Variety: Helena Zengel on Meeting the Woman She Plays in Drugs Trade Thriller Series ‘West
It’s the concluding episode of thriller “Westend Girl,” a German series starring Helena Zengel, a rising international star. The show, which is being distributed worldwide by Beta Film, premieres today at Seriencamp, a TV series festival in Cologne.
Zengel plays Ronja, who has been raised in a wealthy neighborhood, and is about to begin medical school. But the day after her 18th birthday party, everything changes: Her picture-perfect parents are arrested and accused of running the largest cocaine ring in the region. The series is based on a true story.
It’s the first German-language production Zengel has done in many years. She has been in demand ever since she broke through at the age of 11 in the lead role of Berlinale competition entry “System Crasher,” for which she won the German Film Award and for which she was nominated at the European Film Awards. She was the co-lead with Tom Hanks in “News of the World,” which earned her Critics Choice and Golden Globes nominations, and was also co-lead with Willem Dafoe in “The Legend of Ochi.”
After filming for “Westend Girl” wrapped in Cassis, Zengel spoke to Variety about the show.
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