We had the wonderful opportunity to interview Hans! Check out the interview below.
Hi, Hans! Thank you for granting the interview. It is a pleasure to speak with you about your career. Tell us what inspired you to become an actor.
I didn’t know it at the time but I think looking back I do remember one time I had to read a poem in front of my class. I think I was in my junior year in high-school. And at the time I had terrible stage-fright, my hands were shaking and I got up there and I remember looking down at this poem and something just happened. I got lost in the poem and I just remember looking up when I was finished and the room was completely pin-drop quiet. I had somehow given a voice to this poem. I didn’t know it until years later but I think that experience started me down this path.
You recently appeared in Paramount Networks’ new six-part miniseries, “Waco,” starring Michael Shannon, where you played the role of Randy Weaver. Tell us about your role and character.
Yeah, what an amazing opportunity. Randy has based off a real person and in that, I think there is a certain responsibility to the person and the story being told. You know it was a really tragic situation where innocent people, citizens, were killed by our own government. The Ruby Ridge incident took place a few months before Waco and I spent quite a bit of time learning about it, the state of our government at the time, and also what it was like to be a Green Beret in the Vietnam War, which Randy was.
You studied pre-med before deciding to become an actor. What influenced the change in your career path?
I did. I mean I didn’t really know what I wanted to do and my dad was a doctor so I did what a lot of people do and kind of followed in his footsteps. But the more I did it the more I knew my heart wasn’t in it. At the time I was dating an actress and she would read her auditions with me, and I just became absolutely fascinated with it. I just thought it was so incredibly scary and brave to see her transform into these different people. I think that was the spark, and from there I left school and haven’t looked back since.
You have overcome challenges to be where you’re at. How were you able to beat the odds?
I think anyone who goes after what they love has to go through it in some way. The journey, it really forces you to have to face those things that are preventing you from getting there. Forces you to sacrifice, and most importantly it forces you to change. It can be really hard and scary. You know, these last ten years have been interesting, to say the least. Early on I battled depression, I’ve lived out of my car, I’ve almost quit multiple times, but I didn’t. And all those challenges I believe have helped shape me into the man I am today. I heard somewhere that it’s the depth of the valley that determines the height of the mountain. I like that.
What has been your biggest takeaway in your career, thus far?
My biggest takeaway thus far I think has been that you can’t do it alone. In order to succeed in this industry, you’re gonna need all the help you can get. My family, friends, teachers, co-workers, representation, all have played a vital role. I’ve been extremely lucky to have the support that I have. The opportunities that I have now wouldn’t be possible without them. And just the mentality that you have support is so crucial. It can be really easy to fall into the ‘me vs world’ role being an actor, but you just have to try and not think that way.
How important is it for an actor to lend his or her voice to activism?
The stories we tell, the ones that move things, usually also parallel things that are happening in the world today. In that, I think there is a responsibility that comes with all artists. But I also think there is a platform that can be used as you gain recognition to speak and give power to those that are powerless. I admire actors like Rosario Dawson, Mark Ruffalo, and Susan Sarandon for speaking up on issues they believe in. I’m not in this position yet, but I hope to be one day soon.
If you could choose a role to play, what would it be and why?
You know it’s funny; I never liked westerns when I was a kid. But I have to say far and away my favorite and most influential show was Deadwood. Maybe it was because I was just getting into the world of acting, but because of that show, I would love to sink my teeth into an epic western series or movie with that kind of depth and feel. That’s my next goal.
Thus far, what has been the best experience working in the industry?
I’d have to say they’ve all been great in their own ways. You learn so much from each project. Getting to work with and see how Michael Shannon and Shae Whigham went about things was an honor. And then on Dreamland, Margot was so great to work with and that entire Lucky Chap team, I mean it was special. It’s what you dream about, having opportunities like that.
Do you have any upcoming projects that we haven’t mentioned?
Yeah got a few things in the works. Dreamland should be premiering in the next few months so that will be fun. I just finished working on NBC’s Midnight Texas which comes out in the fall. And then I’m working on my writing and trying to get some of these scripts off the ground. So I’m staying busy.
Complete this sentence, if I had an opportunity to do anything I want, I would do ___________.
Wow, that’s a big question. You know, I’d love to star in a western. Or even better write, star, and direct my own western eventually. But in all honesty, I think I’m doing what I want now. Sure I have goals and things I haven’t done yet. But it’s the process of going after what I love that really feeds and inspires me. Every day there’s a new really terrifying dragon I have to face and with each one I get humbled, I grow, and I learn. Then I start back over again.
Connect with Hans:
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5080880/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hans_christopher/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hanschristopher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehanschristopher5/
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