Sawatzki as a diva, Berkel as a kidnapper – the TV evening is saved!

With speed and timing

What does actor Christian Berkel like about the funny ransom story that ends up getting completely out of hand? Berkel to HÖRZU: “A kidnapping is actually a classic crime situation, but here it turns comical through a change of perspective. That’s what makes this book so special for me. I always think comedies are great when a serious situation is told in a comedic way. We also found it appealing to finally play slapstick – because that’s pretty rare in this country.

Setting the pace and exploiting situations is just a lot of fun!” Andrea Sawatzki adds: “That’s exactly right! I also really enjoyed transforming myself visually into Evelyn – after all, as an actress it’s not every day that you have the opportunity to visually become someone else.

And of course I thought it was great to play comedy freely and film with my husband.” In what tradition does the celebrity couple see the series? What inspired them both? “Old black-and-white comedies from Hollywood,” reveals Christian Berkel with a smile, “for example, films with Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. This iconic couple is the gold standard that we follow.”

Will the series, in which the duo play changing characters, continue? Yes, says Sawatzki, and reveals that Part 4, entitled “Being Famous for Beginners,” is already complete: “This film will also be fast-paced – something that unfortunately still happens far too rarely in Germany: Instead of big emotions, ‘Being Famous for Beginners’ relies on speed and timing. This is not only a lot of fun, but also offers a lot of excitementde new possibilities.”

And yes, a fifth film is also being planned. This TV format is no longer “… for beginners”, but for advanced users. And of course for fans of Sawatzki and Berkel.

The comedy “Kidnapping for Beginners” is showing today, October 17th, 2025, at 8:15 p.m. on the first.