“Children are our future. It’s really important to take care of them.”
(Vienna, 11.5.2023) Maria Happel in brief: Why she supports the St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute, how she deals with criticism, and what acting in plays has to do with healing the soul.
Under the motto of our 35th anniversary “Reaching for the stars”, we interviewed exciting, renowned personalities who successfully reached for the stars at some point in their careers. Our interview series starts with actress Maria Happel, who welcomed us in her dressing room at the Burgtheater. The full interview will be published in our 35-year anniversary commemorative publication. Read an excerpt from it here already now.
I am: An actress.
Something I was enthusiastic about as a child and still enjoy today: Acting in plays.
How I deal with criticism: At some point I started reading reviews like horoscopes. You believe the good ones, not the bad ones.
One thing I would like to change in the world: I would like to secure the future of our children. World peace, climate protection, that would be a good step forward.
What I like best about my job: That I can be so many different people.
The superpower I would like to have: That’s exactly what I do have. I am young, old, fat, thin, powerful, powerless, a child, woman, man.
Do you have a favorite role? Always the one I’m rehearsing.
The reason I support the St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute: I think, on the one hand, children are our future and, on the other, they are the weakest link in our society. It’s really important to take care of them.
What else would you like to tell the St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute about the 35th anniversary? Keep it up. What these people are doing is wonderful. I can only bow down before them. Because it’s something we don’t do. I often tell myself this when I go on stage at premieres: as actors, we don’t operate on open hearts. We are “as if”. We play. And we are also important because we are the healers of souls. Our job is to make people empathize, laugh, cry and share an experience together, and make them forget their everyday lives for three hours and also offer a vision. On stage, as long as this curtain rises, the world emerging behind it can become a better one. And that is our job. I hope all the young patients, helpers and doctors continue to receive great support and that they can continue their research activities and their service to people and to the children.
Interview: Anna Egger
Video: Lukas Lach
About Prof. Maria Happel
Maria Happel is a German actress and director. She delights her audience in numerous television and theater productions. Since 2002 she has been part of the company at the Vienna Burgtheater. Happel has received numerous awards for her work and was named a “Kammerschauspielerin” in 2016. In 2020 she took over the direction of the Max Reinhardt Seminar drama school in Vienna, and in 2021 the artistic direction of the Reichenau Festival.