'A 59-year-old woman is still being played by a 40-year-old today'

A proud return to roots

Hailing from the southern region of Luxembourg, Nosbusch speaks fondly of her return to the Grand Duchy seven years ago, describing it as a homecoming. In a conversation with RTL.lu, she expresses pride in the cultural evolution witnessed in Luxembourg, particularly in the realms of theatre, film, and music. Notably, she highlights the modernisation of the music scene.

Nosbusch does not spend a lot of time at home, preferring to go on walks with her dog through Luxembourg's forests:

"We're always together, day and night. [...] I never had a dog. That's why I didn't realise how fixated a dog is on a person, on its owner. Or their mum, their dad. [...] He's been through so much; I don't want to break his heart again. No way. In other words, where he can't go, I won't go either."

A thrilling role on German television

Désirée Nosbusch currently captivates audiences on a German television's gripping crime series featuring as the role of a profiler adept at unravelling complex cases. Reflecting on her portrayal, Nosbusch acknowledges the perpetual challenge of maintaining excellence in performance, emphasising the importance of a solid script and skilled direction: "It's always a struggle. You have to keep delivering good quality, you need a good script, a good director, you have to keep fighting. Well, fighting sounds negative, I mean it in a positive way."

Nosbusch described filming in Ireland as a very positive experience, praising the country's rich cultural tapestry and breathtaking landscapes.

"A 59-year-old woman is still being played by a 40-year-old today"

Nosbusch highlights the pervasive ageism entrenched in the casting practices of the film industry. She notes a stark double standard, stating that it would be perfectly acceptably for a 60-year-old man to be played by an actor of the same age, while the casting rules are often very different for women:

"A 60-year-old woman or a 59-year-old woman will often be played by a 40-year-old. That's simply not fair. But that's the way it is. And I always say that I couldn't have played the roles I play today when I was 40 or 35, because of course, life experience also plays a part. And yet a woman is not always granted that."

In addition to critiquing ageism, Nosbusch draws attention to the persistent gender pay gap plaguing the industry, asserting that women continue to earn less than their male counterparts for the same job.

"Coming full circle"

In 1984, Désirée Nosbusch presented the Eurovision final as a teenager. The young Luxembourger became famous throughout Europe overnight: "Years ago, shortly after the Eurovision final in 1984, I once said: I will never stand on a stage again in my life and say "12 points"."

However, when Nosbusch received a call from RTL Head of Programming Steve Schmit, she immediately said that she would take part in the Luxembourg Song Contest - on the condition of sharing the stage with other, younger talents: "I just wanted the new generation, who are great at it, to do it. And I'm part of it."

For Nosbusch, the location where the national final was organised on Saturday also has great personal significance, as she grew up nearby. Nowadays, the old steelworks have been replaced by modern buildings, including Rockhal.

Recounting memories of her childhood, Nosbusch recalls gazing out from her room onto the steelworks, where her grandfather and father worked in the blast furnaces.

For Nosbusch, returning to this familiar setting evokes a sense of nostalgia and reflects a personal journey "coming full circle."

Nosbusch had a clear favourite among the LSC candidates, but on Friday afternoon, when this interview was conducted, she remained tight-lipped and refused to divulge any names. However, she praised the abundance of talent on display. Nosbusch thinks it is a shame that many contemporary artists prefer to play it safe:

"But if you do that, it's all but certain that it won't work. And I always think that's such a shame, because you have all these talented people."