Photography by Oskar Ott.
The life of Justus Riesner was completely turned upside down in 2022. Back then, the young actor from a small town near Hamburg had his breakthrough with the role of Alistair in the internationally successful series Maxton Hall. It is a charming, confident and caring character Riesner portrayed. A character who calmly pushes against the boundaries of television more than one might initially think.
The third season has already been filmed and is set to premiere in December. With just a few months to go before the series reaches its final chapter, SLEEK had the opportunity to meet the young actor from near Hamburg in person.
During a cosy conversation at Berlin’s iconic venue Clärchens Ballhaus, Riesner speaks about representation, the challenges of the film industry, queer storytelling and the impact of classical theater on how we tell stories today. Together, we talk about the similarities and differences between him and Alistair, and about the act of acting in which his career currently finds itself.
AMELIE BACHERT Hi Justus, who would win in an argument, you or Alistair?
JUSTUS RIESNER Wow, that’s a good question. I think Alistair would. He’s very opinionated, has a strong sense of himself, and a lot of emotional intelligence. I think he could always convince me otherwise. And honestly, my younger self would’ve been grateful to have someone like Alistair around.
AB Is there anything Alistair could learn from you?
JR Alistair and I actually have a lot in common, like being open to the world, going out into it, and meeting new people. And somehow managing to find our place everywhere, just by being who we are. What I like about him is that he always knows what’s going on with the people he cares about. But when it comes to his own emotions, he gets a little lost and doesn’t always know how to process them. Compared to him, I think I have more inner calm. I’m better at taking a step back and reflecting.
AB You grew up near Hamburg and later studied in California. Now you live in Paris, so you got around a lot. Is there anything from home that you still carry with you today?
JR I may have grown up in a village, but my whole family worked at the Port of Hamburg. So, everyone’s very tough and direct. I think that mindset, that tone, that edge, that’s something I still carry with me and that kind of gets me through life. You know, just being honest, grounded, and saying what you think.
Photography by Oskar Ott.
AB Your breakthrough came in 2022 when Maxton Hall was released. How have you and your character, Alistair, evolved since then?
JR 2022 completely changed my life. None of us expected the show to get this big. After graduation, I spent years working typical side jobs actors do, you know, everything from bartending to retail. But since Maxton Hall came out, I’ve been able to make a living from acting. And Alistair has stayed with me ever since, especially now with season three. In the first two seasons, there wasn’t much room for his story, so I’m excited that people will get to see new sides and layers of him in the third season.
AB Can you tell us what layers?
JR I can’t say too much. But what fascinated me about him from the beginning is that he isn’t a flat character. He’s contradictory, this sporty daredevil type, while also being the emotional center of his friend group and kind of a little sass queen. You don’t often see that kind of complexity in queer characters.
AB That’s true. Do you feel expectations or labels being projected onto your role because of that?
JR Of course, society has certain images of queer people. That’s why it is important for queer people to be involved in the development of such stories. This would prevent the creation of stereotypes.
AB What makes good representation for you?
JR Complexity. A good script. Letting queer characters have emotional lives instead of using them as accessories. The stories should be told from within the queer person’s perspective, not from an external point of view imposed onto them.
AB Do you think young audiences today are more open toward queer identities?
JR Definitely. But society is also becoming more divided. I think you can really see that in younger generations right now. It feels like in some ways we’re taking a few steps backward again. People still have to think carefully about what parts of themselves they reveal and what they don’t. We just have to keep fighting so that one day people won’t have to carry those fears anymore.
AB Recently, artificial intelligence has also become a factor in acting. I’ve already read about AI-generated actors who can be controlled and will never age. How do you see that development?
JR So far, I haven’t really felt a huge impact from AI on acting itself. Right now, it’s affecting production more, simplifying processes and lowering costs. Of course, that also means some jobs disappear, especially for voice actors. But I also see a lot of potential in it. If productions become cheaper, maybe more projects can get made, and that creates new jobs and more opportunities for representation. At the end of the day, I hope people watch films, shows, or go to the theatre because they’re looking for a human connection. And honestly, I don’t think AI can replace that. People are looking for real humans, not generated identities.
AB We’ve talked a lot about film and television, but I also read that you performed a lot of classical theatre at university, Shakespeare, Gorki, and others. How did that help you with a modern series like Maxton Hall?
JR Well, especially with writers like Tschechow or Gorki, you often see these archetypes: large ensembles where every character represents a different need. To me, those characters reflect basic human instincts, the longing for something better or different. And when you watch really good TV shows today, you can still find those same archetypes. I think that’s what makes great entertainment timeless: desire and longing. That’s such a core part of being human. In that sense, I found a real parallel between Maxton Hall and classical theatre.
AB Is there a specific role or archetype you’d love to play one day?
JR I’d love to play an authority figure someday, maybe a king or a ruthless businessman. Someone who holds power but is emotionally completely isolated. Other than that, I find Vincent Price incredibly fascinating, this actor from the ‘40s and ‘50s who made horror films in Hollywood. People at university often told me my voice sounded like his. Stepping into the world of someone who has already existed would be a challenge.
AB Last question, if your career were a play, what act would you be in right now?
JR If we’re talking about a five-act play, I’d still be in the rising action, act two. Right before the climax.
As featured in SLEEK #89 – PLAY
CREDITS
Photography: Oskar Ott
Creative Direction: Antonia Dipner
Creative Production: Johanna Erdl
Talent: Justus Riesner
Location: Clärchens Ballhaus