The Keeper: An interview with stars David Kross and Freya Mavor

The Keeper is a British-German biographical film dramatising the life of legendary footballer Bert Trautmann. Directed by Marcus Heinrich Rosenmüller and starring David Kross and Freya Mavor, the story not only follows the sportsman’s rise to fame, but offers a remarkable tale of romance and tragedy against a vehement framework of war-waged political tension between the two countries.

Kross and Mavor play Bert and Margaret, a German soldier held captive in a Lancashire POW camp and a feisty, northern lass who meet and fall in love. Whilst the soldier is held captive, Margaret’s father (John Henshaw) spots Trautmann’s football talent and signs him up to St Helens Town FC, leading to a future Manchester City signing and a fearless world cup win, despite an injury, in 1956. Kross is wonderfully authentic in the lead role, softly spoken yet unyielding in his quiet determination, whilst Mavor plays the stronger, more wilful partner who ultimately nurtures his success.

We sat down with both actors to talk about what drew them to the biopic drama, the process of their character portrayals and their favourite moments on set.

Ezelle Alblas

The Keeper is released in select cinemas on 5^th April 2019.

Watch the trailer for The Keeper here: