Esquire Townhouse.The Esquire community is meeting for the third time, this year on November 14th in Berlin. The concept in just three words: talks, workshops, party. This time we want to talk about modern masculinity – cosmopolitan, clear, with attitude. Our choice fell on three good guys, one of them:Daniel Donskoy. The actor and musician firmly believes that one should search for one's own masculinitydoesn't have to choose between "tough guy" or "soft guy".. He is both – and proud of it.Why he recommends this to all men, he has usim Interviewbetrayed.
Interview: Hatice Akyün
Styling: Kai Margrander
Photo: Ronald Dick
Esquire: Daniel, let's talk about freedom!
Daniel Donskoy: “Freedom” is a great term. Above all, a wonderful feeling. However, my understanding of freedom has changed a lot in the last twelve months. I have to differentiate between personal and artistic freedom. Artistically, I am more free than ever before and I thrive on it. But my mind and soul are anything but free and joyful due to recent events.
Not only, but October 7th was a day I will never forget. While Hamas terrorists were massacring people in Israel, I was on stage in New York, in the “Land of the Free,” and was allowed to play the lead role in the premiere of The Pianist. Actually a dream - artistically - but I was trapped in fear and worry for my family, my friends. Especially when you consider that the play is about the survival of a man in the Holocaust who loses everything and only finds his way back to life through art - in this case music. Forgiving reality and what I played was a big challenge, especially on a human level. As an actor I was free, as a person I was trapped.
Does this happen to you often?
Too often. I was filming on the Russian-Ukrainian border when Russia launched the war of aggression. Just recently, I was uploading my new song "BANG" to Spotify when my phone sounded an alarm: Iran had fired over 200 ballistic missiles at Israel. And so I waited in parallel for the upload of a song called "BANG" and for updates about impacts on Israel. I had to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. This may sound strange, but without a bit of dark humor I wouldn't be able to get through life for more than a day at the moment. A little freedom.
And then you still have the extremely strenuous filming of your new Disney+ seriesVienna Gamecompleted.
Yes, and I think I'm not promising too much when I say,Vienna Gamewill be something very special. It's about power, politics and sex - all in crazy haute couture costumes with a lot of charm and a good pinch of evil Austrian humor. But after a long shoot, it's nice to finish a project. Especially when you have something else to dive headfirst into. And for me that is music.
What's different when you make music?
The unfiltered valve; to turn everything I experience, feel and dream into music. This type of creative process makes me happy. The most important thing is to finally play live in front of an audience again. This is one of the things that drives me the most. This is also my superpower.
Now you're pumping out a lot of testosterone. Are you that hard?
My testosterone is exactly where it should be. But that's not the point. What is a tough guy? I am free to decide this for myself, just as I define my image of masculinity for myself - above all, for me it means authenticity.
I was motivated by the women in my family to express my emotions. Someone who doesn't have to suppress their feelings is very lucky in that all rules and boundaries can be dissolved.
Daniel Donskoy
How would you describe the modern man?
Difficult to say. Politically speaking, young men are voting far more right-wing and becoming more conservative. We live in a time in which some men, despite the full range of personal freedoms, are developing backwards.
You grew up in a female household with your mother and grandmother.
And I'm happy about that. They gave me an image of men and a moral compass that I always carry with me. In my world, there were no moments where men were above women. I grew up in a totalitarian matriarchy. But joking aside: I think everyone has to question the image of men for themselves. How do I define myself? How does society define me? I was motivated by the women in my family to express my emotions. Someone who doesn't have to suppress their feelings is very lucky in that all rules and boundaries can be dissolved. Just being allowed to be human.
I believe in balance: being able to be afraid of failing, but also striving for maximum success.
Daniel Donskoy
So hard shell and soft core.
Oh come on, my shell isn't that hard. Even if I train a lot (laughs). I believe in balance: being able to be afraid of failing, but also striving for maximum success. I love feeling strong and being empathetic at the same time. Climbing Mount Olympus, crying, but also being a bit of the alpha male.
You live in London, work in New York, and travel a lot. Has your cosmopolitan life changed your view of masculinity?
Very much because masculinity is lived differently in different cultures. Every country has its stereotypes, culture and peculiarities. I was often allowed and had to look at society from the outside. Through this observer position I learned a lot about masculinity - but above all about myself.
