Leonie Benesch: ‘Late Shift’ Medical Feature & Baz Interview
From Terrified Teen to Hollywood Hopeful: Susanne Benesch’s Journey Through the Glare of the Spotlight
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Susanne Benesch, an actress whose early career was marked by a baptism of fire at the Cannes Film Festival, has opened up about the overwhelming experience of her first major international film debut. Her role in Michael Haneke’s palme d’Or-winning film, The White Ribbon, thrust her into the global spotlight at a tender age, an experience she describes with a mix of humor and lingering trepidation.
A Cannes Debut That Left Her Feeling Like a ”Red Naked Potato”
Benesch vividly recalls her 2009 trip to Cannes, a whirlwind of unfamiliarity and intense pressure. As a ”somewhat sheltered teen,” the glitz and glamour of the festival were a stark contrast to her sheltered upbringing.Her management, then at a children’s agency, seemed ill-equipped to prepare her for the realities of such a high-profile event.
“I did feel just like a red naked potato for three days straight,” she confessed.The lack of prior experience was palpable. “I’d never seen myself on screen before. I’d never worn high heels before. I didn’t know anything about hair and makeup. We didn’t know that we needed to organize the dresses, I knew nothing. I didn’t know what a photo call was. I didn’t know what a press conference was. So it was a lot of firsts. And I just had new braces, and I had no idea what was happening. I was just utterly terrified.”
The sheer volume of new experiences, coupled with the physical discomfort of new braces, created a perfect storm of anxiety. “I was a baby! It was overwhelming. I was thrown in at the deep end,” she shivered, recalling the memory.Despite the challenging start, Benesch harbors a desire to revisit the festival, hoping to “make amends with that quite horrible first experience.”
Hollywood’s highs and the Retreat to Academia
The momentum from The White Ribbon continued, leading Benesch to Hollywood for the Academy awards, where the film garnered two Oscar nominations, including Best Foreign Language Film. However, this exposure to the inner workings of the film industry left her with a sense of disillusionment. After two weeks of meeting what she described as “stressed out people,” Benesch departed with a clear resolve: “I don’t want to be like you.”
This realization prompted a period of introspection and a purposeful step back from the industry. ”So I withdrew myself a little bit,and I went back to school in Germany and finished my A-Levels,” she explained. This decision underscored a commitment to her personal growth and education, prioritizing a stable foundation before fully re-engaging with her acting aspirations.
A New Chapter: Berlin, Mentorship, and a Trusted Depiction
Following her academic pursuits, Benesch made a significant move from her family home in Southern Germany to the vibrant city of Berlin. This transition marked a pivotal moment in her career, as she sought new representation and guidance. It was in Berlin that she connected with acting teacher Mike Bernardin, who recognized her potential and spoke of prestigious drama schools and theatrical representation in London.
This mentorship proved invaluable, leading Benesch to meet Christian Hodell at an awards event in London while she was still representing The White Ribbon. Hodell, and specifically Elizabeth Fieldhouse at Hamilton Hodell, have been her trusted representatives ever since, guiding her through the subsequent stages of her burgeoning career. This period of strategic redirection and mentorship laid the groundwork for the confident and seasoned actress she is becoming today.