Meet Roxanne Rittmann | German-American Actress & Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Roxanne Rittmann and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Roxanne, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
For me, success means fully living a life truest to yourself and moving from a place of love and compassion. It is easy to compare, judge, and be influenced by external opinions and ideas. It can be difficult to gage which thought patterns, emotions, and fears, not inherently ours, have shaped our personal decisions in the past and affected where we are today. Great power lies in intuitive trust in oneself! To live a life true to your inner light is the greatest act of self-love. 

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

I definitely attribute my imagination and creative soul to my parents. Born into a wild family of artists and adventurers, my childhood was filled with music, dance, play and magic. My earliest memories always involve me and my siblings creating things. The first little movie we ever made at age 8 was called “Puppet Girl,” a story about a girl who turns into a puppet and learns to appreciate the life she lives as a human. We filmed it on our dad’s camcorder with some friends during summer break. We still have it on DVD and it includes some epic bloopers! One day it might win an Oscar, who knows. We were always encouraged to use our imagination and creative minds, to think outside the box. My father was a young German musician who moved to San Francisco in the 80s to become a rockstar. “Tear down doors,” he always said. After meeting my mother (at one of his gigs…so romantic), they moved back to Germany to tear down doors in the business world while keeping a free artistic spirit and always telling us to pursue our dreams. Funny enough, growing up we were only allowed to watch one movie Friday nights. I believe this rule made me becoming a great storyteller. My stories and character are created from the experiences, lessons, and memories I made outside in the real world. I am so grateful for my family and my upbringing.

How did you get to where you are today professionally?

Growing up in Düsseldorf, Germany, as the eldest of four was a blessing and an adventure all at once. Why? Well, stating the obvious: Living in Europe allows you to be in a different country with a completely different culture, language, and feeling within a few hours. It is Fascinating! Imagine eating thick German bread for breakfast, an Austrian Schnitzel for lunch, and topping that off with an Italian gelato for dinner. All possible within a 4-hour drive. You learn to be very open-minded, curious, and multicultural. Our mother prioritized us traveling to new cities and learning all about European history from the moment she could put us in a baby wrap. All of these experiences made me the woman I am today. I am grateful. On the flip side, being raised in a very open, extroverted household set me apart from most of the more conservative German kids we grew up with. I was placed in an environment with very few risk-takers, dreamers, and think-outside-the-boxers.

After finishing high school in Germany, I grew much more reflective on what I really want to be doing with my life and what made me happy. Having so many interests, I dabbled in journalism, politics and a few other interesting areas. I finally decided to study Film & Television in addition to minoring in Theater Performance at Boston University to gain more insight into every aspect of this fascinating business. I think one of the most important things in our industry is to understand that it is a collaborative art form. The culmination of every creative mind involved designs the finished product. Learning how to direct, produce, edit, sound mix, etc., taught me to appreciate every aspect of film. A degree, a few internships, a bunch of traveling, and a year of working as a ski instructor and a theater camp counselor later, I moved to Munich to assist in launching the first German streaming platform “Joyn.” It was my first time working in the growing European TV and streaming industry, and I loved it. I loved how I felt like I was making a difference, how I could bring in my own ideas to create something magnificent and new. To this day, I love how manageable (size-wise) the industry feels in Germany. With international productions coming to film in Europe, I felt like I was in the right place. A year later, I landed my first lead in a German TV series “The Old Fox” which led to more and more opportunities in front of the camera. My first international feature film “Girl You Know It’s True”, a biopic about Milli Vanilli by the fantastic director Simon Verhoeven, premiered in German theaters in December – a dream come true!

What are you most proud of or excited about?

I am currently spending as much time in Los Angeles as possible. I have a strong network of friends and family here and my roots are in California as well as in Germany. My home in Munich is gorgeous.

Bavaria has such a high quality of life right at the Alpine foothills. I really enjoy how my schedule is currently split between both cities. It allows me to follow the flow of my work and experience the best of both worlds (pun intended). I guess I am proud of how I manage both of my worlds. My latest project is the upcoming season of the German crime series “München Mord” in which I portray a character who I would describe as a protective older sister—a role that obviously resonates with me deeply. The new season is set to premiere later this year. I’m also involved in an upcoming TV and web series we are shooting this summer. I am soon returning to Munich to work on my next feature film, for which the details are still under wraps. I’m immensely grateful for all these opportunities and am very committed to deepening my understanding of myself through each character I portray.

What I love most about acting is that you are constantly learning and bringing new life experiences into your work. I have studied with multiple different incredible coaches and learned to love so many different techniques, but the most fascinating part about this process is that when I experience something profound and awakening in my life outside the studio, I am more plugged into my characters than ever. We are here to offer a reflection of the human experience.

Was your path easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges?

I have had many, many, many, many moments, even long phases of doubt, hardship, and feeling lost. It is part of the process. Learn to embrace it and let it flow into your art. Allow your art to be cathartic. Most of my challenges have been linked to self-doubt and fear. You need to learn that most of these thoughts and feelings are not your own. When you are in a negative loop, ask yourself if these thoughts are true or helpful. Try to look at them from a rational perspective. As an artist, you need to be extremely selective with the energy and information you surround yourself with. You are the vessel. Don’t let negativity, overthinking, and distractions block you in embarking on your journey and living your dream each day. It is already yours to conquer. Surround yourself with people who will make you a better person, not just a better artist. Surround yourself with love and inspiration. Community is everything. Place yourself in an environment that will allow you to trust that all the answers are within. Find your “why.” Why do you want this? The answer will lead you to your purpose.

What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way?

One of the lessons I am learning right now is to let go of perfectionism (very typical for eldest children it seems). It is better to just create something rather than to not create anything at all. I recently started writing again. I want to share and develop my own stories. I am currently working on a handful of new ideas and concepts that I am so excited to delve into deeper. I have so many talented, inspiring people around me that I cannot wait to collaborate with. They are all gifts in their own unique ways, and I am so excited to see us shine together!

A friend and very talented director recently said to me, “There is power in being small.” Let that sit for a moment. The power in being small is that you are the captain of your own ship. You are the creator. Enjoy the times in which you are small; they might not last forever.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

Oh, I would definitely take them hiking in Topanga and stop by the Topanga Living Cafe. Topanga is so magical! The greenery and mountains remind me a lot of Germany. Surfing in LA is also a must. I joined a fun surf crew meetup Friday mornings that is very beginner-friendly and such a great way to kickstart the weekend. I would top that off with a beach bonfire with good music and friends to watch the sunset (check out which beaches and areas have fire pits beforehand). Of course, any visitor needs some good ol’ Hollywood flair. My go-to would be an evening with a kick-ass whiskey sour at the Chateau Marmont.

Joshua Tree is super cute for a little overnight getaway. We stayed in an Airbnb trailer under the stars with a hot tub and a horseshoe sandbox (a game my grandpa used to play at his ranch when we were little – he was a real cowboy!). The Montecito hot springs are also on my bucket list. On a rainy day, I would check out my favorite bookstores Book Soup, Arcana, or the Village Well in Culver City. Food wise?

Tacos, tacos and more tacos!

Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6112838/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roxannerittmann/

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/roxannerittmann

Other: https://www.e-talenta.eu/members/profile/roxanne-rittmann

Image Credits
1st photo: Jennie Scott 7th photo: Stella Traub