Born in Greece, Made in Berlin — with Afroditi Roussidou
Welcome to Made in Berlin, our blog series celebrating the diverse stories of our international student community.
Today, we caught up with emerging actor Afroditi to talk about Greece’s rich acting tradition, Meryl Streep, and why every corner of Berlin ‘Feels like someones project’.
Tell us about yourself, who are you?
My name is Afroditi Roussidou. I’m 26 years old and I’m studying Acting for Screen, Stage and Digital Media. I’m originally from Greece, and I lived in Maastricht, Netherlands for almost three years.
For the past three years I’ve been living in Berlin. I came here looking for something bigger – more opportunities, and the chance to finally study what I’ve always wanted: acting. I’m a very active and hardworking person – I always try to do as much as I can, whether it’s school, work, or creative projects. So that’s exactly what these past few years have been about.
Life never stops, and I like it that way.
Why your chosen course?
I never really considered anything else. I always knew I wanted to act, it was just a question of where. When I moved to Berlin, I gave myself a year without school so I could get to know the city first and be ready to start studying from my second year here. During that time, I explored all the possibilities for studying acting in English, and to be honest, I only applied to BIMM.
When I read about the course, I knew I didn’t want to do only theatre or only film. Having a course that covers all aspects of performance was the best option for me. Over these two years I loved so many classes. Movement has helped me grow so much as a performer. It was the first time that I felt connected to my body, understand what it wants and what it needs, and build a healthier relationship with it. That awareness has changed the way I approach a character, because now I think about their body too.
Screen acting has also taught me one of the most valuable skills: how to prepare for castings, which links to the digital media side of things.
I’m very passionate about the craft, and being able to work across screen, stage, and digital media is exactly what I’ve always wanted.
What’s your impression of Berlin as a project?
Berlin is a city full of life. I don’t love every part of it, but I can definitely say that opportunities are here, especially if you’re willing to look for them. Things don’t usually just come to you, you have to go after them.
One of the things I appreciate most about Berlin is how international it is. There are so many people here who work in or are passionate about the arts, and because of that there’s always something happening. People are constantly creating, collaborating and starting new projects.
It sometimes feels like every corner of the city is part of someone’s project. The architecture, the graffiti, ordinary streets often become locations for short films, feature films or other creative work.
It’s a place where people come to build something, and being surrounded by that mindset has encouraged me to keep creating and developing as an actor.
How does Berlin’s Acting/Film scene differ from that of your home?
Greece has a long history of acting, especially in theatre. Every year there are many high-quality theatre productions, and of course theatre has its roots there. That tradition is something I’m really proud of.
When it comes to the film industry, though, my experience has been quite different.
Since moving to Berlin, I’ve realized how active the film scene is. It’s completely normal to walk down the street and see someone filming, whether it’s one person with a camera, a student crew or a larger production. After a while, you get used to it. Before I moved here, seeing a film shoot in Greece felt like a special event.
Berlin has a very active film community. There are student productions, independent films, and large international productions happening throughout the year. That creates many opportunities to gain experience, meet people and keep working on your craft.
In the last couple of years, Greece has also attracted more international productions, which is great to see. But overall, I still feel that Berlin and Germany offer a more active environment, especially for someone who is just starting their career.
I don’t aim for recognition. I want to be able to work as an actor as much as I can. Berlin has already allowed me to do that through student and independent productions, and my hope is that after graduating I’ll continue that journey in professional productions.
Who in the industry is inspiring you at the moment?
I don’t think I’ve ever had one person or one film that made me decide to become an actor. There are many actors whose work inspires me, but it’s never been about admiring someone because they’re famous. What inspires me is their craft, the way they approach a character, and how completely they transform from one role to another.
Meryl Streep is one of those actors. I find it incredible how different she is in every role she plays. I also really admire several Greek actors whose work I think deserves much more international recognition.
I love that acting gives you the chance to explore different people and different lives. You get to understand how someone else thinks, what they feel, and why they make the choices they do. Even if you don’t agree with a character, you learn to understand them and find the truth behind their actions. Then you bring that person to life through your body and your voice.
To me, that’s the magic of acting, and it’s one of the main reasons I chose this profession.
