Christian Oliver: The Dual Citizen

By Udi Shamay

When I spoke to Christian Oliver on the phone, the German-born actor sounded genuinely American, without a hint of a foreign accent. And the same perfect English was also exhibited in a recent TV interview following his role opposite Cate Blanchett in The Good German. Not a trace of an accent. A formidable achievement.

But when we finally meet at a place of Christian’s discretion, “the Coffee Bean next to the old Tower Records in Hollywood,” a fitting choice for Oliver who grew up in Frankfurt obsessed with American icons, both our accents take over. As if, knowing that, at least in this setting, we don’t need to be on-guard and we can relax our tongues.

“For me, America was McDonalds, Nike, and chewing gum,” Christian begins. “There was an American base in Frankfurt that we used to sneak into to get Doritos and get all the American stuff,” he continues before naming everything “American” that was idolized by European teenagers in the 80s. “Skateboards, breakdancing, NWA concerts, and Beastie Boys. It doesn’t get more American than Beastie Boys.” He shifts in his chair, excited. “And movies, of course.” There’s a pause. “Movies,” he repeats. “Rambo, Porky’s.” We both laugh. “Rambo had the biggest influence on me. I was so obsessed with Rambo that my mom forbade me to watch it. American culture was in my bones and I was influenced by it without even knowing.”

Christian’s fascination with America carried him to Raleigh, North Carolina, where at 16, he enrolled as an exchange student in Milbrook high school through the international youth exchange program The Rotary Program. “I chose them because they allowed me to switch between three different families and experience three different lifestyles.”

It was a year full of challenges for young Christian, but also a year full of growth. He remembers one specific incident in Milbrook High in which he came face to face with stereotypical ignorance from his American classmates. “The first time I went to my computer class in Raleigh, NC,” Christian recounts, “there were swastikas on every computer screen. I asked myself if this were the welcome I was getting here.”

It wasn’t the first time that Christian felt singled out for his German nationality. “I was never comfortable with the way Germany was viewed and looked upon in the world. My family traveled a lot and no matter where we went, people always had the wrong picture about Germany. One that wasn’t favorable and that I never understood. For me it was always hard to be viewed as one of those people.”

Not one to dwell on negativity, Christian brushed aside the computer room incident and found refuge in American sports at Milbrook High. “I loved American sports. I wanted to play football. I wanted to be the kicker. I thought I’d be really good at it because I played soccer in Germany.” To his dismay, his host-mom and guardian in charge of his well-being, did not allow it. “I still feel to this day that it was a missed opportunity for me.”

“But, I was at the first Galaxy game in Europe!” “Galaxy game?” “NFL Europe!” he says excitedly, as if I should have known and shared an immediate affinity. “I thought it was so cool that no one knew the rules, but I knew some of the rules after a year in the States. The stadium was full and people were standing and cheering and had no fucking idea what was going on out on the field! They were there because it was American Football. Cheerleaders! Showtime!” He smiles. “Always showtime.”

After a quick stint on the soccer team and some irreconcilable differences with his coach on how the beautiful game should be played, with finesse or physical, Christian ended up on the wrestling team. A significant development considering that this is where he got his first taste of success in America, and the beautiful blonde amenities that came with it.

In 1996, three months after arriving in New York City as an advertising account executive, working ironically on the Pepsi account, Christian left the Apple for Hollywood and a grander American dream. “The American way of life for me has that “anything is possible” mentality. It is the country of opportunity and anything is possible for anybody. America is not judgmental when it comes to your dreams. It’s a country that promotes dreamers.” He looks out the window onto Sunset Boulevard. “I’m a dreamer myself. I was allowed to dream and nobody looked upon me and said, ‘Get a life, go to school, do this, do that.’” Cliché? Yes. But Christian’s passion for America made me think back to a time when I too believed in all that he was saying.

“A lot of times I feel like even Americans have stopped believing in that original American idea of freedom. I think America would be better off if they keep reminding itself what the original America is all about.”

More patriotic than Bush and Cheney combined, and with an addictively-refreshing positive outlook, Christian landed in the city that has “seen it all” and was immediately embraced. For a while, it seemed like he could do no wrong, and even when he did, it somehow managed to work in his favor.

“While auditioning for Saved By The Bell, I kept telling them, ‘I can work on my accent, there’s no problem,’” recounts Christian, whose accent and demeanor in High school gave him the nickname “Baby Arnold.” Some Hollywood Christian Oliver trivia: Brian, the charming Swiss exchange student played by Oliver on NBC’s hit show, wasn’t originally in the script. He was written into the script after the producers of the show met then 22-year-old Oliver who was there to audition for an “all-American guy role.”

“When I finally read my lines, I was so nervous. I was basically speaking German to them. The director came out to me and said, ‘Christian relax. They love you. They love your accent. Just forget about it. Don’t pretend to be an American, everybody knows you’re German.’”

And so the Brian Keller family from Switzerland was born. “They tried to neutralize the German. We don’t want to go into politics in Hollywood,” he laughs. “But viewers of the show never really understood where Switzerland was and what country it was. When I met fans of the show, they always seemed to be confused about Brian’s origins. 'Oh yeah, you’re the Swedish guy,’ they would say. I would then reply, 'No I’m Swiss, on the show.’ Then they would say, 'But you’re from Sweden right? What language do they speak there? Why do they speak German in Switzerland?’ Oliver laughs. “They should have kept me German. That would have made it much easier!”

“When I first started in this business, I wasn’t trying to fit in,” the well-seasoned actor, sitting in front of me explains. “I was oblivious to it. I was unique, but wasn’t aware of it. I was just being myself and that played a big part in the success. For me it was all a big adventure. I didn’t realize how hard it was to be in this business then. The last 10 years or so I’m trying to fit in, which is probably not a good idea. I wish I could have that innocent attitude I once had, but you can’t go back.”

I remark at his English fluency, and more impressive, his flawless accent. “I’ve been working really hard with a speech coach on eliminating my accent. I played in some small American parts as a guest star, but the accent is still an issue. I have to work really hard on the dialogue.”

I pose the i-94 staple question, “Do you feel American or German?”

“Well, the longer I’ve been in America,” he looks up to the sky, “over 10 years now, I feel like this is my home. I feel more American than I feel German sometimes. My German friends look at me as more American. For me now I love it here so much that I sometimes need to get away to remember to realize how much I really love it here. But, Germany and Europe become more important to me too, because I ran away from it and wanted to soak up everything American. And now I realize I have the best of both worlds.”

“You did go back to Germany for a couple of years for ‘Alarm Fur Cobra, right?’” Christian gives a pensive nod, before explaining. “It was weird to go back. I didn’t fit in at all. It was hard for me to reach out to people because I didn’t go back to my hometown. I went to a town I had never been. I was missing America, but after the first year, I was falling in love with Germany all over again. I feel like if I were to go back to Germany again, I’ll have a home there too. It’s great to be able to call a couple places in the world home. I wish I had like 4-5 places like that! You know, throw your legs up on the table and surround yourself with people that you want to surround yourself with. And Mom’s cooking is always “home” especially in Germany!”

“Of course I went back for the World Cup. Talk about homesick. I started watching it here in LA. They showed it at the Goethe Cultural Institute. Live soccer on the big screen and German beer at 8:30 in the morning! Then I couldn’t take it anymore and got on a plane to Germany. I went to the Third place match, Germany vs. Portugal in Stuttgart. I’ve never seen Germany like that. Never. It was so beautiful to take that and share that with the world. It wasn’t like anything planned. It wasn’t like the Germans were behaving in any special way. It was all those people coming to Germany and seeing Germany for something they never imagined, like the first time you open your eyes. It goes for anything. Anyone who lives in Europe and criticizes America, I say go live in America and vice versa.

A cell phone rings and within three seconds Christian is speaking German. I amuse myself by chatting to Philip Chidel, writer and director of the independent film, in which Christian Oliver produced and starred in, "Subject Two." Apparently, he and Christian were hard at work on a new script. Christian closes the phone and apologizes.

“What about your social circle?” I ask. “More American or international?”

“Funny enough, it started out very American and now there are a lot more international people. Before, I tried to stay away from anything German and now I find myself clinging back.”

I ask Christian where his comfort zone is regarding acclimation, and before I continue, he interrupts with enthusiasm, “If you move to a different country and you’re afraid to ask, then why move? Stay at home.” He clears his throat with a swig of coffee. “I’m not afraid of making a fool out of myself by asking a stupid question. I don’t think you can ever ask a stupid question.”

“The only dumb question is the one you don’t ask,” I quote. “Exactly! And I always wanted people to correct my English when it sounded funny. I always laughed when I fucked up sentences. I didn’t mind! I didn’t take it serious.”

I confer with a smile before Christian continues, “I love living here and I love learning about the American culture, and any culture for that matter. It’s about the curiosity I always had and always will have.”

*“Subject Two,” is available on dvd now.

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