The actor Jan Bülow is a guest in Rüsselsheim. We have an appointment with the 26-year-old for an interview. He is still looking at the Opel Corsa-e together with Opel CEO Florian Huettl. They open doors, take a seat in the interior, put their heads together, and chat animatedly. Then the actor strolled up in a good mood in a black pinstripe suit and ran a hand through his hair: “I’m really looking forward to it,” he says, pointing in the direction of the Corsa-e, “because after the Grandland Hybrid I’m now taking the next step – towards full electromobility. ”
Mr. Bülow, are you obviously interested in cars? “You” if it’s okay – my name is Jan. Definitely. I was just talking to Florian Huettl about what cars can already do on their own. Cruise control, sign recognition, lane departure warning – that fascinates me a lot. And I’m in the mood for a full charge of electromobility. So far I’ve driven the Grandland, a hybrid. Now I’m trying battery electric.
What connects you to the Opel brand? If, like me, you are interested in electromobility, you cannot ignore Opel. I just found out from Florian Huettl that there are already twelve electrified models – respect! I also value beautiful things, good style. And Opel’s design really appeals to me. Maybe I’m a little biased. My parents drive a Zafira.
“I value beautiful things, good style. And the design of the Opel models really appeals to me.”
During his visit to Rüsselsheim, the actor met Opel CEO Florian Huettl.
In an interview with Opel Post, he talked about his desire for e-mobility and his career.
Jan Buelow
Jan Bülow is currently a permanent member of the ensemble at the Burgtheater in Vienna. Born in Berlin, he had his first film role at the age of 16 in the short film “Sunny”. Roles in cinema and television productions followed, for example in the much-praised social drama “Wanja” or in Matthias Schweighöfer’s comedy “The Nanny”. In 2015, the 26-year-old began studying at the Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts in Berlin. He got his first leading role in the novel adaptation “Radio Heimat”, in 2018 he appeared in the Netflix series “Dogs of Berlin” and in the 2018/2019 season he became a permanent member of the ensemble at the Zurich Schauspielhaus. The actor celebrated his big breakthrough in early 2020 with the title role in “Lindenberg! Do your thing” (photo). For his portrayal of the rock musician, Jan Bülow received an award for best young actor at the Bavarian Film Awards.
On what occasions do you use the car? I’m commuting a lot between Vienna – that’s where I’m on stage – and Salzburg, where my brother lives. That’s about 300 kilometers. Get in, switch off, two hours just for me. I like to listen to podcasts on the drive, mainly on scientific topics. Or I listen to music. Preferably entire albums – Bruce Springsteen always works. Currently also like Arcade Fire or the Arctic Monkeys. But sometimes I just enjoy the silence, hanging on to my thoughts.
Acting training at the renowned “Ernst Busch” University, an engagement at the Zurich Schauspielhaus, the leading role in the Udo Lindenberg biopic, now a permanent member of the ensemble at the Burgtheater in Vienna: it seems like you’re always in the fast lane. Do you also know being slowed down? If something slowed me down, it was the corona pandemic. The Udo biopic came to the cinema, I received the Bavarian Film Prize as the best young actor – red carpet, interviews, the hustle and bustle was huge. And then suddenly: nothing. I was at home with my family in Berlin, we cooked a lot. My career went from high to horizontal. In hindsight it was good, it grounded me. Basically, I’m a thoroughly down-to-earth guy. I also really appreciate that about the theatre: you go in through the back entrance and not across the red carpet.
“If you’re interested in electric mobility, you can’t get past Opel,” says the 26-year-old.
The actor exchanged views with Opel boss Florian Huettl about the electrification of the model range.
“I love being on the theater stage. I realize that I can still learn a lot here.”
You are currently on stage at the Burgtheater in Vienna…”Ingolstadt” is the name of the play, staged by Ivo van Hove. It’s about young people who struggle with love and sex, faith and morals. I play a disfigured stalker. I love being on stage. Yes, you earn more in film. And yet this step was just right for me. I realize that I can still learn a lot here. How it feels for me to grow up anyway. The move from Berlin to Vienna, all the paperwork, making a tax return. There is always something to do, something to do. I guess I’m just getting an idea of what it means to be an adult.
How come you’re not active on social media? It’s not something I made a conscious decision to do. As an actor, I stand exposed on the stage in the evening. I think I want to keep the other moments of my life more to myself. I also try not to spend too much time on Instagram and Co. myself. As an artist in particular, you tend to constantly compare yourself. And it doesn’t do me any good to keep looking at what other people are supposedly doing at the moment. What I like to do is get information on social media, for example about new products and vehicle premieres on the Opel Instagram channel.
Jan Bülow believes that a sustainable lifestyle does not necessarily mean doing without. That’s why he relies on e-mobility when it comes to driving.
“For me, living sustainably doesn’t necessarily mean doing without.”
What role does a sustainable lifestyle play in your everyday life? A big role. Basically, I’m always curious about how things can be made better. For example clothes: do you have any idea how much clothes end up in landfills? There are tons! I’m wearing fashion by Moot today. The pieces are produced fairly, in Berlin. The label relies on upcycling, i.e. it uses textiles that have already been produced and reworks them. I like to live, I like to consume. For me, living sustainably does not necessarily mean doing without. Just as I don’t give up driving, but have found a good, sustainable solution for me with the battery-electric Corsa-e.
Jan, thank you for the interview!
April 2023
Photos: Gudrun Muschalla, DCM_Letterbox_Gordon Timpen