The Ninety series has won the hearts of thousands of television viewers, as has actor Kryštof Bartoš, who is just celebrating his 30th birthday. The role of Tomáš Kozák was his first big opportunity in front of the cameras and he could not praise the filming himself. This is despite the fact that he went through a difficult breakup during it, as he admitted in an interview with eXtra.cz. Paradoxically, the constant jokes of Ondřej Sokol helped him to get through the difficult period.
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You hesitated for a long time whether to apply for the role 1990s?
At all. After reading a piece of text in the script, I said to myself, “That’s it,” and it happened to me for the first time in my life. I felt it was a role for me to fit into it. In three days I had to learn quite a lot of text, there were several rounds of casting and the second time I thought I would be really sorry if it didn’t work out, he says. Kryštof Bartoš.
Many people in your generation often had no idea what was going on here in the 1990s. How were you?
I knew a little bit about it, but there really wasn’t much. When I found out I had the role, it was clear to me that I had to prepare for it. I thought maybe that would make up for the lack of experience in front of the camera. I flipped through the books Ivan JonákI’ve seen Velvet Assassins and stuff.
How did you react when you got the role of police officer Tomáš Kozák?
I was so excited that I even remember it was October 28th, I was just off and we were on a walk with my family. I was happy as a little boy. I celebrated for weeks, maybe months. It started a really good period. It made me happy, which lasts until now.
I guess the fact that the series became practically a phenomenon within a few weeks is also to blame. Were you expecting something like that?
There is a big boom around it now, everyone is interested in the topic now. I expected it to be a success, because the 1st Department Cases have already had great success and this is more or less the same team of creators. But I am surprised by the intensity that there is so much talk about the topic that documentaries are broadcast on CT, which is great.
This is one of the biggest TV roles for you. What is it like to watch yourself on the screen?
It’s a strange feeling to be seen on TV, not always pleasant. You are always very critical of yourself, but I don’t suffer as much from the Nineties as I do from other roles.
How do you remember filming?
Well, although in the beginning it was hard. We were supposed to shoot from February to June 2020, but then the covid came and nothing was certain. 95 percent of the series was filmed within two months of the summer instead of the originally planned four. I often didn’t even have time off, it was very demanding. But when we went into the field and didn’t just shoot in the building, we all enjoyed it. But I think we were lucky in misfortune. As it was in the summer, one could only concentrate on filming, because there is no work in the theater, and that short period of time also helped the intensity of work. At least that’s how it was for me.
How you, as a newcomer, worked with a more experienced person in front of the camera Ondřej Sokol?
Perfectly. He has a wonderful sense of humor that has so pissed me off. Of course I also have my ego, but I really respect the guys I shot with, so it wasn’t a problem for me. At the beginning, I asked myself if I had it at all, but they actually helped me by downplaying it. I liked that the character of Tomáš Kozák is actually learning his work here as well, so the development that can be seen in the series is both Tomáš Kozák and mine.
Sokol is famous for his jokes during filming. Have you ever had your teeth full?
Not at all, maybe only when my girlfriend and I broke up during the filming, I bore the jokes on my person worse, but it actually helped the person get out of it.
Can you tell us what happened between you and your girlfriend?
It was annoying because it was very unexpected. We moved into a new apartment, I had high hopes for it and she moved out after three weeks. We were together for about a year, but it was very intense, so I was a little depressed at the end of filming, when it happened. I remember that Ondra came to see me once and said to me: “Now the footbridge between Holešovice and Karlín will be built. Do you know what his name will be? Girl, that’s what you don’t have!” But it was actually humor that helped me get carried away.
While Sokol sometimes plays a bit of himself in the series, Martin Finger is in the role grumpy grunt. Is he really like that?
Not at all. It’s completely different, it’s not an extrovert. He is a very intelligent, thoughtful person, which they have in common with Plíšek. But it’s definitely not morous.
The 1990s have become a big hit and you are being talked about as the rising star of Czech acting. What do you think about it?
I feel that they are being talked about, that I can be seen, which is definitely an advantage for the actors. On the other hand, I’m not particularly tolerant of it. I’m not uncomfortable, but I don’t need to draw attention to myself at all costs. I like life in the present moment and I think social networks rob us about it, so maybe I don’t even have Instagram.
Do you already have an offer for another TV project?
I don’t have any other offer yet and at the moment I don’t know what I’m going to do, except for two plays in the theater. Everything has subsided now due to the pandemic. So I’m waiting for what’s to come. I have a lot of time off, so whoever wants can come up with an offer, I’ll be looking forward to it.
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