She became known as a presenter on Viva, famous as an actress: Heike Makatsch. We see her balanced and attentive at a meeting in Berlin. Here she reveals what helps her when everything threatens to become too much. And also why she takes a cold shower every morning.
In a fluffy cardigan, transparent blouse and wide leather trousers, Heike Makatsch, 53, welcomes guests on an icy, windy autumn day in the winter garden of the 1907 restaurant in the Hotel Adlon in her adopted home of Berlin. Born in Düsseldorf, she initially studied politics and sociology, dropped out, began an apprenticeship as a tailor, and dropped out. They saw a call for presenters for a new music station and applied. Almost exactly 31 years ago – on December 1st, 1993, Viva, short for “Videoverfassungsanstalt”, went on air in Cologne-Ossendorf. From then on she flickered across the screens as a funky girlie. It was there that she discovered Detlev Buck in 1995 for his comedy “Männerpension”. That was the beginning of Makatsch's acting career.
QUADEL: As the new brand face of Fenjal, you will follow in the footsteps of supermodel Tatjana Patitz, who died of breast cancer in 2023. You could have started a new cooperation much less burdened – how do you feel about that?
Heike Makatsch: The feeling that someone was gone touched me deeply. As a supermodel, she always represents a strong personality, not just smooth and beautiful. But I find the commemoration of her and Fenjal's associated support of Breast Cancer Association sensible and appropriate.
QUADEL: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women – it affects around one in eight people in Germany.
Makach: There is also a young woman in my circle of friends who was diagnosed with breast cancer out of the blue in her 30s. Fortunately, she has now healed. But I was able to see what a big turning point in her life that was – and still is. It hangs over us all like the sword of Damocles. Of course, it's great to know that research is already so advanced that breast cancer can be cured if it is discovered early enough. That's why I'm someone who hasn't missed a gynecologist's appointment, goes to mammography and checks myself regularly.
QUADEL: “Just be me,” is the slogan of the advertising campaign. What does this mean for you?
Makach: It's not that easy to figure out who you are and how to just be yourself. This requires an argument. You should take your time for this. It is in the moments when you are mindful of yourself and practice self-love and self-care that you are most able to experience yourself. I don't want to pretend that it's possible to act in complete harmony with yourself throughout your entire life. There are many requirements that require you to adapt to the circumstances – and that is absolutely right. But if you know who you are, then that becomes easier.
QUADEL: Don't you feel like it's all too much for you?
Makach: If I feel that my nerves are wearing thin and I react to my environment in a way that I don't like, then yoga and meditation help me to get out of the constant state of stress. Sometimes half an hour is enough to clear your head and calm down your nervous system. And I enjoyed spending the evenings extensively.
QUADEL: When do you feel particularly good, particularly beautiful?
Makach: When I'm well rested, my body feels healthy and I can receive – and give – love from the people around me.
QUADEL: People often ask for beauty tips. What would be yours?
Makach: Good concealer is definitely essential. And blush. Otherwise, I can also recommend the Gua Sha stone to everyone, with which you can massage and rub out your muscles and lymph. This removes the stress of the day that has settled on your face. And really hardcore cold showers. I've been doing this for several years – for resilience. And no, it's really not nice at the beginning, I know. You could imagine better things, especially in winter. But I have the impression that it provides good blood circulation to the skin, tightens it and then you start the day with a completely different energy.
QUADEL: Three children, dog, household, jobs – that never gets you out of balance?
Makach: In my job, everything always comes in waves. Sometimes there's a lot going on. But I know that there will always be quiet periods when there is less going on. It's like a roller coaster ride, you have to get involved in it and then I enjoy it. I also live an almost tribal life, which means the demands are spread across many shoulders.
QUADEL: You probably did your yoga training during these rest periods? You have been giving regular yoga classes in a Berlin studio for almost two years. Successful?
Makach: A few yoginis are already coming to my class, but there are still places available. (laughs)
QUADEL: Nicole Kidman recently justified herself because she is currently playing so many roles. We always hear from other actresses in their 50s that it's not easy for them to get good offers to stay relevant in this industry. How do you experience that?
Makach: I would assume that Nicole Kidman does this less to stay relevant and more because she needs the artistic output. She is an incredibly powerful, exceptional actress who has also done a lot of designing and producing herself. What every actress ultimately cares about is acting. And if that means you have to stay in the conversation to be allowed to make films, that's a logical conclusion. What comes with this, of course, is the desire to recognize that roles for women over 50 also find an audience.
QUADEL: What would help get more visibility in the industry?
Makach: It's not that bad – anymore. There is increasing awareness that there is a target group for women's issues. There are more and more interesting female directors. And people are slowly realizing that there is a need for stories that deal with the life situations of women over 40 or 50. But like many things, it is a process that requires patience.
QUADEL: Last year, the all-time Christmas classic “Love Actually” celebrated its 20th anniversary. In it you play the near-affair of the late Alan Rickman. How do you explain the ongoing enthusiasm for the film?
Makach: It's about love. And about the timeless longing for a soulmate. Richard Curtis, who wrote and directed the film, is also an incredible person, a true humanist, there is no other way to say it. His approach to topics that can quickly become cheesy is incredibly authentic. That's why his other films like “Notting Hill” or “Four Weddings and a Funeral” have become classics – the warmth of his heart simply shines through.
QUADEL: How did it come about that you, as a German, were cast in “Love Actually” – alongside Claudia Schiffer’s small cameo?
Makach: I was living in London at the time, went to the casting and got the role. (laughs)
QUADEL: And do you still watch it yourself, like so many other people do at Christmas time?
Makach: I haven't seen him in a long time, but maybe I'll do it again this year. (laughs)
QUADEL: In which version?
Makach: I prefer to watch films in the original version. If they are not in English, then with subtitles.
QUADEL: Roughly speaking, around 85 percent of your films and series are from Germany. Why haven't you acted in more international productions?
Makach: Oh, actually? I would have thought there were even fewer international productions. I didn't explicitly choose it that way, but I didn't explicitly work on it either. I always went with the flow and that led me more to German productions.
QUADEL: And is there a genre that the flow has never taken you to but that you would like to try?
Makach: I'm humble enough to be happy when something good just comes along. (laughs) I don't think so much in terms of genres, but rather look at the quality. I enjoy high-quality comedies in which the story is told with wit and spirit. And if a drama really grabs me, moves me, then I'm happy to shoot it. Unless KI wrote it. (laughs)
