What Is It Like to Portray Nazi Heinrich Himmler? Martin Müller Shares His Experience on ‘I Is Another’
Actor Martin Müller discusses playing SS leader Heinrich Himmler in Felix Randau's new film "I Is Another" (Ich Ist ein Anderer), which premiered at the Locarno Film Festival's Piazza Grande programme on 7 August 2026. Randau said casting the role was unusually difficult, as several actors he approached declined and accused him of "providing a stage" for a Nazi figure, a criticism he rejected as dangerous given the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. He argued that ignoring depictions of historical evil allows it to "grow in the dark", drawing a direct link between the film's subject matter and current political trends in Germany.
Set in 1952, the film stars Claes Bang as Felix Kersten, Himmler's former masseur, who claimed to have used his influence to save concentration camp prisoners; his account is challenged by a sceptical journalist, played by Valerie Pachner. Müller, primarily known for stage and television work, was eventually cast after a wide search led by Randau and casting director Suse Marquardt. He joins a long line of actors who have portrayed Himmler on screen, including Stephen Graham, Eddie Marsan, Matthias Freihof and Kenneth Tigar. Randau's comments also referenced the AfD's strong second-place finish in Germany's 2025 federal election and its growing support in the country's eastern states.
- Martin Müller plays Himmler in new film "I Is Another", premiered at Locarno
- Director says actors refused the role, fearing accusations of glorifying Nazis
- Director links casting struggles to AfD's rising far-right influence in Germany
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Dramatising historical evil, even figures like Himmler, serves a vital educational function in understanding how such atrocities occurred and preventing their recurrence. In an era of rising far-right politics, engaging honestly with these figures through film is not platforming but confronting—refusing to depict them allows myths and revisionism to flourish unchallenged. Art that examines historical villains and their actions can illuminate the mechanisms of evil in ways that abstract warnings or avoidance cannot.
The case against
Casting a major actor in a leading role centred on a Nazi figure, particularly whilst far-right movements gain electoral traction in Germany, presents genuine ethical risks that outweigh artistic merit. Such dramatisation risks inadvertently humanising an evil perpetrator rather than meaningfully critiquing him, and the resulting film may be appropriated by extremists or feed into revisionist nostalgia. The refusal of multiple established actors to take the role reflects a legitimate ethical concern that some figures should not be given such a platform, regardless of stated intentions.