Lars Eidinger had longed to portray a vampire in “The Blood Countess,” yet his casting as the therapist came as a surprise. The film stars Isabelle Huppert and was directed by acclaimed German filmmaker Ulrike Ottinger, who brought him this role during a press conference at the Berlin Film Festival before its world premiere.
Eidinger chuckled about what he assumed would be an exotic assignment. “When Ottinger offered me the role, I thought it meant playing a vampire,” he said with a grin. But then he received the script, and to his amusement, found himself cast as the therapist for the notorious Hungarian serial killer Elizabeth Báthory, remastered in contemporary Vienna.
“This modern take on an ancient tale is quite thrilling,” Eidinger added. “She teams up again with her loyal companion, Hermine, but this time they aim to locate a book capable of eradicating all evil — including themselves.”
He continued, “It’s not often I get to play the vampire, and it would be much more fun if it were me. Perhaps being the vegetarian vampire offers insight into his character. He wants to be someone else, which is philosophical,” he mused.
Huppert also chimed in on her experience with Ottinger’s vision. “The main pleasure lies in working alongside everyone here and Ulrike specifically,” she said, admiring her director. “Ulrike is a visionary leader who captures the essence of cinema at its best moments.”
Both actors spoke from the heart about what made this project unique and why they were drawn to it, adding a layer of authenticity that elevates this already captivating film adaptation.