The next great, international talent that we would like to introduce to you is Valerie Huber, who the German audience could admire in the movie Immenhof – The Great Promise in the early summer of 2022. Not only the play of the beautiful Austrian moves on an international level. Born in Vienna, grew up in Uganda and the Ivory Coast, and lived in Washington D.C. and went to school there, Valerie is probably the perfect embodiment of the modern cosmopolitan. But she doesn’t rely on her looks. Rather, she impresses with her talent, her personality, and her big heart.
In addition, Valerie Huber knows exactly what she wants. Because after she was elected Miss Earth Austria in 2014, she could have gone the way that many pretty girls take. This is how she could have made a name for herself as a model or on the internet. However, Valerie was aware that this form of success is only temporary. Besides, she knew what talent she really has. Therefore, there was only one way for her, that of the actress.
So, at the age of just 11, she took theater classes and starred in the well-known Austrian TV series Tom Turbo. Even before she completed her professional acting training in 2017, she played in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Volkstheater in Vienna.
This was followed by appearances in TV series and films. The US remake of Til Schweiger’s Honig im Kopf (Head Full Of Honey), alongside Nick Nolte and Matt Dillon, followed and gained further international attention. The next was a role in the US TV channel ABC’s Whiskey Cavalier series. After other German TV productions, the feature film Chasing the Line followed. With her appearance in the music video frmdghn by Pizzera & Jaus, Valerie’s personal destiny was also fulfilled. Because at the beginning of 2022, she got engaged to the musician Paul Pizzera.
Of course, as befits a true cosmopolitan, this happened in Kenya. Currently, we can see Valerie in the Netflix series Kitz, where she plays an Instagram model. Furthermore, we can see her in the Amazon X-Mas highlight Friedliche Weihnachten (Peaceful Christmas).
INTERVIEW WITH VALERIE HUBER
Valerie, you are one of the stars of the Amazon X-Mas comedy Peaceful Christmas. What can you tell our readers about your role and what did you personally take away from this Prime Video production?
Johanna is caught between two fronts – her boyfriend Anton and her own family. They celebrate Christmas together for the first time. This situation puts Johanna in a conflict. On the one hand, she wants Anton to feel comfortable. But, on the other hand, she spends far too much time trying to please her father. What I took away with me is that it’s better to wait a bit until your family and your partner spend Christmas together – it could end in chaos… (laughs)
You lived in the USA as a teenager and gained international experience as an artist. Do you consider the cooperation with the international giant Amazon Prime Video as another milestone for your international career? Would you love to work in New York or Hollywood?
I must admit that it has always been a dream of mine to take part in English language projects. English is pretty much my second mother tongue. I almost feel more comfortable in that language than in German.
Of course, thanks to the international streaming services in Germany and Austria, we are gradually moving to an international level. However, that doesn’t mean it’s easier for us. There is so much production around the world. So many actors are “seen” in auditions every day. Anyway, the development in streaming makes things easier, I think. Nevertheless, it’s, of course, great for me to be represented on a platform like Amazon. I am very happy about it.
The German-language film is currently not comparable with Hollywood productions, if only because of the different budgets. Thanks to the streaming services and their financial possibilities, however, it is amid dynamic development. How much does it appeal to you to support this development? Moreover, what would you wish for yourself and German-language film in this context?
I consider it a very positive development that offers completely new opportunities to break out of the classic television structure. For example, European co-productions have opened a completely new, highly interesting market, especially for us actors. German language productions deserve to be recognized even beyond their own language area.
As an actress, you surely dream of being seen on the big screen. Despite all the advantages of streaming services, they don’t make it easy for classic cinema. Honestly, how do you view this development?
Unfortunately, we can really see that fewer and fewer people are going to the cinema. That is particularly affecting domestic films negatively. Of course, this is more than sad. Nothing can and will ever replace the classic cinema experience. Let’s see how it goes on. I think and hope that cinema will stay with us for a long time to come.
It’s Christmas. Time to express some personal wishes. Are there any desired roles or projects that you really want to realize in the near future?
I’ve wanted a role in a historical project for a long time. If it’s also a strong female role, it would be perfect.
In the new Prime Video comedy Friedliche Weihnachten (Peaceful Christmas), you embody a young woman whose father ruins the contemplative days that she actually wants to spend with her boyfriend. In real life, your friend Paul is a successful musician and, therefore, probably like you, travel a lot. Despite your work, do you manage to enjoy the holidays together and what does the perfect Christmas look like for you personally?
We actually always manage to take enough time for each other. Christmas was also much more harmonious with us than in the series! (laughs) I also have very clear ideas about what Christmas should be like. I’m strict! For me, it must be very traditional. That’s how we always celebrate in my grandma’s old house in the mountains of Austria.
It’s usually snowy there, a deep winter wonderland. There is skiing, singing, and baking – just as classic as you imagine it or how I simply find it beautiful. I must admit that I’m really a little Christmas nerd and love everything about the holiday. That’s why it was really nice for me to simply extend Christmas by two months while shooting the film! 😊
Text/Interview: Marco Kokkot
Images: Kitz: © Netflix, Friedliche Weihnacht: © Amazon Prime Video, Klammer: © Christoph Thanhoffr
