Christoph Waltz
Birthday: 4 October 1956, Vienna, Austria
Height: 170 cm
Christoph Waltz is an Austrian-German actor. He is known for his works with American filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, receiving acclaim for portraying SS-Standartenführer Hans Landa in Inglourious Baster ...Show More
[on advice a dog trainer once gave him that can apply to him as well] The better the dog, the busier Show more
[on advice a dog trainer once gave him that can apply to him as well] The better the dog, the busier you have to keep him. I'm arrogant and blase enough to consider myself a very good dog. You take pride in what you're doing, in your craft, and all of that, but -- I wouldn't say I resigned myself to mediocrity, not at all, but I started to accept that there might be an ideal you strive for (and) never realize. Hide
[on fame] As a motivation in itself, celebrity is foolhardy and stupid.
[on fame] As a motivation in itself, celebrity is foolhardy and stupid.
I know what I can contribute. And that's a very limited, very specific unit, whether it's a big movi Show more
I know what I can contribute. And that's a very limited, very specific unit, whether it's a big movie, a small movie, a German movie, an American movie. That's the advantage I have over a 25-year-old. I've had the chance to understand what it is I do. Hide
[his Oscar acceptance speech for Inglourious Basterds (2009)] Oscar and Penélope [Cruz], that's an Show more
[his Oscar acceptance speech for Inglourious Basterds (2009)] Oscar and Penélope [Cruz], that's an über bingo! I always wanted to discover some new continent and I thought I had to go this way, and then I was introduced to Quentin Tarantino, who was putting together an expedition that was equipped by Harvey Weinstein and Lawrence Bender and David Linde, and he put this script in front of me and he said, "This is where we're going, but we're going the other way." So Brad Pitt helped me on board and Diane Kruger was there Mélanie Laurent and Denis Ménochet and Bob Richardson and Sally Menke and Adam Schweitzer and Lisa Kasteler. Everybody helped me find a place. Universal and The Weinstein Company and ICM and Quentin, with his unorthodox methods of navigation, this fearless explorer, took this ship across and brought it in with flying colours and that's why I'm here. And this is your welcoming embrace and there's no way I can ever thank you enough, but I can start right now. Thank you. Hide
[on Bill Murray ] He was just the nicest guy, he gave me the biggest tips [while Waltz was working a Show more
[on Bill Murray ] He was just the nicest guy, he gave me the biggest tips [while Waltz was working as a waiter]. And now I know him: not like as a close friend, but I know him. I really like how he handles privacy. But then Bill Murray is a radical...I'm not a radical. I'm just a smart-ass. Hide
[on being typecast] Nobody's talking about that. I get interest coming my way from many different di Show more
[on being typecast] Nobody's talking about that. I get interest coming my way from many different directions. I'd hate to pigeon-hole myself. The variety is what's interesting. Hide
[on the toughest aspect of preparing for Inglourious Basterds (2009)] To put aside what I know about Show more
[on the toughest aspect of preparing for Inglourious Basterds (2009)] To put aside what I know about the topic. Because it was irrelevant. Growing up in that area, you don't hear much about the French Revolution or the Egyptians or the Seven Year War. You hear about the Nazi era. But it was irrelevant to the part and unnecessary and would have been a bad obstacle. Hide
It's the result that makes the art, not necessarily the process that leads to it. So when Hilary pla Show more
It's the result that makes the art, not necessarily the process that leads to it. So when Hilary plays Bach, that's the music (but) what you perceive is the art. Is she considering herself as an artist? I don't think so. I think she just puts herself into the craft, into each individual note and ties them together in order to arrive at what the emotion might be. That's one of the biggest problems with the actor. The piece of art -- the person, the performance, everything that leads up to it -- is so difficult to separate from each other. Hide
[on comedy] As long as you take it seriously, you can do it. But in a movie, because comedy is so mu Show more
[on comedy] As long as you take it seriously, you can do it. But in a movie, because comedy is so much timing and rhythm, all of that is most established in editing. I can say a complete straight sentence, just neutral and straight, and a good editor can turn it into a funny or sad thing. Because that's the beauty of movies, nothing works in itself. Hide
The one advantage of having grown up in the business is that you don't romanticize it. "Oh, isn't it Show more
The one advantage of having grown up in the business is that you don't romanticize it. "Oh, isn't it wonderful?" Blah, blah, blah. No, it isn't! I've never romanticized it. But on the other hand, the conviction, the dedication that you see here, is tremendous. It would be awful if the whole business consisted of grouchy farts like me. Hide
Becoming an actor is like becoming a father. It's not hard to become one. Making a life of it is the Show more
Becoming an actor is like becoming a father. It's not hard to become one. Making a life of it is the challenge. Hide
It's frustrating. Even though I agree with all of you [other actors being interviewed], I have a les Show more
It's frustrating. Even though I agree with all of you [other actors being interviewed], I have a less romantic and idealistic approach to acting. Over there [Germany], the business is based on mediocrity. On a high level, admittedly, but mediocrity. You reach a certain level, beyond which you will not go. Not just in career but in challenges and opportunity. It's interesting for the specific issue of how to cope with an actor's life. To lead an actor's life. What do you do if you have a stretch of five years where you only get mediocre offers and nothing to sink your teeth into? That's where it is difficult. Becoming an actor is one thing. Being an actor is entirely different. Hide
[on being a private person] When I was 25, that's when this whole thing got started. My oldest daugh Show more
[on being a private person] When I was 25, that's when this whole thing got started. My oldest daughter was a little kid. A tabloid reporter called my house. He said, "I hear a child crying. Is it a boy or a girl? What's their name?". I said "I want to keep that private." He said "It's not private." Thats when I decided I didn't want other people to decide what I disclose. Hide
It would be completely laughable if I claimed I was always motivated by the pure craft of acting and Show more
It would be completely laughable if I claimed I was always motivated by the pure craft of acting and that recognition doesn't play a part. Of course it does - that's human nature. The bohemian artist who exists only for his art, it's a myth. Hide
I do feel I can say - without smugness - that it feels good. I am entitled. I am entitled to judge t Show more
I do feel I can say - without smugness - that it feels good. I am entitled. I am entitled to judge the situation and say that yes: It feels good, and that yes, I agree with you. I feel like I served my time. I feel like I paid [my dues]. Hide
[on waiting 30 years to become an overnight success] That was my experience, and it was very frustra Show more
[on waiting 30 years to become an overnight success] That was my experience, and it was very frustrating. These false dawns went on for a long time. It feels like someone keeps trying to switch the light on, but the dimmer switch is broken. And then sometimes the bulb blows altogether. Hide
Christoph Waltz's FILMOGRAPHY
as Actor (110)
![Herr Lehmann [Audio: German]](https://static.123movies.pics/images/film/yKbkpMXQi9dn-msiCyIqfmMlUTAmqYHg5wtJ-uvewePv12OF22RISipsC9vJLdUSkYDIIeCibRx9hSUI7IUoYuc-GcQr5lZJUEMlZygHVEQ.jpg)
Christoph Waltz'S roles
Qohen Leth
Walter Keane
Cardinal Richelieu
Dr. King Schultz
Bert Hanson
Mandrake
Christoph Waltz
Col. Hans Landa
August
Leon Rom
Jesus Christ
Dusan Mirkovic
Cornelis Sandvoort
Ernst Stavro Blofeld
Alan Cowan
Chudnofsky
