depend on a film. Otherwise she just said to me: “It’s a great role and a great team that will support you. The location is also a very special place. Look forward to it, enjoy the shoot and make it yours.” And then I tried that too.
Have you already seen the two new films with you in the lead role?
Uhlig: I have a really hard time seeing myself. Previews with colleagues and production are also not my thing. I prefer to watch my films when they are broadcast. This is still the most important date for me, perhaps because that’s how I learned it in my studies. And then I always wait for text messages to come in (laughs).
Do you watch the broadcasts with your family?
Uhlig: With Mr. Karl, definitely. Of course, our children are only allowed to watch or not depending on the content.
And how strict are you and Fritz Karl when it comes to feedback?
Uhlig: We are very strict with each other. Mr. Karl is also from the industry and knows how to play. The criticism from him is the strongest and very good. Even if we are completely different in terms of preparation and the way we work. Mr. Karl just looks at a text and knows it. He has a photographic memory. I, on the other hand, always learn the lyrics by ear because I am dyslexic. When we learn lines together, he speaks it and I repeat it. By the way, these are always the biggest crises in our relationship because he only calms down once the text of the entire script has been written.
They have four children together. How do you both organize the caregiving balancing act?
Uhlig: We try to take turns filming. And we have had a wonderful nanny for many years. She’s basically part of the family. This is a great gift and happiness for us. Normally we can organize everything quite well because the time between request and acceptance is quite long. Of course things were different with “Room with Stable”. But especially for Mr. Karl, there was no discussion about me doing that. We managed it with our combined strength – but it wasn’t easy.
In one of the two new films (11/17/11/24) you are temporarily in a wheelchair. How was it?
Uhlig: That was terrible. Now, in a completely different way, I take my hat off to every fellow human being who actually needs a wheelchair. I see it with different eyes and help in a completely different way.
What do you particularly like about the “Room with Stable” series?
Uhlig: We are a crime thriller country, and we prefer to use desaturated colors – by the way, I’m not a crime thriller type at all. In contrast, there are so few stories that are simply taken from life and are set in the country, but are not softened. “Room with Stable” doesn’t show a lot of drama, but it does address real issues and conflicts. I really like that a lot.
You moved to Munich with your family shortly before Corona. It probably wasn’t particularly easy to gain a foothold in a new city at that time?
Uhlig: It really wasn’t easy, especially for the children. They had barely decided on their clubs when they were closed. If you weren’t already in the club before Corona, you won’t be accepted anymore. Starting school with a mask was also terrible for me. And of course that they weren’t allowed to play with other children. I think the children, young people and the elderly have suffered the most. It was also unbelievable that women had to give birth to their children in hospitals with a mask and without their partner.
Were you also able to gain something positive from the Corona period?
Uhlig: Yes, the time with the family was great. We did a lot together. But in general it was crazy.