Oliver Masucci is known as an actor far beyond the borders of Germany. The 54-year-old, who was born in Stuttgart in 1968, studied at the Hochschule der Künste Berlin and was a member of the ensemble of Vienna's Burgtheater, played one of the leading roles in the Netflix series "Dark". In the film adaptation of the bestselling novel "The Swarm" by Frank Schätzing, Masucci can now be seen as Jasper Alban, captain of the research vessel Thorvaldson. With a team of scientists, he embarks on a daring mission into the ice. The series has been available in the ZDF media library since 22 February. We meet him in Berlin.

Johanna Christner

Editor in the Society & Style department.

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What do you eat for breakfast?

Most of the time nothing. Because I'm Italian, I grew up so much that you traditionally don't eat until lunch. At the moment I only eat in the evening anyway, because I have to lose weight for a film role, Alfred Herrhausen. Last year I shot for about eleven months. You can't do sports anymore. If I do have breakfast, it's a fried egg with bacon. Or yogurt with granola.

Where do you buy your clothes?

Nowhere. That's the mean thing: You are known and get everything for free. Today, for example, I was at Shaping New Tomorrow, they equip me. They make a fabric from recycled plastic; sustainable, water-repellent and incredibly comfortable because the fabric adapts to the body. But I much prefer to buy food than clothes.

What is the oldest piece of clothing in your closet?

A black leather belt with silver-plated buckle. I took it away from a friend when I was 16 years old because I liked it so much.

When was the last time you wrote a handwritten letter?

Recently I wrote a letter to a girl whom I once accompanied growing up for a while.

Which book impressed you the most in life?

Shakespeare's plays. Especially the Wars of the Roses.

How do you inform yourself about world events?

Usually via the Internet. And my girlfriend is a journalist. So I get everything anyway, even if I don't want to hear it. I try to inform myself as little as possible about world events – because news is not good for me.

What's your best topic for small talk?

I would be tempted to say: sex. But food is probably much sooner – and cooking. I come from a gastronomy background, my family had three Italian restaurants, and we mostly talk about how to make or prepare food. Recently I planted olive trees because I want to make my own oil. I already have my own wine, which I launched in February.

Which film was the last time you cried?

Hard to say, because I'm easily receptive to emotions and cry a lot during movies. Probably because I have to be permeable as an actor. So it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the quality of a film when I start crying. Sometimes the strings only start at the right time.

Are you superstitious?