“We don’t need to believe that we need immense amounts of money to tell the most incredible stories that bring us together”
by Ana Stanic
BERLINALE 2026: We sat down with the Austrian actor to talk about responsibility, politics and the wider role an actor can play beyond the screen
If Europe ever decided to elect an actor as president, Lucas Englander might be a strong candidate. Austria’s European Shooting Star is thoughtful, articulate and deeply socially engaged. We sat down with him to talk about responsibility, politics and the wider role an actor can play beyond the screen. Born in Vienna into an Austrian-Czech family, Englander has worked across Europe and internationally. He appeared opposite Nicole Kidman in Nine Perfect Strangers (2025), after drawing attention for his emotionally layered performance in Transatlantic (2023) and being shortlisted for a César for Appearances [+see also:
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film profile] (2020). He will next take a leading role in Adrian Goiginger’s Das Café ohne Namen. As for his dream director, his choice was as original as it was unexpected.
