Vienna Blood’s Star Luise von Finckh Talks About Its Third Season

Standing Her Ground

Vienna Blood‘s third season will air on BBC Two in December and here’s one of its stars Luise von Finckh talking about it…

Where do we find Clara in Season Three?

For me this season is about Clara focusing on herself and standing her ground. She has learnt that relying on men is not everything, and that there’s only space for love when she’s at eye level with men and not relying on them.

Independence has become a priority for Clara, also Clara’s hanging around cafes with Leah, celebrating life and herself. Finding a job she’s actually good at is a part of that. I’m happy to have a feminist position now as a strong woman who’s fighting for what she’s interested in. At that time Alice Schalek was a war correspondent in Austria, she was Jewish and she is a bit of a role model for Clara’s journey.

Do you enjoy working in English?

Whenever we start working and I get back into English, I always get a feeling for Clara coming up. It is a challenge to work in English. In some scenes I notice that it’s different to get to the feelings, to connect the language to your emotional state of being and then say proper words. But I like the challenge and I know everyone by now, so I really enjoy working in English.

How has Clara’s look changed over the three seasons of Vienna Blood?

Thomas Oláh designs the costumes for Clara and it always feels like Christmas when I get invited to try them on. In Season One, Clara was kind of flirty, girlyish, the princess in the show. And then after what happened in the first season, we decided to make her a bit more grounded, a bit more like a woman. And in this season Clara has become more sophisticated. Clara now has costumes she can move in and work in and that helps people take her more seriously. But she always has a twist in her costumes. For example, a suit is blue but the cuffs are purple.

With our makeup designer, Michaela Payer, we have moved with the years. My hair went from being worn down, to more up, to more liberated. That’s also because of the period and women being freer in their looks, I would say.”

And what’s going to happen with Max?

Clara’s no longer so sure if she’s really in love with Max and is more focused on herself, but along the way she notices that. For sure, there’s still some intimacy between them. As Clara and Max grew up together, they will always love each other and there’s a closeness and honesty in their relationship. But over the last seasons Clara’s noticed that there’s only space for love between them if they’re independent and aren’t relying on each other’s love. I think that’s the major change for Clara this season. And Max also has to agree to this new situation.