Bötschi asks Walter Andreas Müller: "This stroke of fate turned my life upside down"

Walter Andreas Müller - known to many simply as WAM - is one of Switzerland's most popular actors. A conversation about faith, the struggles of old age - and the search for a new life partner.

Walter Andreas Müller, I'm going to ask you as many questions as possible in the next 45 minutes. And please answer as briefly and quickly as possible. If a question doesn't suit you, you can also say "go on" once.

Yes, I'm ready. And please, dear Bruno, don't talk too quickly, otherwise I won't understand you (laughs).

City or country?

City.

Heaven or earth?

I live in an earth house and I still really like living there. So the answer is: earth.

Catholic, reformed, atheist - or what is your faith?

I was born Protestant and was brought up that way. And I admit that I have a deep faith. However, my faith is not based on a man with a long white beard. Rather, it comes from the fact that I am a grateful person. Every morning when I get up, I say: "Thank you for this new day." Oh, I'm actually constantly saying thank you.

Is it really true that you pray to God every night when you lie in bed?

That's true - but I don't pray to God.

Do you?

About the author: Bruno Bötschi

Bild: blue News

blue News editor Bruno Bötschi regularly talks to well-known personalities from Switzerland and abroad for the question-and-answer game "Bötschi fragt". He asks them lots of questions - always direct, often funny and sometimes profound. It always remains open until the very last question as to where the fast-paced ping-pong will lead.

I call it omnipotence - and it's more of a conversation than a prayer. It's a moment of introspection, during which I reflect on the day and say thank you for allowing me to be there.

In an interview with "Schweizer Illustrierte", you said: "I'm probably cheesy-religious and sometimes I'm almost ashamed of it."

This kitschy-religious attitude has to do with my gratitude. I often look up at the sky when I'm in the car, for example, and say thank you. You could also say bireweich instead of kitschy (laughs).

Why are you ashamed of your gratitude?

I think that my childish, cheesy relationship with faith is not the norm. The norm is probably that people are either extremely religious or extremely atheistic.

When was the last time you were in a church?

I often visit churches on vacation - most recently in Nice and London. Churches are a perfect place for inner reflection.

As a person with the zodiac sign Virgo, you might also like churches because everything has its place there and is nicely organized and tidy.

That's true. However, I have to confess: I'm a neat and tidy mess. Everything is beautifully draped at the front, while behind it is often a mess.

In an interview, you said: "I'm a bit of a fusspot about everything." Where is this character trait most evident?

I attach a lot of importance to my appearance. I used to spend 20 minutes in the bathroom, now it often takes over an hour (laughs). For example, I would never leave the house without my hair done. I could tell you another story about that.

Go ahead.

I recently fell over a threshold on my way home in the evening. It knocked out my right shovel tooth. I then suffered one of my worst panic attacks.

Because you were in so much pain?

What was much worse was that I immediately remembered that I had my next performance in the musical "Sister Äct" the following evening. The morning after, I called my dentist, with whom I have been friends for a long time. He kindly fitted me with a temporary denture straight away. And now I'm really annoyed because it's not the same color as the rest of my teeth (laughs).

Received a compliment the other day: For what?

I'm currently getting lots of compliments for my role as Pastor Bischoff in the musical "Sister Äct". But it's not that big and doesn't even have a song. A visitor recently said to me: "You're a showstopper." That made me really happy.

A what, please?

A showstopper is one of the highlights of a production. Fabienne Louves, who plays Deloris van Cartier in "Sister Äct", i.e. the main role, is also a showstopper. When she sings, it regularly causes storms of enthusiasm in the audience.

What fascinates you about the musical "Sister Äct"?

I like the story. The nightclub singer Deloris goes into a convent as an ordinary person because she has to hide from her persecutors and comes out a reformed person.

There's still an hour to go until your first appearance in "Sister Äct". What are you doing?

I think it's cool that all the actors do a physical workout together before every performance and sing together before we go back to the dressing room to do our own make-up. After that, I always check that all the props I need during the show are in the right place. As the very last preparation, I go on stage and practically spit three times on the floor. It's supposed to bring good luck.

There are still five minutes to go before the show: what does Walter Andreas Müller do?

I'm often ready backstage ten minutes before my first performance.

Why so early?

So that I can feel the atmosphere in the hall.

You're 78 and you're still on stage: does that feel like a gift from God?

Whoever gave me this gift, whether it's my parents' genes or some higher power: I am incredibly grateful that I am still able to work as an actor. I often hear from people when I occasionally have a nightcap at the bar after a performance: "That you can still jump around like that at your age. I want to grow old like that."

Are people right?

To be honest, I'm always amazed that I'm still on stage today. My father died at 80 and suffered from dementia for years before that. I, on the other hand, still don't suffer from any symptoms.

Do you do a lot of sport?

Not at all - I just jump around on stage.

When you look back on your career, what's the first thing that comes to mind?

Wow, I'm happy that I was given this talent. And I'm proud that I've been able to act in comedies as well as serious plays. That's why I often say: I can do a lot of things, but nothing really (laughs).

Any advice you would give your 18-year-old self?

Be braver, WAM!

A moment that changed your life?

My partner suffered a stroke 16 years ago and has been paralyzed on one side ever since. This stroke of fate turned our everyday life upside down. Before that, we had an independent and comfortable life, after which I cared for my partner alone at home for years. Four years ago, everything became too much for me. As a result, we decided together that my partner would move into a health center.

A decision that probably wasn't easy for you.

You're right. I had and still have a guilty conscience about it. The decision felt like I was pushing my partner away. And it still pains me to this day that we can no longer fall asleep and wake up next to each other. My relationship life has also changed completely.

What do you mean by that?

I was catapulted from togetherness to loneliness. I can no longer just go out and look for a new partner.

Why not?

I wouldn't be able to cope emotionally. At 78, I hardly go out anymore anyway, even though I often feel much younger and always find myself wanting to join younger people as a matter of course. My zest for action always puts me in a dilemma. I often hear the following sentence: "Sorry, but you're too old for me."

Do I understand you correctly, so you're ready for a new relationship?

Yes and no. But I'm more into younger men, so between 30 and 45. But they weren't waiting for an old chav like me.

Were you and your partner in an open relationship?

Not really. If something happened, we didn't talk about it.

Would it be a problem for your partner if you found a new boyfriend?

I think it would be a bitter disappointment for him. That's probably why I wouldn't tell him. I wouldn't want to hurt him.

Could you imagine living in a retirement home one day?

Because loneliness is taking up more and more space, I've been thinking about whether I should sell our house for some time now. One option would be to move into a queer shared apartment or a Tertianum. But because I dread breaking up the household, I've always put this thought off until now.

Does happiness feel different in old age than it did when you were younger?

I value happiness more today. When I was young, I took a lot of things for granted.

People often say that old age is not held in high regard in our society. Do you think so too?

I feel that way now and again. As I said, I don't feel 78. Sometimes I find myself wanting to join younger people as a matter of course. I'm by far the oldest member of the "Sister Äct" musical ensemble. When rehearsals started, small groups quickly formed. The younger members often went out for a drink together after work or went out. Hardly anyone asked me if I wanted to go along. I admit that I felt left out.

Instead of sulking, you could have asked if they would take you with them?

You're right.

In a recent interview with "Schweizer Familie", you said: "The feeling of no longer belonging among younger people is getting bigger and bigger." But, dear WAM, you are the best example of the fact that older people still belong. Last year, you even took part in the TV show "The Masked Singer Switzerland".

Oh, that was a crazy and horrible thing at the same time (laughs). I wasn't the only contestant who almost had a nervous breakdown. As soon as I got into my penguin costume, I couldn't see anything, could hardly move and almost couldn't breathe - but then I had to sing. The worst thing, however, was that I had to memorize two new English songs every week. That stressed me out enormously.

Nevertheless, you did great and made it to the final.

"The Masked Singer Switzerland" is certainly the most incredible thing I've ever done in my life. I'm all the prouder that I went through with it.

Today, older people have many more options than in the past: pensioners go snowboarding, actor Al Pacino became a father again at 82 and cosmetic surgery is booming. Do some senior citizens suffer from a youth mania?

I think they certainly do to a certain extent.

What's the worst thing about getting older?

I find loneliness, which becomes more and more prevalent as we get older, worse than any outward appearance. But of course I also see the physical deterioration. There are wrinkles here, age spots there and a little belly there.

Do you still work so much today so that you don't find time to be unhappy?

You put it well. I've always said: "I work because I'm incapable of doing anything else."

Is it really true that your professional ambition is still so great today because you are "only" 162.5 centimetres tall?

It's a fact: I've always been the shortest and smallest my whole life. That shaped me and led to me developing a particular ambition in my career. My height is also to blame for the fact that I didn't become an opera singer. Because I would have been denied a lot of roles.

What problem that you used to have no longer annoys you today?

I've reconciled myself to my size.

Does it become more difficult to find meaning in life with age?

I don't think so. The older I get, the more I feel the need to fill the time I have left with things that make sense.

What advice would you give to someone who is about to retire and wants to grow old happily?

By no means make an abrupt cut - in other words, don't just sit in a deckchair from one day to the next and twiddle your thumbs.

Are there any good things about getting older?

As a pensioner, you have freedoms that you can't take away if you're still working. Senior citizens like to go on big trips. I'm annoyed that I haven't managed to do this yet, even though I've been dreaming for years of circumnavigating the world on a cruise ship and discovering places I haven't seen yet. But you know what, I've hardly ever been on vacation for more than 14 days in a row in my entire life.

Okay, I see the problem. Maybe we should launch an appeal here: WAM is looking for a nice man between 30 and 45 who would accompany him on his trip around the world.

I think that's a good idea.

Now we come to the famous self-rating test: you rate your own talent from 0 points, no talent, to 10 points, maximum talent: politician.

Four points. I can parody many politicians, but I could never be one in reality. I lack the necessary aggression and the desire to insult other people from time to time. I have trouble expressing my opinion in private because I don't want to offend anyone.

Gardener?

Five points. I don't have green fingers, but I really like my garden.

Friend?

Eight points. I'm an incredibly helpful person and would give the shirt off my back for a friend.

Cook?

I am a very good cookbook cook. Nine points.

Your dream guest list for a Sunday dinner with seven guests?

I would like to invite Christoph Blocher and talk to him for a while. My two best friends, Birgit Steinegger and Reto Mosimann, would also have to be at this dinner. Oh, who else could I invite ...

... how about Sandra Studer and Fabienne Louves?

Oh yes, why not? Sandra and Fabienne are two wonderful people, but we always see each other at the moment when we perform the musical "Sister Äct".

You could invite another left-wing politician to counterbalance Mr. Blocher.

No thanks, then there would be too much politicking at the table - and I'm not in the mood for that. There should be another top-class artist at the table ... now I've got it: I'd invite Emil Steinberger.

Together with his wife Niccel?

She's welcome to come along if she wants to.

If you had one wish for a fairy, what would you wish for?

I would wish for good health, of course.

Are you afraid of death?

I'm not afraid of death, but I am afraid of dying. As a naive believer, I am convinced that things will continue somehow after death.

Do you have a will?

Yes.

Do you have a living will?

Yes.

Are you a member of a death organization?

Yes.

Singer Dolly Parton said in an interview that she wanted to die on stage. You too?

Jesus Christ, I really don't want to do that to the audience.

The musical "Sister Äct" will be performed at the Maag-Halle in Zurich until April 28, 2024. Tickets are available at this link.

You can find more "Bötschi asks" interviews at this link.

Neuste Texte von Bruno Bötschi? Abonniere den Newsletter

More videos from the department