Nina Kunzendorf Embraces Smoking for Authentic Depiction of TV Detective
Berlin, Germany – Actress Nina Kunzendorf has taken up smoking to enhance the credibility of her portrayal as a TV police detective in the upcoming miniseries "Spuren" (Traces).
"I’m not a smoker, but I wanted to convincingly portray smoking in the film," Kunzendorf, 53, told the German Press Agency. "I would have liked to smoke even more, but I couldn’t handle it anymore."
Despite her previous smoking habit, Kunzendorf says she was able to control her nicotine intake. "I’m one of the few people who could do that: like during premiere seasons or evenings at the pub. Then I wouldn’t smoke for half a year. And I quit completely when I had children."
In "Spuren," the Berlin native plays a police officer tasked with solving two murder cases in rural Baden-Württemberg. Her character has returned to her Swabian homeland from the capital. Kunzendorf herself has family roots in the southwestern region of Germany.
While filming with director and friend Sherry Hormann, Kunzendorf was asked to smoke for the role. "And I was supposed to light the cigarette with the line, ‘Oh, this is the first one in three years,’" she recalls.
Having started filming in the morning, Kunzendorf had unhesitatingly requested the lightest cigarettes available. "After all, I’d smoked on and off," the 53-year-old said. "And I nearly threw away a whole day of shooting because I felt so sick."
During the production of "Spuren," Kunzendorf reconsidered her initial decision to smoke for the role. "Oh, I don’t know if this is such a good idea," she thought. Consequently, she limited her smoking.
"I practiced a bit beforehand. My children thought it was funny because I had five different packs of light cigarettes at home: ‘What do you have there?’ – ‘I have to practice. I have to prepare.’"
Kunzendorf has noticed a decline in smoking depicted on German television. "And especially among women. It’s not something people like to see." She believes this is a disadvantage for sympathetic or relatable characters. "Which I think is absolutely absurd."
Nina Kunzendorf’s Path to the Character
Kunzendorf delved into the role of a police detective by observing real-life officers at work. "I was lucky enough to spend several days with a female commissioner and her team. I was able to see how they think and work," she says.
She also spent time in the Baden-Württemberg region to immerse herself in the local culture and dialect. "I wanted to feel what it’s like to be there, to work there, and to be a person from there," she explains.
On Balancing Personal Life and Career
As a working actress and mother of two, Kunzendorf has learned to prioritize her life. "I don’t work as much as I used to. I’ve become more selective," she says. "I want to be there for my children. I want to be able to take them to school and pick them up."
She also values her personal time, which includes spending time with her family, reading, and traveling. "I need time for myself. I need time to recharge my batteries," she says.
Nina Kunzendorf: An Enigmatic Force
Nina Kunzendorf is an actress of depth and versatility, captivating audiences with her nuanced performances. From her breakthrough role in the drama "Gegen die Wand" (Head-On) to her acclaimed portrayal of German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the miniseries "Die Getriebenen" (The Driven), Kunzendorf has consistently proven her range and artistry.
With her portrayal of a police detective in "Spuren," Kunzendorf once again demonstrates her commitment to authenticity and the exploration of complex characters. Her smoking habit, though initially a source of discomfort, ultimately adds a layer of realism and credibility to her performance.
