Austrian-German Christoph Waltz is now a famous actor - a pedigree that's very obvious to any fans who have watched him in his 2009 breakout role as Inglourious Basterds' SS turncoat Hans Landa. Previously, Waltz had been constrained to a staggering thirty years of theatre and smaller German television and movie roles; performing them with skill but unable to "translate" that momentum into an English-speaking "American" role.
Finally Acting Stateside
In the years 1980 to 2000, he became a popular name in the television industry. In fact, his directorial debut was for a German television production, 'Wenn man sich traut' in 2000. After three decades of trying to break into America, his audition with Quentin Tarantino would change everything. Waltz finally found himself in the love-to-hate character of "The Jew Hunter" for Inglourious Basterds. His accent helped add authenticity to the character, but it was his portrayal that, as Tarantino put it, virtually saved the movie.
Setting the Tone for Serious Acting
Waltz's next major role would share a lot in common with Landa. Playing Dr. King Schultz in 2012's Django Unchained, he once more stepped into the role of a hunter, though this time he was arguably on the "good guys’" team. This further demonstrated Waltz's command of acting, a talent which would net him various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award and a prestigious Best Actor award at Cannes. He also made four films in 2011 alone: The Green Hornet, Water for Elephants, Roman Polanski's Carnage and a reboot of The Three Musketeers.
Personal Life
Waltz's family had been associated with the entertainment industry long before he was born. There were actors and designers in the family, and his foray into the world of cinema did not come as a surprise. Waltz himself has said that growing up in the business ensured that he never romanticised the world of movies and theatre.
Waltz had always wanted to step into Hollywood and make a name for himself in the film circle. However, it was turning out to be a rather difficult process, and he almost gave up on his dreams. Inglourious Basterds gave him his much-needed break, and since then he has gained major popularity in the world of cinema.
A family man with two children, Waltz is not only talented when it comes to performances, he is also trilingual - speaking English, French and German fluently. He used his knowledge of these languages both in Inglourious Basterds and Django Unchained, and also served as his own voice actor for the French and German dubbed versions of these two films.
What's Next for Christoph Waltz?
2017 will see Waltz starring alongside the peerless Matt Damon in "Downsizing," and the following year, in 2018, he will star in "Alita: Battle Angel," produced by mega director James Cameron. Waltz will also step behind the camera himself, taking a turn at directing with his first feature film, Georgetown. The film is based on a true event- the murder of Viola Drath. This exciting international actor already has shelves of awards and a fantastic career behind him - fans can't wait to see what lies ahead in 2017 and beyond for Christoph Waltz.
The Art of Seduction with Christoph Waltz
