From discovering a passion for acting to bringing characters to life on screen, Fabian Stiegner is building his own path in the world of entertainment. With talent, ambition, and a genuine love for storytelling, he continues to explore new opportunities and challenges as an actor. In this interview, Fabian opens up about his acting journey, life behind the scenes, the roles that have shaped him, and his dreams for the future.
FM42: Looking back, what first inspired you to become an actor, and when did you realize that acting was the path you wanted to follow?
F.S: As long as I remember, I was always inspired by artists that are able to fill a room with their presence, artists who get you hooked on their artwork. So I think it was something I always carried in me, but in the end I think it was my first time on stage when I recognized, i am right where I should be.
FM42: Every role comes with its own challenges. How do you prepare for a character, particularly when their personality or life experiences are very different from your own?
F.S: For me personally, a role that seems to be farther away from my own character is always more interesting to play than a role that seems to have similar character traits. As an actor I am interested in the inner processes of a character, I am interested in seeing the world through different eyes. So in order to prepare for a role, I try to answer a few questions about the character beforehand. Where is this person coming from, what achievement the character works on during the play/film, what’s in there to lose, what is there to win. I think it’s important to know what’s on the line for each character to really understand why we react in certain ways. But most important, know your lines and understand why ‚you‘ say them.
FM42: Which role has challenged you the most, both emotionally and professionally, and what did you learn from that experience?
F.S: During my time at drama school we did the play „festen“ by Thomas Vinterberg. It’s about a family whose darkest secret gets exposed during the fathers birthday party. I played the father, Helge, who is in the center of attention as his awful behavior gets exposed.
To find a way to try and ‚understand‘ this character, develop a way of feeling some kind of sympathy for what ‚Helge‘ has done, was hard as it’s completely the opposite of what i as a person feel is acceptable.
FM42: You have worked across different mediums. Do you feel most at home in film, television, or theatre, and what makes that medium so special to you?
F.S: Right now I enjoy theater a little more, as it is a beautiful experience to play in front of a live audience and the magic of theater and not seeing for the audience what it takes behind stage to bring certain scenes to life is amazing and fun. But all in all I think it always comes down to the team you work with. And by that I mean everybody who works on bringing a project to life. The better everyone gets along with each other, the more it feels like a place to be free and feel like ‚home‘.
FM42: Is there a dream role or perhaps a historical figure or literary character you would still love to bring to life?
F.S: My dream role is to play a Bond Villain. I think they are always interesting characters with a lot of variety. And on stage i must say i admire the play ‚Phantiom of the opera‘ even though i am not a trained singer I would love to be the Phantom one day.
FM42: Who has been the greatest influence on your artistic journey, and in what way have they shaped the actor you are today?
F.S: I think it’s hard to pick just one person, as there are many people I admire. Sayed that now I think a few of my teachers really shaped me by giving me a short insight on their own approach to acting.
But to name at least one actor I look up to, it has to be Gary Oldman. His way of combining intensity with character depth is something I will forever be amazed by.
FM42: Looking back on your career so far, what moment stands out as the most unforgettable, and why?
F.S: Just at the beginning of this year I had the chance to play for the first time in Germany and as being Vienna born and raised I have almost all my friends and family in Vienna. During our opening weekend I was surprised by so many friends and family who took time to see me perform far from home which was something I will forever be grateful for and will forever be something I will carry with me on stage.
Cover foto: Maria Sko
