AS THE WORLD TURNS' Luke and Noah aren't the only young gay men on the soap scene — the international soap scene, at least. German soap VERBOTENE LIEBE (FORBIDDEN LOVE) has drummed up quite the Internet following worldwide — and WORLD-wide, with many Nuke fans. Here, its charming and hilarious stars, Thore Schölermann (Christian) and Jo Weil (Oliver), talk about the "Ollian" phenomenon.
Soap Opera Weekly: Were you surprised to learn how popular Oliver and Christian are overseas?
Thore Schölermann: Oh, yes, I was very surprised! I didn't expect that.
Jo Weil: Absolutely! When we became aware of all the people all around the world following the development of our characters with so much passion, we became very glad and proud. We never even thought about that when we started with this love storyline about a year ago. But certainly it is a great compliment and shows us that it was worth the commitment and work that we've invested in the story. Right from the start, it was very important for us to portray a love story between two persons; we never wanted to explicitly stress that it is a love story between two men. And due to the great and overwhelming feedback that we get from five continents, by now we think that we haven't done a bad job. It's so amazing, especially when you consider that our TV series comes from Germany, which is a comparatively small country.
Weekly: How did you first learn people outside of Germany were watching you?
Schölermann: It started very slowly. The first letters came from Switzerland, then from England and suddenly from Canada and the USA! One day Jo showed me a video of us on YouTube, with subtitles in English and 100,000 views, and I thought, "Awesome! Unbelievable!"
Weil: The owner of an American blog got in touch with me because he wanted to interview me for my fans from abroad. It was quite [unexpected] and I started to do some research on the Internet. Wow, I was so surprised! At that moment, there were lots of videos about Thore and me on YouTube, with subtitles in all different languages. A short time after that we got our first interview-request from abroad. First, we thought it to be a one-time request and were very proud of it. But by and by there were more and more requests. We're so glad that so many fans from all around the world support us in this amazing way.
Weekly: How is the show and your story received in Germany? Do you get stopped on the street by fans?
Schölermann: Fans stop me. It was funny when someone from America stopped me at the IFA [Internationale Funkausstellung; the International Exhibition for TV and Radio]. I couldn't believe it and asked him first of all why and how he watches VL, especially in America, where they have the greatest TV series! And he answered that VL simply touches his heart. That was very nice to hear, but nevertheless, it was unbelievable!
Weil: It happens sometimes that fans recognize us and want to take a picture of us or ask for an autograph. After all, VERBOTENE LIEBE is a very popular soap opera that has been successfully broadcast now for many years. When I was in school, I watched it myself with great enthusiasm! I think Thore's and my popularity has grown because of our actual storyline. Most of the feedback in Germany is very positive. One thing that surprises us is that, because of the storyline, we get more mail from female fans. I didn't actually expect that.
Weekly: What do you think is the biggest difference between American TV and German shows?
Weil: Many American TV shows work with much bigger budgets than our German productions. Accordingly, they are able to get bigger things going, e.g. shooting LOST on a faraway island. Nevertheless, I don't think that our domestic TV shows have to hide from their "big sisters" from the USA, since we've got some first-class and expensive productions in Germany, too. In both countries, there are real pearls and also real trash.
Schölermann: Humor and action! I always miss humor in German series. In German shows everything is always so dramatic and severe. American dialogue is simply livelier; they come straight to the point. Or the actors don't speak at all but let pictures speak. Awesome! I want to go to America!
Weekly: What are your favorite U.S. shows?
Weil: When I was young, I loved BEVERLY HILLS, 90210, and it's awesome that this brilliant TV show may experience a revival now. Unfortunately, the new episodes haven't made it to Germany yet. Moreover, I'm a big fan of LOST, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, KYLE XY, and QUEER AS FOLK. Also, GROSSE POINT and TWIN PEAKS [were of] significant value in my young days. And, of course, I watch an episode of BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL from time to time.
Schölermann: LOST is the greatest TV series of all! I haven't watched much TV before, no matter if it was German or American, and now I watch LOST — but only in English, because in German the genial actors come across poorly. And I watch 24. I've just finished watching the first season. Wow!
Weekly: Were either of you worried about taking the role of a gay character? Here in the U.S., it's still rare to see homosexual characters on TV. Is it more common and accepted in Europe?
Weil: When I got an offer for a leading part on VL in 2000, the producers told me that the character would be bisexual. I asked to sleep on it, and after that I talked to my agent. She wasn't sure if I should accept the offer. So I simply acted on instinct then — and it was totally okay. As an actor, it is my ambition to play as many different roles as possible. And thus, the portrayal of Olli always was and still is an exciting challenge for me. I never worried about it. And to play that role didn't do harm to me in Germany. When I left VL after two years, I was offered a leading part in an action prime-time TV show right afterward. The character I played was the complete opposite to Olli and it didn't bother anyone that I played a bisexual character before.
Schölermann: Certainly, I was and still am worried, sometimes. But that has nothing to do with me having a problem portraying a gay character. With such a storyline you set yourself apart as an actor in a TV series and you attract attention. The problem might be that people don't see me as the actor Thore Schölermann anymore, but as the gay person, Christian Mann, from VL. But I think that's a basic problem in a soap opera.
Weekly: What has been your favorite storyline since joining VL?
Weil: I liked the storyline when Olli had a one-night stand with his friend Jule. And especially I liked the time when my character was delinquent. So finally I was allowed to be the "bad boy" — a perfect chance for an actor.
Schölermann: The storyline with Olli and the boxing, for sure! I've never had so much to play and enjoyed work so much at the same time. Surely, it hasn't always been easy — for example, to kiss a man — but that was exactly the challenge and I learned many things. For example, I feel very sorry now for women who have to kiss a man with a three-day beard. Oh, wait, I've got one myself, too. Well... (laughs).
Weekly: What are your favorite things about working with each other? Do you have a lot of fun together filming and rehearsing?
Weil: Thore and I have got the same kind of humor. We laugh at the same jokes and could have fun the whole day long. That's the reason why working together is never boring; and we also became good friends in private life. Concerning our job, we also share the same professional and conscientious attitude. I couldn't have wished for a better partner for this storyline, and I think that special chemistry between us is carried over to the viewers.
Schölermann: Oh, yes, it's never boring to work with Jo. I think I can say that Jo is at least as crazy as I am. For his age, he's really funny… (laughs). Jo sometimes gets a little bit mad at me when I forget a sentence — which happens very seldom. What a nerd! (laughs)!
Weekly: Is there anything you'd like to say to your fans around the world?
Weil: I think a simple thank you isn't enough to express how much that cordial worldwide support means to me. I'm perfectly happy and I hope that my fans will go on to take much pleasure in my work. You are the best and I'm very proud that you like me. If you feel like it, visit my blog on my Web site, www.myspace.com/joweil. You'll find all the information about me and my life.
Schölermann: Oh, that sounds important. Er, thank you?! Yes, "Thank you" has to be said! So many people write me so many nice things, and I don't manage to answer them all, be it on Facebook or MySpace. I manage to answer normal letters, but I don't like to sit on the computer. So I've got a bad conscience because I cannot say thank you to everyone. So, vielen dank! Thank you! Merci! Grazie! Gracias!
How cool for Thore/Jo to participate in this interview. <3 :)
Wow, those guys sound really funny. Thank you for the interview.
Mala, Thanks to you and SOD for taking the time and making the effort to interview Thore and Jo. It's great that an American soap opera magazine is going out of their way to take notice of at least one of the international soap operas that are gaining many new fans from the United States.
Thanks for the interview.
Just awesome. These guys are great. Thanks for the interview.
Thank you so much SOW for this AMAZING interview with the most incredible blokes on Earth!! And THANK YOU Thore and Jo for putting so much passion on your work showing your characters with such an extraordinary respect, making loads of people (like me) so proud of who we are. Danke schön! cheers from the UK R.
Thank you very much for this entertaining interview. Jo and Thore are super cool. :D
Awww..I just love those guys! Thank you Mala for interviewing them. :) They just rock!!! I hope they continue to be successful in everything single thing they do! :) Thank you again for the interview..you rock pretty hard yourself! :D PS..check out their my spaces.. Jo's blogs are hilarious and Thore is going to blog more really soon. :)
Thanks for setting this up, SOW/SOD. How awesome for Jo and Thore to be able to do this and getting all this attention from all around the world. The owner of 'that American blog'.
You're welcome, everyone! Thanks for reading -- and for being the ones who basically turned us on to VL in the first place. When WEEKLY asked for your favorite foreign soaps, the response was overwhelmingly in praise of VL and the Ollian story, so I had to dig into the phenomenon! Of course, now I'm addicted. too. ;-).
thanks for the interview!jo and thore are the best!so smart and cool;-))
Thanks for the wonderful interview.Thore and Jo are so great and cute. :)
Great interview. Thank you to Thore and Jo for taking the time out of their busy schedules to do this. Huge thanks to SOW for setting up the interview. As a fan from the UK, it has captured the hearts of people all over the world.
thank thore and jo for been in soap oprea weekly you guys are great actor love to watch ollian there my biggest thore i just want to say you are amazing ator love your chacarter christian so that to you and jo for take you busy time to be as part of soap oprea weeklylove you guys big fan of you both-by alison
Great interview! Thore & Jo deserve to be recognized for the outstanding work they do as Christian and Olli on Verbotene Liebe. As a Canadian viewer I can only watch the show online, but it's been an amazing ride watching their work these past few months. The Christian/Olli story has set the bar high for a gay storyline due to it's honesty, straightforwardness, and respect of the characters and the subject matter, and this is mainly due to the commitment and talent of Thore and Jo, and the amazing writing of Tom Chroust. Cheers to Thore & Jo, and to Mala for a great interview!
Thank you for this interview! I love the Ollian storyline :)
Thanks for Thore and Jo! Their work on the show really touched me, they deserve that "overseas popultarity"!! Thanks for SOW for that wonderfull interview!
those guys are amazing thanks that interview!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the interview with Thore and Jo. I hope there will be more interview with them, because their story is great and there very good actors.
What a great interview! After being an avid watcher of soaps for many years, my interest has waned and now rarely watch. VL and Ollian changed all that! Now I sit in front of my computer in Toronto and eagerly await for the next chapter in the Ollian storyline.
I applaud you for this story, and for capturing this phenomena. I think the lack of a comparable story on an American soap, and the chemistry between the actors explains exactly why the Ollian storyline appeals to American viewers. The two are very charismatic, and come across as honestly likable. The fact that they can bring small personal moments into their on screen interaction makes the Olli, Christian pairing more realistic than many male/female pairings on American soaps.
Thanks Mala and the rest of the guys at SOW/SOD for doing this interview. It's so wonderful to see an American Soap Magazine taking notice of an international soap. Those of us who are big fans of VL/Christian & Ollie can't get enough of this stuff. I completely agree with Hapnstance, that their protrayals complete with little looks and small personal touches that they incorporate have created a likeable and believable couple. We love them as characters because they are so personable. I just hope that they continue to receive the recognition they deserve. Thank you!
Thank you Mala and SOW for doing a follow up interview with Jo and Thore of VL after highlighting them a couple of months ago in SOW at the newsstands. And a hugh thank you to the lovely Jo and Thore for taking time out of their busy schedule to do the interview. Jo and Thore have brought the characters of Olli and Christian to life in a way i've never seen portrayed before on screen. They are both superb actors who put in details so real and natural it's quite breathtaking to witness. And their chemistry together on screen is truely amazing. I must also add they make the most beautiful onscreen couple i've ever seen. I only wish here in American we had a SOAP which could come close to bringing us such a wonderful gay love story. So for now, it's all about YouTube and my love affair with Ollian.
Thank you, SOD, for doing this interview with Jo and Thore. Like many other Americans, I, too, have caught the Ollian bug. The acting between these two actors is wonderful! They REALLY do come across as a couple in love in the series, which by far is very hard to do. With this kind of chemistry being portrayed makes the show enjoyable to watch and love! I could only wish that VL could be broadcasted on an American channel and not rely on the net. Thank you again for the interview! Maybe SOD needs to have more VL!!! hint... hint!
Thanks SOD for interviewing Jo and Thore. I have bookmarked your webpage now and hope to subscribe. I haven't watched soaps for years, but now I am addicted to VL -- not just because it is a great soap opera, but because Jo and Thore have helped to create a community. They do this in the simple joy and humor they bring to their roles -- a joy that transcends sexuality. And their joy and humor infect the rest of us, so we VL watchers form a community of our own. I just came back from a fourteen hour work day, and have another two hours of work to do. (8AM-12AM, 12AM-2AM -- well how many hours is that?) I've been trying to do things to make the world better: a lot of work! What a wonderful break it is to be able to read this interview. What a wonderful reminder of love Jo and Thore bring me through their acting, their friendship and their communication with fans. Thanks to all.
These guys are amazing....and the story they are telling on Verbotene Liebe is nothing short of outstanding. I've never in my life felt so connectet to these characters. They are realistic, beleivable, funny, and heartbreaking all at the same time. The German productions may have smaller budgets than their American Counterparts, but they put out a far superior product. The acting, writting, production, and everything inbetween is first rate. THANK YOU Jo and Thore for saving this 20-somthing gay man's thoughts on true love and romance.
Are the people in charge of the GLADD Media Awards here in the US aware of these two? Surely Jo and Thore should be invited to this country to recieve some kind of recognition for their work and the positive impact it is having on the hearts and minds of people all over the world. To the actors, writers, producers, directors and everyone else involved in the production of Verbotene Liebe, a heartfelt thank you! And thank you SOW for this wonderful interview with Thore and Jo.
Thank you so much for interviewing Messrs. Weil and Schölermann! These gentlemen deserve any and all positive recognition for their work. That a soap opera from Germany would have such an impact globally should be credited to the work of these two fine actors and VL's former head writer Tom Chroust. Jo and Thore inject so much humanity and dedication to their characters that you really feel that Ollian are in love with each other. U.S. soaps should take note and remember that soaps should be about love stories and not misogyny or violence. Ollian is a wonderful example of a love story done and told properly. Thanks again to Jo and Thore and especially to SOW for hopefully introducing Jo and Thore to an even broader audience. They deserve all the kudos they get.
I love Ollian they are the best thanks to Nanna for all the translations! Thanks to Ivan for posting the Christian and Oliver story! I hear that the first couple weeks of November could be an Ollian storyline stay tuned!
The people in charge of the GLAAD awards are completely aware of VL. I wrote them a month ago, asking the same thing. They wrote me back saying that they have received many requests for the nomination in the 2009 Best Drama Series award, but because VL doesn't air on US networks, that it couldn't be nominated. Maybe we should bombard their inbox with requests for special recognition and maybe they will make an exception!?! Thanks SOW for the this great interview!
Concerning GLADD, I suspected that that might be the case. I like your idea though, AJ! At the very least they could extend an invitation to Jo and Thore to attend their awards cermony and give them an honorable mention of some sort in recognition of their global impact.
This is a fantastic interview! i love these two! They are brillant actors thanks to youtube the whole world has been able to find out about this great show! I am from England and i wish it was shown over here!
thank you for the interview, it was so nice to read! that would be totally cool if GLADD would recognize them! they seem really funny and down to earth:)
THERE IS HOPE FOR ATWT i just read on the official website of vl that the producers had a writer of vl flown in the us for "creative exchange". so maybe they wanted to learn a lesson on how to portray (gay) people
THANK,S A LOT! GREAT INTERVIEW! IM TOTALLY ADICTED TO CHRISTIAN AND OLLIVER STORY.
CHRISTIAN OLLIVER all so you are amazing couple i never seen so much me im just sigle girl sigle someday i have kids and they start answer the question coming out to parnet how you handl it i need some help will you do that for me thank you som much to help me gradlateion been together im so happy you to much be there for me and need that some day missi you goodbye
These two guys are TRULY a class act, both individually and together. Their dedication to their work, their friendly personalities, their sense of humor, and their friendship with each other and their public are just so apparent in everything I see them in. KUDOS to them both!! I wish them all success!! They deserve it!!
hi...i'am a Malay guy.Who is gay and i really love watching this show until me myslef wanting to learn germanian language so badly only because of this show . wish me a good luck and maybe anyone would teach me some words.
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