‘KARL LAGERFELD HAD THE GRACE OF A BULLFIGHTER’, SAYS STAR OF SERIES
Karl Lagerfeld embodied the grace and machismo of a bullfighter, the star of a new drama depicting the designer’s life has said.
Daniel Bruhl, who plays the German fashion designer in Disney’s upcoming series Becoming Karl Lagerfeld, recalled an “epiphany” he had during a conversation with one of Lagerfeld’s lifelong friends.
The moment of inspiration came when Bruhl imitated Lagerfeld for art historian and photographer Patrick Hourcade. Speaking to The Telegraph Magazine, Bruhl explained: “[I] had an epiphany that Lagerfeld is like a torero, a bullfighter.
“Because bullfighters, I’ve always thought, are so feminine and graceful and elegant, but so macho and masculine at the same time. I said it to him: ‘Monsieur Hourcade, I’m thinking of a matador?’”
Bruhl recalled that the historian agreed enthusiastically with this parallel. So, while making the series, the actor would get into character before shooting by adopting a matador’s stance.
“Sometimes you need something very technical to hold on to,” the 45-year-old German-Spanish actor explained.
Lagerfeld, who died in 2019 aged 85, was credited with transforming the fading fashion house Chanel into the world’s most successful label, as creative director for the brand from 1983 until his death.
The new series, however, will chart his life in the 1970s when he was living in Paris and forging his career and name in the industry at Fendi, and at Chloe.
Bruhl said that one challenge in playing the role came from the fact that information about Lagerfeld is so contradictory.
The Rush and Good Bye Lenin! star said: “I took in everything I could read and watch and listen to, but his books all contradict each other, because he lied so much.”
The powerhouse designer was known to make a virtue of anonymity, once stating: “I have no personality or I have three, depending on how you look at it. I love that there’s no overlap”.
The actor said he sympathised with this knack for dishonesty, explaining: “I had deep empathy with that because I did a similar thing as a kid. I’d lie to make myself more interesting.”
He added that the designer’s life of “contradiction” in Paris must have been challenging, explaining: “You can see the things he had to deal with, as a homosexual German in Paris, that must have been tough.
“And to keep that armour, living this contradiction of being constantly in the limelight but very lonely and reclusive, is fascinating.”
Bruhl, who lives in rural Majorca with his family, also discussed how he has learned to live with being labelled a “complicated” actor with whom to work.
“I learnt not to shut my mouth,” he told The Telegraph Magazine, adding: “If they say there’s big people [in charge], I don’t care – they’ll regret the moment they ever gave me their number.
“I learned to live with the label of being a ‘complicated’ actor. That’s the way they always put it, ‘complicated,’ just when we are fighting for a better result.
“But ultimately people respect it,” Bruhl said.
Becoming Karl Lagerfeld streams on Disney+ from June 7.
2024-05-24T16:05:06Z dg43tfdfdgfd