The Austrian Identity Of Christoph Waltz

Christoph Waltz is an Austrian-German actor and director, born in Vienna, Austria, on 4 October 1956. Waltz gained international recognition for his roles in Quentin Tarantino's films, including Inglourious Basterds and Django Unchained, for which he won several awards, including Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and BAFTAs. With a background in theatre and television, Waltz's career spans decades and includes a range of diverse roles, solidifying his status as a renowned actor in the film industry.

Christoph Waltz's career

Christoph Waltz is an Austrian-German actor known for his work in both European and American film and television. Waltz was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1956, into a family with a rich history in the arts. Waltz's father was a set designer, his mother a costume designer, and his maternal grandparents were both actors. Waltz initially aspired to a career in opera, but after graduating from Vienna's Theresianum, he went on to study acting at the Max Reinhardt Seminar. He also studied singing and opera at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, but he eventually decided that his voice was not suited to a career in opera.

In the late 1970s, Waltz spent time in New York City, training with Lee Strasberg and Stella Adler. He studied script interpretation under Adler, to whom he credits his analytical approach to acting. Upon his return to Europe, Waltz began working as a stage actor, making his debut at the Schauspielhaus Zürich. He also performed in Vienna, Salzburg, Cologne, and Hamburg. In the 1980s, Waltz began to work in television, taking one-off roles in series and TV movies. Despite his steady work in German-language film and television, Waltz struggled to break into English-language productions.

Waltz's big break came in 2009, when he was cast as Hans Landa in Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds. His performance as the charming but sinister Landa earned him numerous accolades, including a Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. This role catapulted Waltz to international stardom and led to parts in other American films, including Water for Elephants, The Three Musketeers, and Carnage (all released in 2011).

Waltz collaborated with Tarantino again in 2012, playing bounty hunter Dr King Schultz in Django Unchained. Once again, his performance earned him a Best Supporting Actor award at the Oscars, Golden Globes, and BAFTAs. Since then, Waltz has continued to work prolifically in film and television, taking on a range of diverse roles. Notable film credits include The Zero Theorem (2013), Big Eyes (2014), Spectre (2015), and The Legend of Tarzan (2016). Waltz has also ventured into directing, making his feature film debut with the crime drama Georgetown (2019).

Waltz's personal life

Christoph Waltz was born in Vienna, Austria, on 4 October 1956. His father, Johannes Waltz, was a German set designer, and his mother, Elisabeth Urbancic, was an Austrian costume designer of Austrian and Slovenian descent. Waltz's father died when he was seven years old, and his mother later remarried. Waltz's stepfather, Alexander Steinbrecher, was a composer and conductor. He was previously married to the mother of director Michael Haneke, making Waltz and Haneke stepbrothers.

Waltz grew up in a theatrical family. His maternal grandmother, Maria Mayen, was an actress, and his step-grandfather, Emmerich Reimers, and great-grandfather, Georg Reimers, were both stage actors who also appeared in silent films. Waltz's maternal grandfather, Rudolf von Urban, was a psychiatrist of Slovene descent and a student of Sigmund Freud. He wrote the 1949 book "Sex Perfection and Marital Happiness". Waltz has three siblings.

Waltz studied acting at the Max Reinhardt Seminar in Vienna and also studied singing and opera at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. In the late 1970s, he spent time in New York City, training with Lee Strasberg and Stella Adler. He studied script interpretation under Adler and credits his analytical approach to her teaching.

Waltz has been married twice. He has three children with his first wife, Jacqueline (née Rauch), a dance therapist from New York. They lived in London, and their marriage lasted 17 years. Waltz married his second wife, German costume designer Judith Holste, with whom he has a daughter. They divide their time between Berlin, Vienna, and Los Angeles.

His notable works

Christoph Waltz is an Austrian-German actor known for his work in both television and film. Waltz's career began in the late 1970s, and he has since appeared in over 100 titles. Here is a list of his notable works:

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

In Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds, Waltz plays the villainous SS-Standartenführer Hans Landa, also known as "The Jew Hunter". This breakout role earned him his first Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actor. Waltz's performance as the charming yet cunning Landa is considered one of the best on-screen villainous portrayals of all time.

Django Unchained (2012)

Waltz's second collaboration with Tarantino, Django Unchained, earned him his second Academy Award, BAFTA Award, and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor. In this film, Waltz plays German bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz, a hero in the midst of the antebellum American South. Tarantino wrote this role specifically for Waltz.

The Green Hornet (2011)

In this film, Waltz plays gangster Benjamin Chudnofsky. This role showcases Waltz's versatility as he portrays a character that is both charming and cruel.

Water for Elephants (2011)

Based on the novel of the same name, Waltz stars in this film as August, alongside Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson.

Carnage (2011)

Directed by Roman Polanski and co-starring Kate Winslet and Jodie Foster, Carnage is an adaptation of the Tony Award-winning play "God of Carnage" by Yasmina Reza. Waltz showcases his comedic timing as a distracted lawyer and father, Alan Cowen.

The Zero Theorem (2013)

In this dystopian science-fiction drama, Waltz portrays computer genius Qohen Leth.

Big Eyes (2014)

Waltz stars as the manipulative and charming American plagiarist Walter Keane in this biographical film directed by Tim Burton.

Spectre (2015) and No Time to Die (2021)

In these two James Bond films, Waltz portrays the iconic villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld, the nemesis of 007 and the head of SPECTRE. Waltz's performance as Blofeld is scene-stealing and memorable.

The Legend of Tarzan (2016)

Waltz plays the lead villain, Captain Leon Rom, a corrupt Belgian captain in this adventure film.

Alita: Battle Angel (2019)

Waltz appears as Dr. Dyson Ido in this action fantasy film, alongside Rosa Salazar and Jennifer Connelly.

Georgetown (2019)

In his directorial debut, Waltz portrays Ulrich Mott, a man suspected of murdering his wealthy, older wife. The film is based on a true story and showcases Waltz's ability to play suspicious and unlikable characters.

Awards and recognition

Christoph Waltz is an Austrian-German actor who gained international recognition for his portrayal of villainous and supporting roles in English-language films. He has won numerous awards and accolades for his performances, including two Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, two BAFTA Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Waltz's breakthrough role came in Quentin Tarantino's 2009 film "Inglourious Basterds", in which he played Hans Landa, a cunning and multilingual SS-Standartenführer, also known as "The Jew Hunter". For this role, Waltz received the Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actor. He also received the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival and numerous other awards and nominations for this performance.

In 2012, Waltz collaborated with Tarantino again in "Django Unchained", for which he earned his second Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actor. He played a German bounty hunter named Dr. King Schultz, a role that was written specifically for him.

In addition to these major awards, Waltz has also received numerous other accolades throughout his career. He has won awards from various critics' associations, such as the Boston Society of Film Critics, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, New York Film Critics Circle, and more. He has also been recognised at film festivals, including the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, where he received the Cinema Vanguard Award, and the Cannes Film Festival, where he was selected as a member of the main competition jury in 2013.

In 2014, Waltz received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 2020, he received his first Primetime Emmy Award nomination for his role in the web series "Most Dangerous Game". Waltz was also honoured with an Icon award at the Newport Beach Film Festival in 2024, in recognition of his illustrious career.

His views on acting

Christoph Waltz is an Austrian-German actor with an international reputation for his portrayal of villainous and supporting roles in English-language films. Waltz has gained critical acclaim for his performances in Quentin Tarantino's 'Inglourious Basterds' and 'Django Unchained', for which he won two Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, two BAFTA Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Waltz has expressed his views on acting in several interviews. He is not interested in the idea of "nailing" a scene, stating:

> "All this market-economy vocabulary: 'nailed it.' Well, if you nail it, where do you nail it to? What kind of nail do you use? Why nail it in the first place? Can't it go anywhere anymore? Wouldn't it be the goal to keep it flowing?"

Waltz is also not interested in discussing acting technique, describing his process as "a very personal thing". He further explains that he does not believe in the concept of a "good actor" or a "bad actor", instead, he questions an actor's competence and ability to pull off a role. In his view, actors should aspire to disappear into their roles so that the audience forgets who they are watching. He says:

> "It's about the viewer, not the actor. I'm not interested in seeing the actor work; I'm interested in forgetting about the actor altogether."

Waltz is grateful to have been able to make a living and support his family through acting. He has worked steadily and tirelessly for thirty years, expressing that he does not romanticize the acting business. Waltz has also commented on the advantages of growing up in the industry, stating that he has had the chance to understand what he does and that he knows what he can contribute.

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