BORN TO DO IT. Up-and-coming New York actor Ben Schnetzer is one to watch. DA MAN catches up with him to chat about making mistakes and learning from the best
T-shirt by Sunspel
A new generation of actor with a mature head on his shoulders, Ben Schnetzer possesses a wide range of talents that you are only going to see more of. Dedicated to his craft from a young age, Schnetzer is ambitiously committed to every role he takes on, an actor who uses outlying pressures to his definitive advantage. Following a breakthrough performance in war drama movie “The Book Thief,” the twenty-four-year-old has many more exciting roles on the horizon.
DA MAN: Hi Ben, your star seems to be burning brightly right now, how do you feel?
Ben Schnetzer: I feel very, very grateful. The opportunities I’ve had over the past year and a half have been amazing, and it’s been great motivation to stay focused and work as hard as I can.
DA MAN: In your upcoming film “Pride,” you play a young gay Irish activist. How did you find this experience?
Ben Schnetzer: “Pride” was a real highlight for me. The fact that it’s a true story added an extra sense of responsibility to the preparation. As such, we all tried to serve those who inspired it with as much honesty and integrity as we could, which meant countless hours of historical prep and dialect work.
DA MAN: You’re working another film, “The Riot Club,” which is based on the acclaimed play “Posh.” It has a great young cast including Max Irons, Douglas Booth and Sam Claflin. What was the environment like on and off set?
Ben Schnetzer: The environment on “The Riot Club” was remarkable. It was the first time since school that I had the chance to work with actors my own age, and it was very inspiring. All my fellow cast members were talented and unconditionally supportive, which made for a hell of a shoot. We even ended up turning into a fraternity ourselves! I literally just got back from Glastonbury music festival with all “The Riot Club” boys about an hour ago.
Sweater by Calvin Klein
DA MAN: Though you’re originally from New York, you studied in London. What impact has this had on your career so far?
Ben Schnetzer: The obvious impact of studying abroad is that it’s where I’ve done the majority of my acting work. On a more personal note, it’s opened doors for me that would not have otherwise been opened. I think it’s very important to travel; being far away for an extended period of time gives you a new perspective on home.
DA MAN: How important do you think it is to study acting formally?
Ben Schnetzer: I think that, ultimately, the only way to truly grow in any endeavor is to just do it. But I think what drama school does is give you the space to make mistakes and take risks in a safe environment. You get to explore facets of yourself that you might otherwise shy away from in front of a camera or an audience.
Sweater by Marc Jacobs, Trousers by J. Crew
DA MAN: Is being a New Yorker a big part of your personality?
Ben Schnetzer: Oddly enough, I didn’t identify particularly strongly with being a New Yorker until I left and then realized how much a part of me it is. I can get pretty impatient sometimes. Oh, and I walk fast.
DA MAN: You started acting very young; did you always aspire to make a career out of it?
Ben Schnetzer: My father is an actor, so I didn’t realize it wasn’t a “normal” job until I was much older. Naively enough, I always looked at it as being my back-up career. But when I started doing plays in school, I absolutely fell in love with it and decided to dedicate myself to it.
“I think it’s very important to travel; being far away for an extended period of time gives you a new perspective on home”
DA MAN: You’ve already worked with some experienced and admired actors, such as Geoffrey Rush and Bill Nighy. Who have you been particularly influenced or inspired by?
Ben Schnetzer: Absolutely. I try and look at every job as a workshop, to always learn something from whom I’m working with. Geoffrey and Bill definitely fall into that category. I also just worked with Ben Foster who is a brilliant actor and was generous enough to humor all of my questions. He ended up being a real mentor to me.
Short-sleeved shirt by Marc Jacobs, Outerwear by Marc Jacobs, Trousers by Tommy Hilfiger
DA MAN: “The Book Thief,” a film you starred in last year, was based on a bestselling book. Do you feel a weight of expectation when undertaking such projects?
Ben Schnetzer: Yes, certainly but it’s very important to use this kind of pressure in a healthy way. Personally, I use it as motivation and inspiration to work harder and dig deeper. Ultimately, the film itself is in the hands of the director, so all I can do is my job, to the best of my ability.
DA MAN: You lost a substantial amount of weight for this project. Did you feel closer to the character as a result?
Ben Schnetzer: Absolutely! Though in hindsight, I probably could have been a little bit more responsible about it, but you live and learn. However, I find that when you take on a certain responsibility when you accept a role and you just have to trust yourself to do what you feel is required.
Leather jacket by Jardine, T-shirt by Sunspel, Trousers by BOSS Orange
DA MAN: You just completed production on “SLC Punk 2: Punk’s Dead”, a sequel to 1998 cult classic “SLC Punk!” Can you briefly explain the premise?
Ben Schnetzer: “SLC Punk!” is about a group of punks growing up in Salt Lake City and their relationship with the conflict posed by their surroundings and their own culture. The follow-up shows some of the original characters and their kids eighteen years later and how the punk scene in the US has evolved.
DA MAN: You’ve already explored several different acting mediums but is there one you prefer?
Ben Schnetzer: I’ve really enjoyed doing film over the past year and certainly hope to continue. I do feel very at home in the theater though, as it’s where I fell in love with acting. I was just talking to another actor in “Punk’s Dead,” and the parallel we came up with is that making a film is like recording an album, and doing a play is like playing a live concert. Ideally, the dream is to do both!
Jacket by A.P.C, T-shirt by Alexander Wang
DA MAN: Though not always appreciated, most actors have to work very hard at their craft. Are there any areas of your repertoire that you’ve particularly had to work on?
Ben Schnetzer: I think the eternal battle, as far as craft is concerned, is developing ways to deal with self-doubt. As a performer, it’s easy to feel that your insecurity can isolate you, when in reality it’s just about the only thing you’ve got in common with everyone else. Another by-product of being from New York, I also had to do a lot of voice work at drama school because I was speaking too fast!
“I try and look at every job as a workshop, to always learn something from whom I’m working with”
DA MAN: Outside of acting, how do you spend your free time?
Ben Schnetzer: I try and read as much as I can novels, memoirs, the news it’s easy to lose perspective in this job. Otherwise, I love to travel between spending time with friends and family.
DA MAN: Where do you want to be in ten years’ time?
Ben Schnetzer: In ten years, I just hope I’m able to continue doing work that is meaningful and fulfilling to me. I would also really love to direct theater one day, so hopefully that’s in store sometime in the not-too-distant future.
Coat and shirt by Z Zegna, Trousers by BOSS Orange
Outfit by Billy Reid, Shoes by Clarks
Photography Nicholas Heavican
Photography assistant Maxime La
Digital assistant Darren Nanos
Styling Sarah Schussheim
Styling assistant Giau Nguyen
Grooming Joanna Pensinger for Exclusive Artists using Oribe