Thomas Stipsits: "Wanted an Investigator with Empathy"

The comedian and actor Thomas Stipsits has long wanted to play a role in the police procedural. Now he has made his dream come true with "Vienna Blood".

In the second season, which is currently being broadcast on ORF, he plays Detective Inspector August Emmerich. A rather old-fashioned representative of law enforcement who has to cope with a difficult case in the course of the eight episodes.

On his role in "Vienna Blood"

"I liked the idea that he's not a classic cop, but rather an anti-hero at the beginning. He's not corrupt, but he does things that are not always right," says Stipsits of his character. "He didn't want to be sent to Vienna at all, but of course he has to solve the case now.

"The Crime Was Not the Main Thing"

At the center of the new episodes is a series of murders that have a connection to the Jewish faith. "I found it very exciting that the crime was not the main focus. Of course, there's an investigation going on, but you also learn a lot about the time and Vienna at the beginning of the 20th century.

A Role with Challenges

For Stipsits, the role was a challenge. "It was very important to me that I didn't just play a Viennese original. It's set in a time when the Nazis were on the rise. So you can't play it lightly.

On His Own Viennese Roots

Stipsits himself has Viennese roots. "That certainly helped me with the role," emphasizes the actor. "I know Viennese humor and the Viennese way of thinking. I'm particularly pleased that I was able to speak Viennese in the series. That was a matter close to my heart.