STAR INTERVIEW: BENITA BAILEY

‘THERE’S A LITTLE BIT OF YOU IN EVERY CHARACTER’

Actor Benita Bailey has been a staple of German TV for a while now. She talks to Discover Germany, Austria & Switzerland about how she shares her life between Toronto and Berlin, her latest role, her former UN job, and much more.

DISCOVER GERMANY: How did you get into acting? Has this always been your dream job?

Benita Bailey: For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be an actor. I went to the theatre a lot with school and always found it to be a magical place. We also had our ballet performances in the city’s theatre house back then –so I was already on stage as a little five-yearold girl, had started playing the piano with performances in large ballrooms, and played in the nativity play every year. Performing in dance and music has always been a part of my life. My fascination with theatre somehow led me to acting later in life.

DISCOVER GERMANY: You have also made a name for yourself as an actor in Canada. To what extent does the German acting industry differ from the Canadian one?

Benita Bailey: In many respects. The theatre culture is different – it is definitely much more diverse on the stages and also in the films. Diversity isn’t really questioned, it’s just the way it is. We still have to get there in Germany. In Canada, for example, the plays are played ‘en suite’ in the theatre, i.e. all one after the other. There is no schedule in which the plays appear again and again and there are only private theatres. There are no state theatres like here in Germany. They are all private houses, but they receive state funding. And as a result, the actor is never really in the employed situation or really only for the piece contracts. I think it’s a bit more difficult as an actor to live and survive in Canada than in Germany.

DISCOVER GERMANY: After your studies you worked for the UN. Another dream job for you?

Benita Bailey: Yes, it was totally a dream to work for the UN. One of the nicest things was that all my colleagues came from different countries. During the lunch break, many called their friends or family members, so you heard many different languages every day. It felt like the whole world was in one place. We also learned a lot about other cultures, different foods, different customs, holidays and religions. But of course, the content of the work as well: incredibly exciting, and at the same time, of the greatest relevance – actually the best combination. Because I always wanted to make a difference in my job. If you then talk specifically to rebel leaders in crisis areas and try to persuade them to end the conflict; you have the feeling that you are doing something important and the right thing.

DISCOVER GERMANY: You commute between Toronto and Berlin. What does home mean to you?

Benita Bailey: For me, home means coming to rest, memories and love. I feel at home where I can just be. I don’t have to do a great job, I’m just accepted. And when you come back home to your parents as a young adult, you can just let yourself fall on the sofa and it’s ok. When I come to Berlin, I am happy to see my friends. I’m looking forward to seeing familiar faces, coming into my apartment and being within familiar walls and in this home. When I’m in Toronto, I look forward to my children, my husband and the beautiful home we have there. And the nature that is there.

DISCOVER GERMANY: What do you love about Berlin? And what about Toronto?

Benita Bailey: What I like about Berlin is the cultural offerings and the lovely people who live here, whom I was fortunate to get to know. So much is possible professionally in this city. What I like about Toronto is the diversity, the different cultures, the good restaurants from all over the world. Lake Ontario, which is so big I feel like it’s a city by the sea.

DISCOVER GERMANY: Let’s talk about Die Pflegionärin. What do you love about this mini-series and your role in it?

Benita Bailey: What I like about my role is that it is pragmatic – that Caro Lacher, as the character is called, is down to earth. She can be happy with all her heart, is a very warm person and speaks Thuringian. I like that she sometimes does things that she might regret afterwards, because sometimes she acts a little faster than she thinks.

DISCOVER GERMANY: Do you have any advice for young actors who want to land their first role?

Benita Bailey: My tip for actors who want to get their first role is, first and foremost, to take the craft of acting seriously. Not chasing fame, but really asking: do I feel like doing this job, this craft, am I really learning it and sticking with it? And if you did not attend acting school, you should definitely learn through further education and courses. Also important: look for a good mentor who can prepare you well for the auditions at the acting schools, who will guide you and prepare you well for the castings. Then just give it your all.

DISCOVER GERMANY: What are you up to in 2023? Are there already exciting projects that you can talk about?

Benita Bailey: I think 2023 will be a very exciting year. Among other things, I am part of the jury for THE POWER OF THE ARTS award ceremony. There are also some projects that I am not allowed to say anything about at this point.

DISCOVER GERMANY: Other wishes and dreams for the future?

Benita Bailey: Oh, there are so many dreams for the future. I wish that a number of things would change in the long term, and not only in the world of film and theatre: for instance, that the cast always represents the diversity that we see in the population. There is also a need for diversity behind the camera and especially among the decision-makers. I believe that it will have a positive impact on society with respect to more acceptance, more love, empathy and togetherness in fighting global struggles that effect us all.