Actors are "cringe"

The latest headlines from Hollywood: "Emilia Pérez" star Zoe Saldaña (47) declares that her Oscar statue is "trans" and uses the pronouns "they/them." Then a comment from Johnny Depp (62): He looks back on the mudslinging with Amber Heard and regrets nothing. "You can't change last week's dinner," he says.

We also received news from Al Pacino (85). He visited the Pope. The "Godfather" is the first Hollywood star to receive an audience with the Vicar of Christ. Pacino gave the Pontiff a Maserati, albeit a miniature one. The actor is shooting a biopic about the Maserati brothers, hence the gift.

Nothing more is known about the visit. Besides, it was a good week ago. Old news, really. But there's nothing else to report. It's been a lull. Why is it so quiet around the stars and starlets?

Okay, a few people were demonstrating. They were protesting against Trump's birthday celebration with military honors. The stars mingled with the crowd at the "No Kings" parade. At least two or three: Mark Ruffalo, Susan Sarandon, Bob the Drag Queen.

Mark Ruffalo is a prime example of the type of Hollywood star who doubles as an activist. On social media, the "Hulk" actor campaigns against chemicals used in everyday products. The only thing that makes him angrier is Israel: Whenever there's something to sign against Israel, he signs his name under every scrap of paper.

On the sidelines of the "No Kings" event, Ruffalo identified the driving forces of evil: Besides Trump, there are Putin, Kim Jong-un, and Netanyahu. But he had actually come for domestic politics: Ruffalo wore a hat with the words "Immigrant" on it.

"Immigrants aren't the criminals," the man from Wisconsin explained to the media present. Rather, "billionaires, nutcases, and the immigration brigade" have seized power and are now enriching themselves at the expense of the common man.

So much for Mark Ruffalo's expertise. It's not necessarily characterized by analytical acuity. What is remarkable, if anything, is the perseverance with which Ruffalo presents his concerns. Unlike Ruffalo, the majority of his colleagues have gone into seclusion.

Hollywood stars must have realized that their fight against Trump hasn't paid off. But they're not just staying out of politics. At film festivals, journalists recently sent letters of protest because the celebrities simply refused to give interviews. Stars are increasingly avoiding encounters with the media. Not because journalists like to be a bit sleazy. Or perhaps because of that.

But it's more likely the fear of saying the wrong thing in an interview. Shitstorms happen quickly. Nothing disappears from the internet anymore. When stars do agree to interviews, they're often ungrateful interviewees. They neither dare to say anything nor have anything to say. It's bitter but true: Stars don't know any better than anyone else. If anything, my own experience from a few hundred interviews has taught me the opposite: film actors are rather simple-minded.

One shouldn't hold it against them. Many have had comparatively short educational paths. The urge to conquer the screen doesn't mesh well with academic ambitions. Those who want to fulfill their acting potential don't study astrophysics or Greek philology, or even necessarily newspapers. A high school dropout who needs to channel their excess energy is more likely to be a good actor. A street cat like Pacino, a weirdo like Joaquin Phoenix.

Or the shy child who realizes how much the attention does them: "I could cry in the school play, and people would applaud," says Emma Stone. A mild impulse control disorder isn't the worst prerequisite for film acting.

But behavioral abnormalities don't necessarily make an interesting personality. The film actor tends to be simple-minded. His ambition is all too obvious, no matter how much he denies it: he wants to be seen. Anyone who wants to conquer the screen seeks attention—what else? A star who claims fame makes him uncomfortable is like a bank robber who pretends he doesn't care about money.

Actors don't take a back seat. They perform unashamedly. Essentially, they're "cringe," as we say these days. They don't feel themselves. But that would only be a hindrance: nothing can make you uncomfortable in front of the camera. There's no actor who isn't also a self-promoter. Narcissism and exhibitionism are equally part of the job profile.

Now, one might argue that it's hardly any different with musicians or comedians. The peculiarity of film actors, however, is that they have no independent output. The script dictates the lines, and the director takes care of the essentials. The actor has to perform what the material demands. Accordingly, their personality should be permeable. Changeability doesn't mix well with an overly dominant personality. Shifty types have the necessary qualities. The best actor is an eel.

On the other hand, this is precisely what makes film acting attractive: The profession doesn't require much skill. You don't have to be able to run fast or be good at math. And you only have to get up early if the makeup is a bit complicated. The fact that the approximately 30 days of shooting required for a film are enough for a substantial annual income, at best, makes it all the more tempting.

And, of course, a strong actor can make a statement. Brilliant actors make cinematic history. What would Marlon Brando films be without him? Daniel Day-Lewis takes everything to another level, as do DiCaprio, Frances McDormand, and Jessica Chastain.

But the longer it goes on, the less even exceptional talent makes a difference. That's part of the tragedy of contemporary actors. People go to the cinema less and less for the stars, and fewer and fewer go to the cinema at all. Take Wes Anderson: One of his films' selling points has always been the legendary star lineup. No other director boasts such a lavish array of celebrities. Ten years ago, "The Grand Budapest Hotel" sold 200,000 tickets in Switzerland. The new film, "Phoenician Scheme," only attracted 17,000 admissions.

Stars are hardly suitable as drawcards anymore. This isn't surprising. Some no longer dare to do anything. As a result, they've become arbitrary. Others are escalating into clumsy activism. And perhaps even alienating the audience. Anyone who has seen Mark Ruffalo as an angry citizen might skip him as "The Hulk."

Added to this is the fact that the stars' acting skills are often overrated. Good actors can be recognized by their ability to perform passably even in disastrous films. However, very few pass this litmus test. On the other hand, actors with limited technical skills suddenly become great when directed by brilliant directors. Tom Cruise with Paul Thomas Anderson ("Magnolia"), Matt Damon with Gus Van Sant ("Good Will Hunting"). With the right director, many a dud has become a character actor.

At the same time, for the vast majority, a breakthrough remains an unfulfilled dream. Whether their careers will pan out is unpredictable. Most actors live on the breadline. They should actually be taking to the streets to protest against Hollywood stars who enrich themselves at the expense of ordinary people.