“Being able to laugh at yourself is a personal way of living.” 

(Vienna, 24.10.2023) Comedian and artist Josef Hader in a nutshell: What he likes best about his job, why he supports St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute and what else he would like to be able to do.

Under the motto of our 35th anniversary “Reaching for the stars”, we interviewed exciting, renowned personalities who have already successfully reached for the stars in their careers. This time, Josef Hader welcomed us exclusively before one of his sold-out performances at the Audimax of the University of Vienna. In a private atmosphere, the actor told us why he supports St. Anna CCRI! 

The complete interview will be published in our commemorative publication for the 35th anniversary. Read an excerpt from it here already.

My name is: Josef Hader. 

This is what I was passionate about as a child—and I still enjoy it today: Reading. Currently Anton Bruckner’s autobiography. Simply because I don’t know much about him and want to know the story behind the music. 

The secret to my success is: That I have never thought about it. 

What humor is to me: When you are 60 and something hurts when you get up, you can laugh about it. Ideally with another person. This way of living, that would be something to strive for. What I do for a living has very little to do with humor, but instead with telling a story as interestingly as possible. The fact that this becomes funny when I tell it is more down to my personality. But it is always about the story, about a different world. Humor is a side effect that automatically appears with me. 

This is how I deal with criticism: It always hurts a lot. If it is justified, I try to process this unpleasant experience in such a way that it helps me move forward somehow. 

One thing I would like to change in the world: The first thing is that everyone has equal access to resources—in every way: food, education, healthcare. 

What I like best about my job: Freedom. That I am free to decide how much I work, how long I work and that I have no restrictions in the subject­matter of what I do. 

What superpower I would like to have: I’d like to be a conductor. 

This is why I support the St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute: Because it is an unbelievably valuable help when faced with one of the tragic situations a person can encounter. 

What would you like to say to the St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute on its 35th anniversary? Thank you.