Every month, our Marketing team will select one actor or actress to feature in the new e-TALENTA “Limelight On” section. You can only be eligible if you are active on e-TALENTA and have a complete and updated e-PROFILE.
Photo by Jutta Benzenberg
How did you find out about e-TALENTA and why is it important for you to be able to edit it yourself?
When I was in Berlin in 2011 with Shooting Starts event, everyone was talking about it. At the time my old agent told me to register and I did. It’s important because you have the chance to upload the material which you believe defines you best. You kind of become your own manager.
You recently starred in Winnetou – tell us what that was like, how you prepared for the role. Was there any kind of trepidation when you accepted such a well-known role in German culture?
I had the chance to do a step-by-step work with Winnetou. I had 5 weeks to work on my body (eating 5 times per day, mainly protein and one hour of hard workout in the gym), learn how to ride (2 hours per day on a horse) and also to learn both Lakota & German. These 5 weeks before the start of the shoot really helped me to get to know him better. I didn’t know that playing Winnetou was in way a „cult“ role in Germany and in their culture. But I definitely felt that he was „special“ directly after finishing to read the 3 scripts. You know, mainly in movies you have to find your character directly on set. After you’ve done your pre-analyse work, you should make sure that a good part of it can also be used as part of the improvisation on set. With Winnetou, I always felt like I had to have him close to me, 24hrs a day (which was both a pleasure and quite funny).
You have so far been the only Albanian Shooting Star. What was it like to represent your country at the Berlinale in 2011?
Oh, that’s still a beautiful memory. I remember I was feeling as if I were part of a national football team delegation. But still lost somehow. I didn’t have a clue of how important it was for a young actor. I was there wandering around all alone and trying to enjoy the parties more than doing the „work“ for me…
You speak several languages, including German, Albanian and Italian – did you learn all of them at school?
And Turkish! Except Italian, which I learned through TV as my entire generation did, I learned all the other languages by living in the countries, England (London), Turkey (Istanbul) and now Germany (Berlin).
Tell us a little bit about the film industry in Albania. How does the casting process work there?
As the film industry is very small, I think that the casting calls are a way of working there too. Mainly though, local directors make sure to follow the young actors on their way up from school into the acting world. At least this is how I got my first role from director Piro Milkani in my first movie there. And still you need to have a large amount of luck. It’s strange, but the smaller a country is, the more luck an actor needs to make it through.
You played the renowned role of Stanley Kowalski, made famous by Marlon Brando, in Tennessee Williams‘ A Street Car Named Desire. What did you do to prepare for this demanding and intense role?
Oh God, I was in my 3rd year at the Academy of Arts in Tirana. We were so lucky that our professor, Timo Flloko, was a big fan of Tennessee Williams and especially of A Street Car Named Desire. And I didn’t have a colleague who would play the role during the second night, so I had Stanley Kowalski all to myself. That helped a lot. The work, the required discipline, the development and strength this character needed was the best gift a student could ask for. I remember I had to buy chicken and a case of beer (sometimes with alcohol) every day, so that I could keep my friends and myself in the upbeat mood during rehearsals. We all loved the poker scene, Blanche and Stella too!
And finally, if you could say anything to the Casting Directors, Producers and Directors using e-TALENTA, what would it be?
Sometimes it feels so good when you get a phone call or a Skype session before or after your e-casting. It’s very important to me to be able to have a relaxed chat with you. It helps with motivation and the ability to keep up in this hard industry.
You can find Nik’s e-TALENTA profile HERE.
