Mallorca is something like home for Henning Baum and Sonja Kirchberger.
The fact that they play together in the second season of the RTL hit series “Der König von Palma” is pretty good. But what else connects the two? A BILD talk about the Ballermann, prohibitions on thinking and a secret wedding.
BILD am SONNTAG: Ms. Kirchberger, you have been living in Mallorca for more than 20 years. How realistic is The King of Palma?
Sonja Kirchberger: “I was completely blown away by the first season. The series seemed almost like a costume drama from the last century, in which I already existed. In general, I’ve always had very little to do with El Arenal, the Ballermann.”
How come?
Kirchberger: “Well, you don’t go to Arenal just like that by accident. You only go to Arenal if you want to have fun and party. And since I’ve never been a party bird, I have very little to do with Arenal. But of course I looked at it. And I have a lot of contact with Arenal visitors when I fly to Germany in the morning in high season. There really is Halligalli.”
Busy: For “Operation for Henning Baum” (July 20, 8:15 p.m., RTL), the actor returned to his roots as a paramedic
Are you at least a party mouse, Mr. Baum?
Henning Baum: “I’m not the party type at all. Nevertheless, of course I celebrate when there is a reason for it. But I haven’t been looking for this type of celebration, as we see it at Ballermann. I’ll save that for old age.”
Kirchberger: “I’m looking forward to it. When I celebrate, I prefer to celebrate at home with friends. We drink rosato and dance. It always gets difficult for me when people shoot themselves away. And that’s unfortunately the case at Ballermann and at some other places on Mallorca.”
Do you understand the need?
Kirchberger: “Yes, of course. These are mostly people who work all year round, save and then want to live for two weeks. The desire for an overdose arises from the unrealized needs of everyday life. From my point of view, however, this is a poor energetic distribution. You can also switch off with yoga or meditation.”
Tree: “Many people may not like the way Ballermann is celebrated, but that’s the way people are. One mustn’t forget: Life in Germany hasn’t exactly become freer from prohibitions in recent years. Even if these prohibitions have not yet been incorporated into legal texts.
Sometimes I think: Life in freedom, and with it the freedom of the inexperienced, the informal and the not always well thought-out, moody togetherness, should obviously be brought under a certain control. I think we are experiencing a trend where bans, bans on speaking and even thinking are being demanded.”
Kirchberger: “As far as our job is concerned, I’ve often asked myself lately: is it still allowed to make a film like ‘Pippi Longstocking’ today? With a girl in stockings who does what she wants? I can no longer imagine it like this, unfortunately.”
Sonja Kirchberger as barmaid “Biggi” in the Ufa series “Der König von Palma” (July 11/18, 8:15 p.m., RTL)
When did you first meet each other?
Kirchberger: “When I saw you for the first time, I just thought: madness! The German film world needs more real guys. And when I met you for the first time, it was clear to me: You’re forbidden sexy!”
Tree: “All I know is that you were just there in the early ’90s. And I was immediately smitten. You were for me – and probably not only for me – a mystical unearthly appearance, an Aphrodite.
Kirchberger: “I always say: I am a man trapped in a woman’s body. That’s how I feel and that’s how I live. Of course, I also like being a woman and I love men, but I actually live the way men like to live.
I remodel my house, I do crafts, I like to go fishing. Anyway, I’m not as delicate a person as I might look. I’m basically like Henning, only with lipstick.”
With or without lipstick, how many times has it happened to you that you’ve been underestimated because you’re “too strong” and therefore had to work harder?
Tree: “I’m basically of the opinion that I can only achieve something if I try as hard as I can. So I always work hard. And it was my own decision that I look the way I do.
But it’s true: I came to acting school as a foreign body, so to speak. And I certainly felt that too. But I always said: I can also be an actor with this body and play well.”
Sonja Kirchberger has been living in Mallorca since 1999. She has been in a relationship with her boyfriend Daniel (43) since 2013
Ms. Kirchberger, in “The King of Palma” you play a woman who looks very different from you.
Kirchberger: “Yes, she has 30 years of gastro behind her and has practically grown attached to the counter. However, the transformation also required two hours of masking. And when I had removed my make-up after shooting and wanted to drive home, my driver didn’t recognize me. He just asked: who are you? I’m waiting for Sonja Kirchberger. He only knew me in costume.”
And who – apart from Henning Baum – last carried you on their hands?
Kirchberger: “Oh, I’ve been carried on my hands constantly for ten years. I’m a very spoiled woman for that matter. But I also feel very, very comfortable in Henning’s hands.”
Tree: “I wouldn’t normally carry a woman on my hands at all. Sonja was a big exception. But that was easy for me.”
Kirchberger: “I’m sure I’m only half a barbell for you. And my love is a big fan of Henning. In that respect everything fits.”
Mr. Baum, last question: Today you are wearing Sonja Kirchberger on the one hand and a shiny ring on the other. Did you marry your partner Christiane Meyer?
Tree: “This is clearly a diver’s watch that shines so brightly” … Henning Baum quickly hides his left hand in his right hand.
I actually meant the ring.
Tree: “I can only say that this watch clearly underlines my adventurous nature. I can not say more about that.”
This article comes from BILD am SONNTAG. The ePaper of the entire issue is available here.
